Beginning Stages - Seat Mover Project

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking for awhile - looking over different designs and trying to decide if t of thing is doable for me. Well, I have jumped in! I made an impulse buy at the local junkyard and I want to get some feedback.

I asked about drive shafts and they basically let me look through their parts area. I was looking for u-joints with steel on each end that I could cut and weld accordingly for mounting to the base and seat.

The purpose of this post is to show what I walked away with ($25) and ask if it is acceptable. I will try to describe it first and then just add a few pictures so you can have a look. I ended up picking this one because it looks like it already has an acceptable mounting bracket. The end opposite the u-joint also has a bracket and what I would describe as a ball and socket joint. My concern is whether either end provides enough motion. The brackets on the u-joint end seem larger than some I have viewed in other threads. So ... did I buy the wrong part? Does a typical u-joint used for a seat mover actually rotate 90 degrees both ways?

Here are some pictures. The total length is about 26 inches.

Sorry about the long winded first post.

CoachKalk

The uni joint end looks like what most are using and what I will be using for my upcoming build.

yep, that will do, cut it to size and off you go.
use the uni joint end so it leans left and right but doesnt twist
I only get $20 half rusty tailshafts for my builds
once cut to size with a plate welded on the end

Great! I was worried it wouldn't have enough left/right and forward/backward movement.

Next question: I also picked up 2 wiper motors. They were pulled right out of the vehicle. I know there are some threads about modifying the wiring, but I was wondering if I should check them first to make sure they function. Can I just use a 12v power supply for a quick check?

@CoachKalk take a look here

@insanegr - thank you for that link. I had seen several threads, but that is a great one with pictures. I am wondering if I can just use a 12v power supply to make sure the motors work - just motor and juice, no h-bridge yet. If they do, I would proceed with the link you provided.

yes, just put power on them with 12v to make sure they spin, after that, then look at earth isolating them

I have a 12v battery charger I am planning to use. I know the motor is ugly, but it is all mine. I do not want to mess something up, so I figured I would ask beforehand.

Negative lead of charger to black wire, but positive to what color?

Wiper motors have different speed settings hence depending on what wire you put 12v to the speed will change. Try them and see.