Stepdown Weather-Control question

railknight
railknight Expert Adviser
edited July 2014 in HUDSON

I've been having a heater control problem on my '53 Super Wasp.  The Weather-Control lever on the dash to the mechanism below the dash on the passenger side operate fine via the control cable.  However, there seems to be little in getting the heater to shut off and provide cooler outside air even with the dash control pushed all the way to the left.  Is there something I'm overlooking here to shut off the heat?  French Lick's coming up soon and I'd like to ride from the Chicago area to Southern Indiana without the extra heat in July!

Dan

Comments

  • J Spencer
    J Spencer Expert Adviser
    Sounds like the heater control valve is not closing completly, either because it is bad or out of adjustment. Try disconnecting the cable at the valve,close it and see if OK,  if it is re-install cable and adjust. If valve is bad Lance Walker of our club can rebuild it. He is listed in the WTN under products and services.   For a temporary fix just remove and plug heater hoses  for the time being.  Probably not going to need the heater in July anyway.

    JIm Spencer
    Western NY Chapter
  • Lance
    Lance Member
    Dan, The weather control slide mechanism only works the heater valve. Cooler air is only supplied via the cowl vent handle. If you never have had your Ranco heater control valve rebuilt then there is a possibility that your valve is stuck in the open position letting hot coolant circulate within the heater and making it hotter there than it needs to be. If you need the valve rebuilt you can do it yourself or send it to me as I rebuild them.    Lance
  • railknight
    railknight Expert Adviser

    Lance and Jim,

    Based on what you two have said, it appears the Ranco valve is the problem here.  The Ranco valve mechanism moves left and right via the cable without any interuption.  I think I'll have to remove this control valve after French Lick for repair by you, Lance.  Lance and Jim, is there any trick to removing the valve?  Does one have to drain the heater core to do this?  Thanks for any help here.

     

    Dan

     

  • Lance
    Lance Member
    Dan, The weather control slide mechanism only works the heater valve. Cooler air is only supplied via the cowl vent handle. If you never have had your Ranco heater control valve rebuilt then there is a possibility that your valve is stuck in the open position letting hot coolant circulate within the heater and making it hotter there than it needs to be. If you need the valve rebuilt you can do it yourself or send it to me as I rebuild them.    Lance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Dan, There's no trick to removing the valve. Disconnect the heater hoses after draining the radiator about halfway. . Remove the metal plate with the two screws that attaches the foam rubber padding to the engine bay side of the Ranco. Unscrew the two screws that attach the Ranco to the firewall.  Next, carefully detach the screw that holds the long capillary tube (long copper tail) to the blower box assembly. Sometime this attaches to the inside  firewall. . Thirdly, detach the Ranco from the bowden  control wire. Just slip it off after unscrewing the small phillips head screw on the valve. Done.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • railknight
    railknight Expert Adviser

    Lance,

    It looks like the removal of the Ranco heater is a no brainer, but then again there's always the unexpected.  Thanks for the information on removal. 

    For now, I'll just make the 300 mile drive to French Lick with the Super Wasp's vent windows open and the cowl vent closed much like I've been doing already and as suggested above by DocHubler.

    Dan 

     

  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Or you could temporarily bypass the heater by disconnecting its hoses and running one direct from the cylinder head outlet to the water pump inlet.
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