The washers are spring washers and ACE has a pretty good selection of them.
Once you get the wiper fixed, contact former list member Terry K. and see how (or if)
he solved the cat problem.
Jerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 6:21 AM
Subject: Re: How do you get to the passenger side wiper shaft?

I could make this repair. In fact I think I will give it a try. The
arm was not moving on the shaft by itself, but by a cat who was using
the arm as a springboard to the top of the car. I'll see if I can find
the correct washer. I had not thought about that.

Jim

On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 4:43 AM, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@aol.com> wrote:
> In a message dated 17/05/2009 11:00:46 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> If your trying to change that shaft because you broke off the
> threaded portion of the shaft then it is easily repaired. Drill and tap the
> shaft and thread in a 6mm SS bolt so that when you cut the head off the
> remaining threads will be as long and what was there before. Now, it's just as
> good as new. Hard part - getting the drill to start the hole IN THE CENTRE
> of the broken shaft. Start by making the remaining shaft flat and then
> get a good centre punch to mark the centre for a very small drill bit to get
> started then work your way up to the correct size for a 6mm tap. NOW, why
> you broke it off in the first place I bet is because you kept trying to
> tighten up the nut to keep the wiper arm from moving on the shaft. RIGHT ?
> Well, tightening up that nut does NOT always work ! The inside of the wiper
> arm that wears out on the serrations of the shaft and will eventually get
> worn to the point it won't hold no matter how much tension you put on it.
> Then there's the problem of having the proper washer under the nut. That
> washer has to have the inside diameter large enough so that it will go over
> the serrated part of the shaft or your just tighten up the arm on the washer
> which is butting up against the serrations and the arm will still be lose
> so yo try to tighten more and BANG your broke your threads off. BTDT too
> many times before I learned the WHOLE story ! Those washers are SPECIAL and
> hard to find but they are out there !
>