"Goof-proof" anti drain valve sequel (2012)

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Interlocks work perfectly, until the day you need them. Stick around factories and power stations long enough and you'll learn that.

The only way to be sure the valve is not closed is to have no valve.
 
Interlocks work perfectly, until the day you need them. Stick around factories and power stations long enough and you'll learn that.

The only way to be sure the valve is not closed is to have no valve.


Some are slow learners. Some refuse to learn. Oh, well!

I'm betting there is someone out there whose Commando engine was destroyed by an inline valve and that person insists on using same, even after a costly rebuild.
 
Ignition key is required to turn oil off. With oil off ignition key is locked in valve.
To start engine you need the ignition key, which you can only get by turning on oil.

Goof proof.

Glen

Glen

Your device is the slickest anti-sump device I have seen. For the second time I say, you could sell copies. Yes, I know you do not have the facilities to produce them, but you might sell the rights to someone who has.

Anyone not familiar with Glen's valve, and is inclined to use an inline valve, owes it to himself to do a search on this Forum for more info.

Slick
 
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BP says the accident was caused by the failure of eight different safety systems that were meant to prevent this kind of incident:

Do you expect me to believe BP????
 
FWIW, I am also a firmly in the ‘put nowt twixt tank and pump’ camp.

However... have you guys actually seen Glens solution?

Within all reasonable possibilities, it is not possible to run the engine with the valve closed.

It requires no electrical connections, so adds no complexity / potential failure modes there.

There are only two possible failure modes that I can see:

1. Glen were to deliberately hot wire the bike to avoid using his key. Clearly, highly unlikely.
OR
2. Somehow he accidentally used his spare key to start the bike. Easily countermeasured by keeping it stored separately and having a big key fob on it saying “SPARE KEY”.

It is actually a very intelligent design in being probably the simplest, yet most error proofed, version there is.

It’s not suitable for everyone though, as it won’t work for bikes that don’t actually have an ignition key (like mine)!
 
Fast Eddie said:
Somehow he accidentally used his spare key to start the bike. Easily countermeasured by keeping it stored separately and having a big key fob on it saying “SPARE KEY”.

Easily, but not all that robustly countermeasured by "writing something on it."

Yes, the captive key tap is an ingenious piece of design. All credit for that.
 
Depends how big and bright the “SPARE KEY” fob is !

Bit like a ‘remove before flight’ kinda thing.
 
I don’t understand all the fuss about the risk of a manual valve .
If it is intended to stop exessive wet sumping , you certainly don’t close it after each trip ?
Everyone in his right mind will do a list of preliminary checks after a prolonged standstill :
Tire pressure , brakes , battery , lights , oil ... OIL ??
If you don't , you only deserve to break down .
 
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I don’t understand all the fuss about the risk of a manual valve .

I only personally know one person who forgot to open that valve on a Norton International. That's not many, so maybe it's ok (that's sarcasm)!

If it is intended to stop exessive wet sumping , you certainly don’t close it after each trip ?

Some people do. Some other people intend a long lay-up, but then promptly go back on the bike.

Everyone in his right mind will do a list of preliminary checks after a prolonged standstill :
Tire pressure , brakes , battery , lights , oil ... OIL ??

You don't have to be out of your right mind to miss out a check or part of a check.


If you don't, you only deserve to break down .

I probably do, but I don't want to get what I deserve.
 
As Nigel says, spare key marked " Spare" and I've taped it in a hidden spot on the bike.
Most likely it will stay taped there for all the years ahead.
If not, it would be because I've lost the main key while out touring somewhere.
Unlikely, but it could happen. When this does happen it's nice to have a hidden key on the bike/car. You don't have to remember to bring a second key, it's always on there.
Away from home riding means the oil is on. The hidden key gets you home. Its just a regular key, it won't turn the oil on or off.

As Ludwig pointed out, you only use the valve a few times per year at most.
It's mainly for winter layup.

With this particular setup, there is no need to add " turn on oil" to the checklist
I got on the bike the other day after having it sit for months with oil off.
First thought was, " Why isn't the key in the ignition?" Second thought was " Where did I leave the key?"
Third thought " Oh, right this is the bike with the key- valve"
I wasn't going anywhere on that bike without getting to the third thought.

Glen
 
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Guys, .... Glen's valve is as goof proof as it gets. The OP's object is achieved. Time to close this thread.

For anyone wanting an automatic goof proof valve, open a new thread. That one can run on forever.

Slick
 
Guys, .... Glen's valve is as goof proof as it gets. The OP's object is achieved. Time to close this thread. Slick

Not yet! We all (well at least I am) are very interested what Glen's valve actually looks like and how it works?
 
I had some photos up in an old thread, but Photobucket ate them.
I'll take some more and add them here in a day or two.
 
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