What is this part under my hood? - Vac Assist?

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I am a bit perplexed about a part uder my hood. I am still learning alot about Hudsons and was wondering if anyone could help me identify this part. It is not connected to anything, not even wired. I assume that is because it may run 6 volt and my Pacemaker has been converted to 12V. It has vacuum tubes and for some reason the tube connects back into the same unit - that cannot be right?



Any thoughts? Thanks for the education - just bare with me, I'm getting more info everyday!



051109-DSCN3485.jpg

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    It looks like an electric motor pump assembly. Kind of like a windshield washer pump.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Possibly an electric vacuum pump to assist the wipers? I don't think it's an authentic Hudson accessory...
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This Is An Electric Motor With A Pump To Create A Higher Vacuum To Run Wiper Motor, Have Quite Aa Few On My Parts Cars, Have Never Tried To Get One Working Tho, Doesnt Rain In So Cal, Bill Albright
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Bill's on the money. There's been one on Ebay several times with no takers. Don't know if they really work or not either.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Trico made such units beginning back in the thirties, so it's likely that's what this one is. You might check with Rob Ficken (Ficken Wiper Service) in NY. Ads in Hemmngs classified section, etc. He has much NOS Trico stuff ... maybe a rebuild kit for this critter!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Can anybody comment on the effectiveness of that pump? Although the comic element of dictating the activity of my wiper blades by the gas pedal amuses passengers, when I'm caught in the rain going uphill - I don't find it amusing anymore.



    Ok, so it does still make me laugh on occasion!



    It looks like a neat accessory with a useful application.



    Mark
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks for the information everyone :D - I will contact Ficken Wiper Service to see if they have any advice on the matter. My wipers do not function the way they should right now - maybe this unit can assist if it was working properly?
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Regarding your non-working wipers, have you tried sending the wiper motor to Ficken for rebuilding (I think it costs about $60 nowadays and there is a very short turnaround time)? Or, just siphon some neat's foot oil into the motor, move it back and forth to spread the stuff around, and wait a couple days for it to be absorbed into the leather seal on the paddle.



    Also, a dual-action fuel pump is advisable. Dave Kostansek offers rebuilt ones. These two things ought to help the wipers, and probably a little bit of oiling of all the cable pulleys and components wouldn't hurt a bit!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    We put one of these pumps on 51 Super six many years ago and it worked as it was supposed to.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Had one on a '48 Chevy years ago and it would run the wipers on a dry windshied without the engine running. Vacuum switch on it finally went bad. It may be laying around in my parts bin yet.

    Chuck
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    OK Chuck, that helps quite a bit, because the red illuminated VAC switch mounted under the center of my dash would light up about 2 months ago and then suddenly quit. I thought maybe I blew the fuse along the wiring, but I replaced the fuse and still nothing. I am starting to think that the VAC switch operated this pump when needed, but I am also assuming that the pump is a 6 volt unit, judging from the age. I have not had time to traverse the wiring for this unit to see if that swtich is what operated it, but now I am beginning to think that it was for the VAC assist pump (if that is what it is called). THANKS!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    `Hudsonator wrote:
    Can anybody comment on the effectiveness of that pump? Although the comic element of dictating the activity of my wiper blades by the gas pedal amuses passengers, when I'm caught in the rain going uphill - I don't find it amusing anymore.



    Ok, so it does still make me laugh on occasion!



    It looks like a neat accessory with a useful application.



    Mark



    It still makes me laugh too. I love having to choose between accelerating, or seeing where the hell I'm going. :-) Ok, ok.. this is on my fix list now too.



    My Super Six does not come with an electirc assist. But I believe all the stepdowns come with a duel vacuum / fuel pump. I have never taken the time to try out the vacuum pump, but I suspect it works better when the engine is running faster, unlike the default which runs off engine vacuum.



    Regarding your failing wipers. Does your electric vacuum motor, um.. suck!? :)



    -Chris
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