Windscreen Washer Jet Stream - Seal
Ever had trouble getting a nice jet of windscreen washer water on the windscreen.
This has probably never happened to anyone else but if it has, this is perhaps an answer where the jet seal has failed and a replacement cannot be easily
found.
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Picture 1 Trico Windscreen washer jet. Jet seal failed long ago [ seal fell to
bits] A few things have been tried without any real success but this did work in an environment of limited time and unknown availability. I.E. Dead line for roadworthy. |
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Picture 2 Seal cap removed to show jet extension and its stream shaping vee groove |
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Picture 3 Tubing used to make a seal. Initial stage: Precut and punched stage Jet needs a fine gap between groove and sealed end. To achieve this a suitable seal needs to be produced that not only seals but still allows the vee groove to stay open: Material to make washer Tubing. In this case is new medical tubing. O/D of 4.58 mm; I/D of 3.00mm; wall of 0.79mm |
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Picture 4 Seal cap viewed from seal side Picture 3 & 4 Preparing the tubing. 1 Cut tubing to give a length of about 15mm. 2 Next make a single straight cut up the length of the tubing 3 Hold the cut tubing flat so a one eighth-inch punch can be placed in its middle 4 Punch the flattened tubing and place the seal cap through this hole in such a way as to cause the curl of the tubing to be away from the vee groove side. See Picture 3. Finalising the seal and adjusting the water jet Screw the jet cap onto the jet extension, and once tight: Trim the circumference of excess seal to within a sixteenth of an inch of the jet periphery with a pair of scissors. |
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Picture 5 New seals provide twin jet streams Press washer button and assess the jet of water’s: direction, height {angle} and shape. Adjustments; Picture 5: Rotate jet’s body to correct direction. Clamped under dash. Adjust jet’s extension for best angle [don’t over tighten or force]. *Check jet seal for fit and clearance of opening. [Quality of seal material?] *NB the seal must present a flat surface to the jet’s extension end. Picture 4. |
Additionally – Replacement parts in England. New seals for washer jets are available from Lou and John Shorten and jet assemblies are listed with NTG.
Summary – For convenience an un-restored washer jet was used in Pictures 1 and 2. Pictures 3 and 4 are used to give an idea of basic process. It must be said that although a circular washer can be punched out it was better [i.e. no distortion or movement] to punch a hole in a larger section and trim back after
clamping with the seal cap. Picture 5 shows new seals in action. Time will tell if heat or UV are limiting factors with material
used.
Further reading: Are Your Washers Partial to Vacuum
(pdf)
Loz [Laurence] Scott 27 Dec 2004
