Need new wipers. 1978 F-25

skuzzlebutt · Post by **skuzzlebutt** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:08 pm

Went to West Marine. I hate West Marine by the way..... They were like 20-26 bucks a piece!!!!. And the fittings didnt even look like they would fit the arms on my wipers. Wondering where a good place to get them is and is automotive an option? The arms are a lot wider on automotive im thinking so any advise would be great. thanks
Ken

wet wonder · Post by **wet wonder** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:05 pm

We need the same.

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:18 pm

My son found some wipers on the internet and they were fairly inexpensive. I will have to ask him to send me the information on them. We would like to replace ours too even though ours work ok.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:43 am

You can probably remove the wiper arms and replace them with automotive types, or just replace the actual rubber blade if the rest of the hardware is ok. I replace the old rubber blades with silicone (just so happens my business makes them so the price was good). I had to open up the metal "claws" that hold the blade in the frame and then just gave them a slight squeeze with needle nose pliers. If you go this route the silicone blades will cost you about $20 each but they will last virtually forever (we used to guarantee our wiper blades for lifetime but then found our dealers were taking advantage of the warranty and tried to slip in regular wipers with their returns). Most likely you can buy one long silicone wiper and cut it to fit both sides (mine are only 11 inches long so a 22" wiper was perfect). Be sure to not crimp the claws too tight, the wiper needs to slide in them or it will bind. By the way I did this replacement in 2000.

Dan Faith · Post by **Dan Faith** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:50 am

I'm not sure how your blades are attached, on my F32 they are bolted with small bolts, I went to a small NAPA dealer (took the old blades with me) they matched them perfectly out of their book, it was an old truck wiper cost =$6.00 ea. Blades only no arm needed.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:46 pm

Ditto on the Napa store, but the springs were shot so I replaced the arm and all. $16 for the whole thing.

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:00 pm

west marine is now a monopoly,, I did notice that they did drop the prices of some items,

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:52 am

My wipers have been bad for years. I don't EVER turn them on because they are nothing but metal arms now. They are all of 12" long and held onto the arm by one screw with a nut on it. I am trying to figure out a updated version In can attach to the arms. 12" wipers are not very common though.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:27 am

Found wiper and wiper arms (again) on marinepartssource.com. I have last year's catalog. And, by the way, you can pick the old-fashioned bolt-on wiper blades at most truck shops. They still fit many of the 18-wheelers out there.