Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Lesopc on 28 July 2010, 18:56:41

Title: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Lesopc on 28 July 2010, 18:56:41
I asked a while ago about engine swaps (beefing up to S6 or V8) and was told i may need to convert the wipers from 2 to 1 blade to make the engine fit.
I have noticed that a single wiper conversion MAY be illegal as regards the MOT etc.
Therefore would it be possible to fit a Mercedes-Benz single wiper unit or would this defeat the object anyway (engine bay space)???
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: SJKOO01 on 28 July 2010, 21:28:54
I wouldn't of thought it would be illegal to put one on the car, or not pass the Mot.  As a lot of cars have had them fitted both as aftermarket, and from factory fit, as per the Merc you mention.

Think there was someone on the OOF that made up their own version of a single wiper conversion, though not sure who it was ?.

I would of thought as long as the wiper does a full sweep of the screen, and where it doesn't sweep over, doesn't cause a 'blind spot' for the driver it should be okay ?.

If it was me, I would affix the washer jet to move with the single blade because of it being a single one, and there being a slight delay of the sweep, as then as the blade moves across the screen there's water at the contact point you want to clear at all times.  But that's just me, others may think it's not needed ?.
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 28 July 2010, 22:10:29
We had a 500SEC merc at work and am sure that was a single wiper setup, am sure quite a few other cars are the same.
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Lesopc on 29 July 2010, 10:24:39
I only mention the Merc unit as apparently it has a sweep that swings up and out instead of just straight-lining?
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: 2woody on 30 July 2010, 11:51:17
yes, that would probably be illegal, for all the reasons I outlined in the other post.
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: aaronjb on 30 July 2010, 12:04:55
Vauxhall VXR220 has a single wiper that, if memory serves, sweeps in a plain arc rather than the wobbly arc that Mercedes use.
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: 2woody on 30 July 2010, 12:24:49
it's not really that a single wiper per se is illegal

it's that you'll have taken a twin wiper, which wipes a certain amount of the screen and replaced it with a single wiper which sweeps less of the screen.

p.s. if it parks in the middle, then that would definitely be illegal.
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 30 July 2010, 12:36:10
Quote
it's not really that a single wiper per se is illegal

it's that you'll have taken a twin wiper, which wipes a certain amount of the screen and replaced it with a single wiper which sweeps less of the screen.

p.s. if it parks in the middle, then that would definitely be illegal.

But I suggest not with the Merc example as the single wiper extends as it sweeps to cover the same area as a twin wiper set up. ;)
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: 2woody on 30 July 2010, 12:53:16
there is a spec for this, which is in a Directive (77/649). It sets out the minimum amount of the screen to sweep, based on the driver's seated "eye" point - this will define what the Omega B will have met.

I suggest that getting a single wiper from car a to clear the same amount of screen as twin wipers on car b is a very tall order.
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Lazydocker on 30 July 2010, 12:53:27
Quote
it's not really that a single wiper per se is illegal

it's that you'll have taken a twin wiper, which wipes a certain amount of the screen and replaced it with a single wiper which sweeps less of the screen.

p.s. if it parks in the middle, then that would definitely be illegal.

Was what I was going to say... I failed many a Boy Racer's 1.0 Nova for that when I was testing ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Lesopc on 30 July 2010, 12:54:47
Quote
Quote
it's not really that a single wiper per se is illegal

it's that you'll have taken a twin wiper, which wipes a certain amount of the screen and replaced it with a single wiper which sweeps less of the screen.

p.s. if it parks in the middle, then that would definitely be illegal.

Was what I was going to say... I failed many a Boy Racer's 1.0 Nova for that when I was testing ;D ;D ;D
Do you mean failed for a single wiper OR for it to park in the centre of the screen???????
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Lazydocker on 30 July 2010, 12:59:45
Quote
Quote
Quote
it's not really that a single wiper per se is illegal

it's that you'll have taken a twin wiper, which wipes a certain amount of the screen and replaced it with a single wiper which sweeps less of the screen.

p.s. if it parks in the middle, then that would definitely be illegal.

Was what I was going to say... I failed many a Boy Racer's 1.0 Nova for that when I was testing ;D ;D ;D
Do you mean failed for a single wiper OR for it to park in the centre of the screen???????

Parking in the middle... It counts as an obstruction to view ;)

As does, incidentally, a sun strip which covers more than 2" (I think :-/) of the swept area ;)
Title: Re: Single Wiper Conversion
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 30 July 2010, 13:23:32
Quote
there is a spec for this, which is in a Directive (77/649). It sets out the minimum amount of the screen to sweep, based on the driver's seated "eye" point - this will define what the Omega B will have met.

I suggest that getting a single wiper from car a to clear the same amount of screen as twin wipers on car b is a very tall order.


Quote
I suggest that getting a single wiper from car a to clear the same amount of screen as twin wipers on car b is a very tall order



I think that’s the important point as the wiper mechanism is surely designed only to function efficiently on a screen of suitable dimensions.

The two are matched at the design stage - effectively.