Windshild wiper cables to pulley

[Custom_Shelby]

OK, I'm finally at that point, how, after installing all four components in the firewall for the windshield wiper cables, how do you hook up the cables to the motor pulley? 

[gasman826]

Procedure is in the factory service manual.  First thing...take them back out.  The tensioners have to be pre-loaded and pinned.  Then install and get the cables on the pulleys.  Once cables are on the pulleys, pull the pins.  Process is similar to putting brushes in a Delco alternator.  Caution:  will require a large dose of cussing.

[Ford Blue blood]

A little thing I noticed while putting the Edsel back together is if you look in the drivers side vent hole you will see you have unobstructed view of the pulley the cables wrap around.  I noticed this with the seat out and the vent removed for other work.  I have not tried to do anything with this set up as it is already put together and working after a couple of hours of twisted tweaking and the use of many words not fit for polite company!  Completing this frustrating task did call for several beers!!!!!!!

[Custom_Shelby]

Yes I saw that in the shop manual, but do you "make" the pins out of something?  Like a nail or something?  & the illustration only shows the tensioner on the drivers side, it didn't indicate both of them, and do you pull those pins before you re-install the tensioners?  Looks to me like there's no way to get the pins out after the tensioners are installed. And it said "PULL THE CABLE TENSION ASSEMBLY RACHET SPRING AWAY FROM THE RACHET, WIND UP THE CABLE TENSION SPRING AND INSERT A HOLDING PIN IN THE ASSEMBLY.  How far do you wind it up?  Sorry, I don't mean to sound thick, but I took all this out several years ago, and as you can see in the pic, there's nothing on either side of the firewall, no dash, nothing. 

[gasman826]

When assembling a completely striped '57, the first thing to put in is the wiper cables.  That way if you scratch the new paint, you have less to strip to send it back to the paint shop. 

Yes, release the ratchets on both tensioners and pin with what ever fits.  I've used soft mechanics wire...easier to pull out at an angle and/or cut off little pieces as you go.  I had extras so I sacrificed a set of them to figure it out.  DO NOT pull the pins out until everything is bolted in and cables in place.  I used masking tape and rubber bands to help hold the cables in place.  I don't remember how far to 'wind up' the springs.  It's not like winding a watch...I think they go just a little ways.

[Custom_Shelby]

Thanks, I did send you a PM earlier, don't know if you got it.  I took all four components back out and pined the tensioners, but I think I'll need to put much shorter pins in if I'm to be able to pull them out after the tensioners are installed back in the firewall.

[gasman826]

I just moved an old discussion to the top for installing wiper cables titled "57 fairlane wipers".  Pictures and diagrams!!!!