Same thing happened to mine.  You can fix it right by buying the part,
removing the hose from the heater and lowering the whole hose so that
you can work on it (and get antifreeze all over inside), or you can cut
the heater hose over the spare tire and put in a ball valve from home
depot (I did it in a pinch, I will fix it right sometime).

Hotch
86 GL
Philly

> Date:    Mon, 1 Oct 2001 12:09:21 -0700
> From:    mike miller
> Subject: front heater valve
>
> Oh, Listees,
>
> My front heater valve in my '85 Westy seems to be jammed open.  I got the
> lever moved over to the left and the wire is in the housing but still heat
> comes out.
>
> Anyone know how to get at that valve to shut it manually, and what to do to
> fix it so that the lever operates it?
>
> TIA
>
> Mike
>
>
--
Richard Hotchkiss
http://www.hotstrings-inc.com