Wiper arm removal - what's the trick?

I know this sounds like a noddy question, but what's the easiest way to get the wiper arms off?

I can see there's a tab that needs to be moved so the arm will (hopefully) slide off the splines, but I can't seem to get to the tab to move it.

Is there an easy trick I'm missing? Or is it just a case of getting in there somehow with a screwdriver?

Cheers,

Jud

The little tab needs pressing in with a flat screwdriver or similar, then the arm should slide off!! The tab clicks over the wiper spindle (the part fixed to your bulkhead). The inside of the arm is splined/grooved, and so is the spindle, often they seize/rust so some gentle persuasion may be needed.

If you look at a Defender parts suppliers website and do a seach for 'winscreen wiper spindle' you will at least see what this part looks like. (Edit - here http://www.wapsipurtlandrover.co.uk/WIPER-SPLINED-SPINDLE) Might be worth buying new arms and new spindles as often the splines in the wiper arm wear smooth, meaning that when switching on your wipers, the internal spindle will turn, but the wiper arm doesnt.

To remove the splined part of the wiper spindle there is a small allen key grub screw (which may be seized also!!)that needs to be loosened first, then it pops off.

If your struggling tomorrow then I can take some photos for you.

As LeadFarmer says - and a little brute force (the splines and arms can corode together)

Cheers guys. I'll have another go at it tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

After a large screwdriver, rubber mallet and lots of brute force they finally came off.

Bloody silly design though, if you ask me.

Excellent

Funny how physical strength and a hammer are needed for most jobs

Worth putting some copper grease (or lithium grease) on the splines when reassembling

Sorry to bring this thread back to life, yet it's the same issue I have - with a twist.

The little tab...is it on the underside of the arm, attached to the spring clip?

I can see the spring part of the clip but no sign of a little tab.

It's a '63 Rover with the double Lucas motors. The method in the green bible and Haynes manuals don't seem to match, i.e. "to remove motor, slacken the nut on the wiper arm spindle, give it a sharp tap to release the collets and and withdraw the complete arm and blade" - I see no nut anywhere. I can only assume it's on top of the splines, under the arm cup.

The 1st pic is of one of the arms on my Rover; sorry, it's not the best. The 2nd pic is from one of the Haynes manuals and shows the underside of the wiper arm and spring clip. Also, the spline that can barely be seen in the 1st pic doesn't have the little shoulder and allen nut depicted in the 2nd pic.

Any suggestions? Am I just not seeing the little tab?

Thanks for your help!

Sometimes if you start the wipers then use key to stop them mid-sweep you get a better view of the tab.
Other than that .... brute force.

Greenshed said:

Sometimes if you start the wipers then use key to stop them mid-sweep you get a better view of the tab.
Other than that .... brute force.

Click to expand...

I'm getting ready to go over to the shop here in a bit to tinker. Guess I'll try brute force. They have never worked since I've owned it as it is, just don't want to make it worse and ruin the motors.

Update - The wiper arms came off.
I found the little spring clip loop and got them pulled back. The arms still wouldn't come off though. So I found a spanner that would fit, loosely, over the splines and then gave the spanner a good WHACK with a mallet and it popped off. Did the same to the other and it did the same.

What sort of surprised me was that the spindle is off center within the splines.

Station House said:

Worth putting some copper grease (or lithium grease) on the splines when reassembling

Click to expand...

Absolutely - copper grease everything !

Lidl have spray Graphite Oil this week, very good, leaves a thin film on the surface of whatever metal thing you sprayed...

Thanks for the tip - will do!