Executive summary: If you have a 240 wagon with a working tailgate wiper, I'd recommend re-lubing the wiper shaft before you burn out a motor. You can do it in about half an hour with things more or less in place, working inside the tailgate. If it seizes, the motor will burn out before the fuse blows. Then you'll have a used parts hunt plus a couple of hours to remove and refit. You can check a used motor with an ohmmeter across the gray (power) terminal and the housing (ground). Should be around 68 ohms for a functional motor. Oh, and if you have to replace the motor, make sure you check the tailgate central lock adjustment *before* you button things back up.

The tailgate wiper shaft is a chromed piece that spins in two bronze bushings. After fixing the broken tailgate wires, I discovered R's shaft was frozen in place. The motor was also burned out, presumably because of increasing resistance from the plain bearings in the shaft.

While searching out used replacements (new is many hundreds for the pair), I was able to persuade the old shaft out of its bearing tube after removing a circlip, washer, thin spacer, and o-ring securing the top of the shaft. The shaft had long ago lost its grease and worn away the chrome on the top (closest to wiper, where outside elements would sneak in over time) end, which led to corrosion of the shaft and seizing in the tube. I was able to clean it up with a scouring pad, grease it and get it working tolerably well again by hand.

The first replacement candidate was another burned out motor, perhaps due to the same cause. The second candidate was a functional pair. Sliding the wiper shaft out of its housing showed the very beginnings of chrome loss and corrosion in the same place as R's near the top of the shaft. I cleaned it up, greased the shaft with waterproof grease, and crossed my fingers. I wanted grease that would stay put and help keep water out, but I think I might have gone too thick. The shaft turns smoothly but feels kind of like it's spinning in maple syrup. Hopefully my choice doesn't burn out another motor.

Best,
joe
portland, or
93 245 319k