Wiper Ice removal gadget

[TeamCaffee]

We have tried the heated wind shield wipers and found they didnt last long and they where expensive. Saw this neat little gadget and we are going to give it a try!

http://www.inrsltd.com/products/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=15

 

[Moot]

Linda, let us know how they work. I suppose you can't wait for winter so you can give them a test run. Another tip for keeping wipers clean is keep the windshield cool. I try to avoid using the defrost. I like to have the cab cool and the heat flow coming from the floor ducts.

 

[arkjarhead]

I'll tell you something else that works to get the build up off your wipers once you've stopped. Take a plastic coat hanger and cut in two. Make your cut about an inch above the 2 bottom curves. Discard the top part. So now you have the bottom straight part with a curve on each end. Take one of the curves and lift the wiper. Then shake it and let it lightly hit the windshield. Ice and snow are gone. Just really doesn't help much while in motion.

 

[TeamCaffee]

I will keep you updated on how this goes but to tell the truth I am hoping we dont need them this year! We also try to not use our defrosters but then sometimes we just have to breath and then have a problem with the windshield fogging over!

 

[dhalltoyo]

Hmmmm.

I watched the Slush Buster Video and that constant bouncing over a immovable object has to cause strain on the entire wiper system.

I can't imagine that they would be very easy to remove and considering the fact that my wipers are on 90%+ of the time for rain, that markedly increases the wear factors as the wipers bounce over and over again across the Slush Buster Strip.

 

[davekc]

Here is the hillbilly way of eliminating ice on the window cheaply.
Buy or get two windshield washer hose connectors, three or four feet of windshield wiper hose and two zip ties.
Cut the line that goes to the wipers from the winshield anti-freeze bottle. Add a connector. Take your length of hose and wrap it around the closest radiator hose and attach with the zip ties.
Presto......when you hit your windshield washer, warm window fluid will result and melt the ice. Works well and tips on the wipers won't freeze up once unclogged.
They have electric heaters for this as well for several hundred dollars, but I always like close to free for the same result.









Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[TeamCaffee]

Well we are still going to see how the gadget works and hope we never need it! If we do I hope our visibility is better then it was last year. I hate pulling over and getting the ice of windshield wipers!

 

[Moot]

Great idea Dave, I think I will give it a try. I have a couple hundred feet of medical grade tubing I think is the same diameter. All I need is some connectors.

At one time I drove a Ford 9000 daycab with the washer reservoir mounted inside the cab on the back wall. Washer fluid was always close to in cab temperature.

I still believe when ever possible keep your glass cold. If snow isn't melting on your windshield, then it can't re-freeze on your wiper blades.

I concur with Mr. Hall's assessment on the windshield speed bump. Linda, you may want to re-think the purchase of this product. If it is too late, then we await your honest critique.

I discovered Rain-X windshield wipers last winter. I like them because they have more points of articulation than normal wiper blades. Because of this they conform to the curvature of the windshield better.

The afore mentioned Ford 9000(1980's & 90's models) sucked because the wiper system was backwards. Hold your arms out in front of you with your elbows bent at a 90 degree angle. Now rotate your arms to the left; this was Fords park position for wipers. The driver's side wiper extended beyond the curvature of the glass allowing ice build up. After 20+ years the problem was finally corrected.

I am still a big fan of air driven wiper motors. Not too long ago Brenda (Bryan) and I discussed the merits of these. We both liked the fact that when returning air wipers to the "park" position they "jumped" knocking any ice and snow off. Plus one could adjust them to intermittent speed, this being before multi speed electric wipers. Ford and Mack cabovers had vertically parked wipers as did Kenworth conventionals. This allowed any melted runoff to drain down rather than on to the wiper blades.

Wow, I rambled! Not sure if anybody even knows what air driven wipers are. Just the sound they made was well...erotic???

 

[pelicn]

Linda you just had to bring up that dreaded season didn't ya!! LOL

Let us know how they work...I'd love it if I didn't have to bust ice this year.

 

[FIS53]

don't get close to the windshield and do shallow breathing (hehehe) so as to not fog the window! Up here we usually buy winter wipers that come in a couple of flavours. The oldest style is same height as normal wipers but has a rubber shroud over most of the wiper leaving only the blade exposed. The newer design is lower profile and does not have the little arms etc from the main arm to the blade.

These do reduce the problem with ice build up in the gaps above the blade that can cause parts of the blade to not press down and the blade lifts in spots and ices even more.Fis