From: jeq@i88.isc.com (Jonathan E. Quist)
Subject: Re: Spagthorpe Werewolf, Mudvalve Problems
Organization: INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, Naperville, IL
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 17:57:15 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.182943.20579@vuse.vanderbilt.edu> dab@vuse.vanderbilt.edu (The Nashville Flash) writes:
>Whilst visiting my friend with the Werewolf the other night, he presented me
>with a conundrum.  The time that the bike spent at the bottom of the lake

Was that a latex, or natural skin conundrum?

>has apparently caused some corrosion *inside* the mudvalve.  As such, it 
>cannot be removed without first disassembling it.  Conversely, it cannot be 
>disassembled without first removing it.  Setting all Harley Davidson tools 
>aside, how does one go about approaching the cleaning and renewing of a 
>seized mudvalve?

Depending upon the position of the valve parts, it may be relatively
simple.  First, call in a local large animal veterinarian - he or she
will have portable X-ray equipment.  You should be able to determine
the position of the valve from the picture.  If it's partially open,
you may be in luck.  Drill a 3/45" Whitworth hole on the side of the
valve housing, slightly above the valve flapper.  Fish a hose in 
the side, and drip a little oxalic acid on the bushing flange.  Wait
a few minutes, then rinse with a high-pressure water stream.  The
valve should now be free enough to remove it as per normal procedures.
Once you have disassembled the valve, you can patch the hole with
a MIG welder.  (If you don't have one, you can order one from
the Mikoyan factory.)

Caution:  This procedure is safe on most Werewolves.  Unfortunately,
the first 5 production models had investment cast bronze bushing flange
attachment fittings.  (When the Scottish machinist in charge of making
the flange attachment fittings discovered that "investment casting" did
_not_ mean more pay, a general strike ensued, nearly ending Lord
Spagthorpe's dream.  The engineering staff was ordered to find a solution.
Realizing that the flange attachment fittings in the prototype were, in
fact, stepper switch insulators from an automated telephone switch,
an agreement was reached with the manufacturers, and subsequent production
models had flange attachment fittings made of Bakelite.  The strike was
quelled when the machinist was promoted to senior accounting officer.
Being a Scot, he insisted that the first five bronze fittings be installed
on production bikes, rather than wastefully discard them.)  At any rate,
if you happen to have one of the first 5, the acid treatment will permanently
fuse the mudvalve, and you'll be left with a non-running museum piece.
To determine if this is in fact the case, open the valve and inspect
the fittings.  Since you have the unenviable position of having a frozen
valve, take the bike to your local gynecologist's, after drilling two more
holes in the valve housing, and have the doctor perform a laproscopic
examination of the valve.  If you have the Bakelite fittings, proceed
as above.  If you have the cast fittings, measure the housing as carefully
as possible, and produce a replica.  The X-ray photos should help in this.
Then get a large slide hammer, and a cutting torch, and have at it.
Whatever you do, _don't_ damage the cast fittings!  If you do, the machine
will lose much of its collector value.  In fact, if you must, cut away
everything but the fittings, have them mounted on tie-tack posts, and take
them to the Spagthorpe Enthusiast's tent at the Isle of Man, and sell them.
They're worth much more alone than with the complete Werewolf.  Sad but true.

>Beyond that... does anyone have access to the factory literature or know 
>where copies can be had?  Are there any NOS mudvalve kits or (God forbid) 
>complete mudvalve assemblies "out there?"

I haven't heard of any Nitrous-Oxide-Semiconductor parts for any Spagthorpes.

>Please note that we DO have the necessary double-helix spanners as well as 
>the MV1 holder-fixture-jig assembly for when we get the damn thing loose.
>Can anyone suggest a source for pootane gas?

Yes.  Get a disposable butane lighter, and stick it up...
-- 
Jonathan E. Quist                              INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
jeq@i88.isc.com  '71 CL450-K4 "Gleep", DoD #094        Naperville, IL
	So just where did George Bush get the idea that he gets to
			decide policy for the U.N.?
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