Water stops flowing while washer is filling

The hot water on my washing machine abruptly stopped flowing within the first couple of seconds. After a bit of checking I found that the fill hoses behind the washer are of the sort that automatically stop the water flow if it exceeds a certain rate. They are several years old and apparently the valve on the hot water hose has started to malfunction -- it stops the water at a lower pressure than it should.

Temporary workaround: If you absolutely MUST wash a few loads, you might be able to get it working by reversing the hose. Disconnect it from both the washer and the valve, then turn the hose around and connect it back again. The valve should not interfere with water flowing in the other direction.

Permanent fix: Replace the fill hose as soon as possible to help prevent flooding accidents. These hoses can't prevent flooding in all situations, but as they say... better safe than soggy. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Something else just occurred to me as I was writing this. Reversing the flow through the hose for a few cycles of the machine might actually help to unclog the flow-stopping valve. Before plunking down the cash to replace the hose, try reinstalling the hose in the correct direction and test to see if the water flows normally. I will try this and post a follow-up as soon as I can.