Grommets-Wiper motor

[jaknight]

I purchased the kit , 17H5431 , from a supplier in the USA, to mount the wiper motor and tried to install the grommets in the holes on the firewall. The grommets are too HARD and can not be compressed into the holes. I have used a rubber grease to assist with the installation but after 30 minutes,
I gave up!
Does any one know of a supplier for these grommets which need to be soft and compliant--more like the original ? ?
The nuts, I believe are 10X32, which were supplied with the kit are a loose fit on the studs. Are the studs possibly a 2BA thread ? ?
Oh, I forgot that the Chinese do not use BA threads!! Or wherever they are made.
Thanks for the help.

Jim

[harrymini]

They do fit, you need loads of patience, lubricant and slowly feed it on from the outside and pull the lip of the rubber over from the inside.

[Peter Laidler]

Loads of rubber grease and manipulate the rubbers with your fingers for a while beforehand. Get them warm and they'll slip into place like a well worn sea-boot.

In the UK another very useful rubber lubricant is a 'female hygiene product' called KY gel

[Andrew1967]

I have to say they are a bastard to fit compared to the originals.

I gave up on them when I found some NOS ones on a motor I had, which were a piece of piss to fit.

I think the screws are either 10/32 UNF or 2BA. If the nuts are Chinese shite they are probably M5

I'll have a look and see as have both nuts here

[AndyPen]

What can also help is a very thin lubricated cord. You loop it around the centre of the rubber and put it through the hole first. The (glamorous hopefully) assistant pulls from the inside as you push with a suitable implement. I used a lolly stick. Once I’d done one the second pair seemed easy.

Tying a knot in the cord when pulling helps.

Watched a bmc mechanic do it this way years ago - I was the (less glamour sadly) assistant.

[jaknight]

I used a metric die on the supplied studs from the kit, 17H5431.

5mm X 0.8 was loose and wobbly

5mm X 0.9 would not thread onto stud

So, I believe the studs must be 10 X 32 or 2BA

I will try warming the grommets in warm water or with a heat gun to make them more pliable if that is possible

Jim

[jaknight]

Soaked the grommets in warm water to get them some what more pliable, minimally.
Applied rubber grease to the holes and grommets and used a soft plastic spatula with a rounded end
and the grommets from the kits 17H5431, did go into the holes.
It was struggle and was concerned that I would rip the grommets.

I made up some "grommets" per Doug Lawson's reply of a few years ago.

Use 3/16" ID fuel hose cut to 1/2" length as per the thickness of the grommets.
Next, use 3/8" ID fuel hose cut to 1/4" length, quantity of 2.
Place the 1/4" lengths of the 3/8" hose onto the 1/2" length of 3/16" hose.
There, one finished home made grommet.
Easy to install in the holes. They are slightly loose in the hole on the firewall.
Hope the above explanation makes sense.

Jim

[JohnA]

Squeeze them sideways in vice and compress them tightly a few times and they will soften

[woodypup59]

Maybe warm them up in hot water ?

Or soften by soaking in petrol / toluene / keorsene or similar. Beware some solvents will turn the rubber into goo so keep an eye on them.

I remember wax-oyl swelling up the boot rubber seal (original '60s BMC made) big style when I went a bit overboard with the rust prevention.