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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear wiper

Has anyone tried rigging up a rear screen wiper on a soft top?
I can't see why it shouldn't work with a spindle through the rear deck (above the boot lid on a 1275/1500 shell).
One may need a more flexible or spongy wiper blade than normal so that it better follows the uneven surface of a rear flexible screen. And one would want to use an easily removed wiper arm for when the top comes down.
Guy

Another idea for Prop!
Trevor Jessie

I think that your idea answers a much needed question.

(What Louis B. Mayer used to say when rejecting a movie script)



Norm
Norm Kerr

LOL Norm! The question was has anyone tried it. I assume you imply it would be a quite unnecessary "improvement" even if it worked.

The scenario is driving on narrow dark lanes on wet sleety nights. When you meet another vehicle you have to be prepared to back up without ending up wedged against a wall or in a ditch. There is no room for error! A rear screen obscured with sleet and snow mixed with rain just doesn't help!

I guess that for you , once the Michigan winter snows come you cant travel far in the winter anyway.



Guy

Guy,
I'd suggest decent wing mirrors and a big period rally style reversing light mounted on the rear valance might be more practical!
Matt1275Bucks

certainly be easier to fit! I also like the idea of a (manually switched) big reversing light for when idiot drivers with high intensity headlights drive up too close behind!
Guy

Good idea! I wonder if you can get Xenon ones! Even better would be to put it on a pole so that it would shine directly in the eyes of those four by four drivers who insist on hugging your rear bumper with their headlights shining right through your windscreen.
Matt1275Bucks

Those are just the ones I was thinking of. Their headlights are exactly the same height as a rear view mirror! Mind you, you probably bet more of them in Buckinghamshire than rural Cumbria!
Guy

Back to your question Guy.

I think it would be great.:)

The only problem is, I can't see out of my rear soft top screen, because it went opaque a long time ago. Even if it wasn't opaque, it soon would be, with all the road crap being dragged back and forth across it's delicate surface by the wiper blade. (The soft spongey type would hold even more dirt and grit).

No, I propose a mod.:)

How about an air blaster, that simply blows the water off the screen?

Or, instead of rally lamps, used to blind followers, heat lamps, to evaporate the rain drops?

Actually here's an idea so that a rear wiper could be employed. A glass rear screen in the soft top? :)

Lawrence Slater

....or drive with the hood permanently down and fit something like a cross between an old fashioned cyclists cape and a canoe spray deck so just your head stuck out the top. Then you could fit wipers to your goggles!
Matt1275Bucks

Or drive in reverse all the time (so the front is now the new rear), and the wind will clear the screen for you.

Meanwhile, what would now be the new rear, could be cleaned with the existing wipers.

Brilliant. :):):)
Lawrence Slater

That's a neat plan Guy :)

Though from driving in the rain I reckon another set of wipers on the inside of the screen would be useful...
Rob Armstrong

You could just reach back and swat the window with your hand... voila, no snow.

;-)

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Gryf, I did that once on a freezing morning in some place 150 miles north of London.

The rear screen split open. lol.
Lawrence Slater

Guy,
How about rear parking sensors, only £11.99 on Ebay, that should help with walls, the spotlight idea may help with the ditches.

Alan.
Alan cotterill

>>Has anyone tried rigging up a rear screen wiper on a soft top?

Yes; it's called the passenger; works better before you've married them.

a
Anthony Cutler

Anyone tried rainex on vinyl? It works a treat on glass.
Gary & Gaps

Guy why woud you drive your car in such trechorous conditions? The little car should be home in bed when there's sleet and snow about. In those conditions you should be driving a late model car with a good heater and something that you wouldn't mind putting down a ditch. Something like a boring Rover or MGF.

but if you really have to then how about a hood with a zip out rear window?
Greg H

Greg,
Absolutely logical! But until recently the little blue thing has been my only car. And although I now have a pretty good and fast modern (2l alfa 147), plus occasional use of a high powered exotic(3200 Maserati) the Sprite is still just more FUN than either! And yes, I do have a zip out rear window, but if you have ever tried one, well it isn't as instant as it sounds.

I think the best advice so far is the rally style reversing lamp. Especially as I blanked of my original reversing lights last year! (they didn't actually illuminate anything!) And the Rainex idea might help.
Guy

Or Guy - I seem to remember you have a zip-out back window, so, on those occassions, just open it, it's not like it's THAT cold ...... :P

I was figuring on fitting two of them - one for fog, and one for reversing in the dark .... or lamping - take your pick ;)
rachmacb

not thought about a wiper but was thinking about how to deal with those 4x4 SUV horrors with xenon lights blinding us. What about fitting one of those kiddies roller blinds which are designed to keep the sun out? Has anyone tried something like this?

Jeremy
Jeremy 3

It is possible to just adjust the angle of the interior mirror to reduce the dazzling. If you are stopped at the traffic lights sometimes this just happens to reflect the headlights back into the driver's face.
Guy

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2011 and 20/12/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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