Post by Sunny on Mar 22, 2010 16:17:36 GMT
Latest instalment of the Raider re-fit involved a few drawn out nuisance jobs; the completion of the windlass fit and the windscreen wipers.
In the last report I left off with the plate for the windlass started. So after bonding the three pieces together, further shaping and then gel coating, to seal it, the piece was ready for fitting. The finished article ..... complete with tilting (self-launch) bow-roller
So with that bloomin thing out of the way I set my sights on the windscreen wipers. I had planned on two days to complete the installation..... it was optimistic; the job from hell !!!!
In the end it took me three days, with the wiring still to be completed. Because of the narrow side windows I needed to source motors with small sweep angles. Most of the motors around (such as TMC) have four sweep angles 120, 110, 100 & 80 degrees. These are fine for the main front window of the Raider, but the smaller two front windows need a restricted sweep of no more than 60 degrees. The only maker I could find - with a local distributor - is Vetus Marine Products. Their motors adjust right down to 40 degrees sweep !!!!
All of these wiper motors require you to open the casing and adjust the fly-wheel mechanism. The first problem I encountered was that the settings for 60 degrees (and for that matter also 50 & 40 degrees) were not feasible as the crank arm spigot housing was not able to take the spindle for the smaller settings !!!!
I have taken this up with the supplier and they admit that I have found a design flaw in the product !!!!!
I got around it by reducing the spigot with a file
but have since been contacted by Vetus who have produced a modified flywheel .... so if you are thinking of fitting these from now on you will be okay.
The 'Park' position of the wiper can also be set to the left, right or centre of the screen; which is also altered with the cover of the motor housing removed.
The next issue was if you opt for the Pantograph wiper arms - which are necessary for small boat windows - then you need to drill two holes. Again I encountered a design flaw, this time with the covering boxes. They hide the motor and make it look a little neater, but are clearly designed for a single arm solution only. The support arm for the Pantograph sticks out from the left side of the motor; which means cutting a small channel in the side of the box cover to facilitate the fitting.
It means that they aren't quite as neat as they could be, but are better than nought.
The three motors finally fitted ..... just in time for the rain to start and a proper test
If you do go down the road of fitting these things you will need three position 'On-On-On' switches; preferably with an isolation switch as the 'Park' position is still energised. I have bought a single rocker style switch .... But before buying the others I'm still searching the market for the best switching configuration ...and where to fit them !
In the last report I left off with the plate for the windlass started. So after bonding the three pieces together, further shaping and then gel coating, to seal it, the piece was ready for fitting. The finished article ..... complete with tilting (self-launch) bow-roller
So with that bloomin thing out of the way I set my sights on the windscreen wipers. I had planned on two days to complete the installation..... it was optimistic; the job from hell !!!!
In the end it took me three days, with the wiring still to be completed. Because of the narrow side windows I needed to source motors with small sweep angles. Most of the motors around (such as TMC) have four sweep angles 120, 110, 100 & 80 degrees. These are fine for the main front window of the Raider, but the smaller two front windows need a restricted sweep of no more than 60 degrees. The only maker I could find - with a local distributor - is Vetus Marine Products. Their motors adjust right down to 40 degrees sweep !!!!
All of these wiper motors require you to open the casing and adjust the fly-wheel mechanism. The first problem I encountered was that the settings for 60 degrees (and for that matter also 50 & 40 degrees) were not feasible as the crank arm spigot housing was not able to take the spindle for the smaller settings !!!!
I have taken this up with the supplier and they admit that I have found a design flaw in the product !!!!!
I got around it by reducing the spigot with a file
but have since been contacted by Vetus who have produced a modified flywheel .... so if you are thinking of fitting these from now on you will be okay.The 'Park' position of the wiper can also be set to the left, right or centre of the screen; which is also altered with the cover of the motor housing removed.
The next issue was if you opt for the Pantograph wiper arms - which are necessary for small boat windows - then you need to drill two holes. Again I encountered a design flaw, this time with the covering boxes. They hide the motor and make it look a little neater, but are clearly designed for a single arm solution only. The support arm for the Pantograph sticks out from the left side of the motor; which means cutting a small channel in the side of the box cover to facilitate the fitting.
It means that they aren't quite as neat as they could be, but are better than nought.
The three motors finally fitted ..... just in time for the rain to start and a proper test
If you do go down the road of fitting these things you will need three position 'On-On-On' switches; preferably with an isolation switch as the 'Park' position is still energised. I have bought a single rocker style switch .... But before buying the others I'm still searching the market for the best switching configuration ...and where to fit them !
if you want pink lamps and a hand cream dispencer you go for it. 
maybe optomistic thinking 3 weeks. 
