75 replies to this topic

[NickH]

I went for drilling a hole a-la-Lotus instead of going the long way round. Figured it was better to keep the drain holes free and it would be possible to cover my drilled hole fairly easily if I ever removed the rig.

I'll be looking at this approach too, as ben says I don't want to block the drain holes.

Ben - how did you make the hole, actual drilling or hot metal through the plastic? (at least I think it's plastic! )

Nick

[Muncher]

For info, the pipe through one of the drain holes certainly isn't enough to block it, the pipe is 3mm across, the hole is abou 10mm across.

[benw]

Ben - how did you make the hole, actual drilling or hot metal through the plastic? (at least I think it's plastic! )

There is a hole-reaming tool on my penknife. I just stabed it through the plastic and gave a few twists! The tool is exactly 3mm wide so made the perfect size.

The plastic is really thin so anything would do it really.

[Ratspants]

"I haven't sold one of these in years but you're the second person this week to ask for one" Am now the proud owner of the spray bar (although they billed it as a "Spray Ramp"). My ickle B&Q didn't seem to have any tubing though so I shall have to wait until the weekend. Reckon I could use rubber grommets on the drilled hole? That way if it was ever removed you just stick another unbroken grommet in there and away you go, almost as good as new! Ben

Edited by Ratspants, 17 February 2006 - 09:44 AM.

[NickH]

For best results use the approach that Mark has used, details on his website

Marks website clicky

By taking the wiper off first you can get the spray bar further up the wiper arm, this stops the end jets from being obstructed and gives a much better reach on the spray.

Recommend changing it if you have done it the other way as shown in Munchers guide.

HTH

Edited by NickH, 18 February 2006 - 09:20 AM.

[Muncher]

Nick, I don't think that's a problem the way I have done it, the coverage is perfect.

[Ratspants]

By taking the wiper off first you can get the spray bar further up the wiper arm, this stops the end jets from being obstructed and gives a much better reach on the spray.

I haven't fitted mine yet but Mark has fitted it the way I was going to anyway. That little loop just looked like it wanted to be the other side of the wiper like that. The black tubing looks nice too but it was hard enough to get the clear stuff from B&Q!

Think I'll fit mine through the drain hole to begin with to see if I like it, then go for a hole and grommet.

Ben

P.S. I also have 99 small cable ties spare

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[Ratspants]

I've just revisited the >SELOC thread< and there seem to have been a few more updates and ideas. Thought I'd summarise them here:

• "If you buy a T piece connector when you are at "World Of Fish" getting the pipe work you can retain the original washers as well. I get a veritable deluge of washer with mine now". This also has the advantage of still allowing you to wash the windscreen when the Citroen part freezes.
• You can use a Pug 405 spray bar too, it's a different design and sits by the blade rather than resting on the arm. See >here<. This also shows a right-angle plastic piece used to neatly pass through the drip tray.
• Some use of non-return valves and cable-ties on tube union bits >here< (even if it is on a landrover).

I'm liking the sounds of some advanced plumbing using bits from a fish shop. I wonder if the pressure is effected by having the original washer jets going as well as the spray bar? Getting the pipe neatly through the drip tray seems like quite the trick and that right-angled connector looks the part.

Ben

Edited by Ratspants, 20 February 2006 - 10:28 AM.

[NickH]

Nick, I don't think that's a problem the way I have done it, the coverage is perfect.

I found one of the small holes at the end was just hitting the wiper arm and not going further up the screen as it was designed to do, adjusting the position just helped to correct this.

[Ratspants]

I'm liking the sounds of some advanced plumbing using bits from a fish shop

The local "World of Fish" only did some pretty cheap stuff, but a quick search of the web reveals a >World of Cool Stuff

The trouble is that the 3mm and 5mm tube seems at odds with the 4mm and 6mm tubing that the connectors seem to prefer. I wonder if the B&Q measurements are internal and the fittings are external diameter?

If 3mm B&Q is the same as the stuff they want for 6mm fittings or something then perhaps I can cobble something together:

Female bulkhead to male stud elbow to go through the drip tray, reducing connectors to go to the larger pipe used by the washer bottle, an equal cross to split the washer jets and the spray bar and a load of PTFE thread seal tape. Trying to cram a non-return valve in there seems a little more complex...

Ben

Edited by Ratspants, 20 February 2006 - 03:40 PM.

[Ratspants]

The trouble is that the 3mm and 5mm tube seems at odds with the 4mm and 6mm tubing that the connectors seem to prefer. I wonder if the B&Q measurements are internal and the fittings are external diameter?

B&Q "3mm" = 6mm OD
B&Q "5mm" = 8mm OD

[RWinstanley]

Just done this and it is the best £12 I've spent on the VX Windscreen now clears in 2 - 3 sweeps of the blade. Takes 10 minutes and no tools needed.

Edited by RWinstanley, 05 March 2006 - 04:13 PM.

[Ratspants]

I got my fittings last week and they really look the part! Trouble is that the elbow and the bulkhead are just a bit too tall when screwed together to sit comfortably in the gutter bit.

I've found LOADS more fittings >here< including much lower profile bulkheads and bulkheads that have an integrated elbow on one side.

I've retreated to consider my plans. Nothing fitted yet as I don't want to stuff a tube through a rough hole in the gutter or through a drainage channel. Prefer a nicely sealed bulkhead through the gutter.

Ben

P.S. The push-fit fittings are excellent quality. The one I have bought are made by Legris but there are other makes I'm looking at. A schematic of the push-fit mechanism >here<.

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[Tedj]

Well I have taken heed of the info on this mod and ordered the relevant parts and will fit at the weekend hopefully. It has to be better than the crappy original system. I will keep you posted on the outcome and thanks a million.

[Tedj]

Well, fitted the cheap mod and guess what, it really works. Thanks chaps. A real bargain and a must.

[Ratspants]

I've just finally fitted by spraybar, tubing and connectors - what a massive difference actually having water on your windscreen when it's wiping actually makes!!! Great mod! I've gone the whole hog and kept the washer jets working as well as the spray bar.

From the related threads on SELOC, I hear that >Elise-Shop< are putting a kit together based around the citroen spray bar for less than €20. I can't help feeling that the pug 405 spray bar is the better option though...

The toughest decision was where to make the whole through the gutter!

I still need to route the pipes better by the washer bottle and I think a non-return valve would be a good move, maybe even some sort of adjustable valve that I could adjust the pressure bias between the jets and the spraybar.

Here's a pic of the elbow bulkhead with push-fittings I used to pass through the gutter at the base of the windscreen. I used rubber washers each side to make sure that water can't seep through from the gutter.

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[Ratspants]

...and to get the washer jets running in parallel with the spray bar, I did this:

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[Ratspants]

All total overkill, but it looks very cool and I think cost less than a tenner in connectors and sundries, in addition to the cost of the spray bar. It definitely need a non-return valve in there somewhere though as the jets come on before the spraybar by about a second. Ben

[framauro]

Looks sweet. Now you just need to consider offering the service to do the entire job. I reckon £30 including parts and labour!

[rabidh]

I was in Homebase finding flexible pipe to do this, and I noticed some aluminium tube. I stuck a few holes in it and cable-tied it onto the wiper arm (i needed a flexible bit to add the extra section on the top of the wiper though). The spray works much better than with the old 2 jets. Has anyone noticed their water doesn't last as long now though? (Or it could have just been all my washing the screen for fun )

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