Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Has anyone converted a spitfire from manual pump windscreen washer to run electrically? my manual pump it seems doesn’t have the grunt to pump the water to the jets, perhaps the pipe runs are too long and too many’T’ pieces Perhaps I should convert it Thanks Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Fit a small 12v pump, eBay or the like have hundreds for less than a tenner, and either use a new switch for it or else convert the existing to look original. I'm doing this on the Herald, the pump will be inside the bulkhead behind the dash so not visible and I'm adding a small switch on the underside of the dashboard. You can buy pumps that fit into the washer bottle or else modern one-piece units combining both bottle and pump. It just depends on how original you want it to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 The most common problem with the manual pump is that one of the two one-way valves is missing or stuck open. Commonly it's the little ball-in-a-tube in the washer bottle that's gone. If you do want to go electric, pumps are readily available, as Colin says. You should probably change the pick-up valve for a filter (as the factory did when fitting electric washer pumps). What model of Spitfire? If it's a MkIV with the turn-to-wipe-and-push-to-squirt knob, then early Toledo's had a variant of that knob but designed for electric washer pump. The round-tail Spitfires' separate push button can be converted to an electric switch with a bit of ingenuity. Mine has a push switch fitted into the original aluminium recessed mount, but I've not yet got round to attaching the original knob to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 This is my solution for my Vitesse using a s/h Hoover pressure switch Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjit Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 I've had a Toledo electric switch fitted in my Mk IV with one of the basic inline electric pumps for years and while it works and is better than the old manual pump I've also more recently fitted a generic eBay 'pump in bottle' one to my 2500 S, replacing the standard 'inline pump on top of bottle' set-up - and that's got significantly better pressure. In less you're looking to keep things looking original I'd look to see if one of the 'pump in bottle' kits will fit on a Spitfire bulkhead, rather than an inline pump. Only issue with the Toledo switch is the knob/switch body retaining lug orientation is different so the graphic on the end of the knob isn't horizontal unless you modify things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 You can get a one way valve in any aquarium supply store that will take over any of the valves that are acting up. I put in 3, one near the bottle and one in each of the tubes to the jets. A little over kill but they were so cheap I didn't see why not... I swear they ejeac... I mean squirt much better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Thanks everyone its a Mk3 Spitfire with the one speed wipers and a push pump washer looking at the pipe work I can only see ‘T’ pieces and a non return valve in the washer bottle on the end of the pipe the pump is an SC Parts unit with one supply and two jet outlets hence the ‘T’ pieces no squirt whatsoever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 What does SC mean? I broke the knob off my pump (sounds a bit rude...) so I bought another from a breaker. Neither worked until I put the valves is now I get a good meter of squirtage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Thanks everyone i think SC Parts was the supplier of the pump ill get a non return valve to start with to see if I can restore some squirtage in the old girl if that doesnt restore function I’ll follow your suggestions for an electrically assisted option best Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 you will need a second 1 way valve between the pump and washer jets. The pump is a simple bellow so without a 1 way valve will bush a few cc out and the suck air back in, the original set up had a 1 way valve in the washer bottle and then another was in the pump, the repros do not have this so you need to fit a valve after the pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimp my Vit Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 I did a post on converting the manual pump switch on a Vitesse to electric , I can have a hunt for it if you want!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 1 hour ago, DanMi said: you will need a second 1 way valve between the pump and washer jets. I thought (at least on some of them) the jets each, had a ball bearing type one valve. Think my Vit has these? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 2 hours ago, DanMi said: you will need a second 1 way valve between the pump and washer jets. The pump is a simple bellow so without a 1 way valve will bush a few cc out and the suck air back in, the original set up had a 1 way valve in the washer bottle and then another was in the pump, the repros do not have this so you need to fit a valve after the pump. Thanks Dan I didn’t realise that. The pipe into to bottle just has an open end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 1 hour ago, Pimp my Vit said: I did a post on converting the manual pump switch on a Vitesse to electric , I can have a hunt for it if you want!! Yes please I’d like to look at it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 1 hour ago, daverclasper said: I thought (at least on some of them) the jets each, had a ball bearing type one valve. Think my Vit has these? It looks like the whole washer system was replaced at some point with a new aftermarket kit that has never been effective. The pump looks modern as do the T pieces and pipes. There are ball bearing type valves that I can see. The pump sucks then blows back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimp my Vit Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 5 minutes ago, Jonah said: Yes please I’d like to look at it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 18 minutes ago, Pimp my Vit said: Thank you so much, I can see the switch link but the pump isn’t available, can you remember any details so I can find an alternative? best juiian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 23 minutes ago, Jonah said: It looks like the whole washer system was replaced at some point with a new aftermarket kit that has never been effective. The pump looks modern as do the T pieces and pipes. There are ball bearing type valves that I can see. The pump sucks then blows back Meant to say there are no ball bearing valves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 14 minutes ago, Jonah said: Thank you so much, I can see the switch link but the pump isn’t available, can you remember any details so I can find an alternative? best juiian Found the pump and have ordered the bits from eBay, nice little project ahead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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