A GUIDE 
 
 FOR 
 
 LOCATING LOCOMOTIVE 
 ENGINE MACHINERY 
 DEFECTS 
 
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 OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
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 IIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 A 2W 
 
 :"B 1 0 R:co 
 
A GUIDE 
 
 For Locating 
 
 ocomotive Engine Machinery 
 Defects 
 
 Practical Help for Engineers, Firemen 
 and Machinists, in Setting Forth 
 the Defects and the Tests 
 for Defects 
 
 BY 
 
 H. T. HAMILTON 
 1592 MT. VERNON AVENUE 
 COLUMBUS, OHIO 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1916 
 BY 
 
 H. T. HAMILTON 
 
 Press of The Heer Printing C 
 Columbus, Ohio 
 
<. G R1.1 34 
 
 i Hlg i 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 B ROM years of practical ex¬ 
 perience in the different rail¬ 
 road shops, with different 
 ■lasses of engine machinery, I am 
 )ffering this little pocket guide to the 
 nen who operate and care for the 
 engine machinery, and who desire to 
 mow the latest and best methods for 
 ocating the defects; setting forth the 
 defects, with the tests for locating the 
 same. The writer has well in mind 
 that much more might be said in re¬ 
 gard to the machinery defects, but it 
 is not the intention to show and offer 
 such, but only to show that which 
 will prove beneficial and practical. 
 
 These methods have given satisfac¬ 
 tion and it is also suggested that when 
 possible, the method here given be 
 tested out, as we know practice makes 
 perfect. 
 
 : - i . . 
 
INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Valves and Cylinders. 7 
 
 The Driving Gear. 22 
 
 The Running Gear.. 26 
 
 To Locate the Valve Strip Blow. 31 
 
 To Locate the Valve Seat Blow. 33 
 
 To Locate the Defective Bridge. 35 
 
 To Locate the Underbalance Valve 
 
 Blow . 37 
 
 To Locate the Defective Pressure 
 
 Plate . 39 
 
 To Locate both Cylinder Packing 
 
 Blowing . 42 
 
 To Locate the inside admission Piston 
 
 Valve Blow . 44 
 
 To Locate the Valve Rings Broken.. 46 
 To Locate the Cylinder Packing and 
 
 the Valve Blowing. 48 
 
 To Locate the Defective Exhaust 
 
 Ring . 50 
 
 To Locate the Worn Cylinder Packing. 53 
 To Locate the Turned Cylinder Bush¬ 
 ing . 56 
 
 To Locate the Cylinder Pounds. 58 
 
 To Locate if the Guide Bars need clos¬ 
 ing or are bent. 60. 
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
6 
 
 Index. 
 
 page 
 
 To Locate the Main Rod and Main 
 
 Box Pounds . 60 
 
 To Locate the Engine out of tram... 61 
 To Locate the Loose Wedges and 
 
 how to adjust same. 62 
 
 The Mallet Engine. 61 
 
 Don’ts . 69 
 
THE VALVES AND CYLINDERS. 
 
 The superheat engine requires 
 much more attention than the satu¬ 
 rated engine. The valve and the 
 cylinder packing rings of the super¬ 
 heat engine require more spring and 
 more opening, for there is a much 
 higher degree of heat in the cylinders. 
 This expands the packing rings more 
 and the spring of the rings is soon 
 destroyed, even if well lubricated. 
 
 The piston head should be pro¬ 
 vided with dowels to prevent the 
 rings from turning around. When 
 the packing rings turn around in the 
 cylinders the rings wear out much 
 faster and are more liable to become 
 broken. The packing rings should 
 be fit with only the opening required 
 for the expansion. If the opening is 
 too large too much steam escapes, 
 which helps to destroy the lubrica¬ 
 tion and decrease the power. 
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
8 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 The slide valve is the most com¬ 
 plicated to test, and when overbal¬ 
 anced causes too much friction on 
 the seat, which continually cuts and 
 hollows out the seat, even if well 
 lubricated. 
 
 The piston valve packing rings 
 wear smaller and the steam chest 
 bushings wear larger in the middle, 
 where the valves are used most. As 
 a rule, the valves are not used in the 
 extreme position except when the en¬ 
 gine is starting or drifting. For this 
 reason the piston valve shows the 
 strongest blow in the central position 
 unless the packing rings are broken, 
 which would then cause the valve to 
 blow in all position. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that a 
 slight blow out of the exhaust or the 
 cylinder cock or cocks should not be 
 considered, and when there is a 
 strong blow out of the exhaust, the 
 steam pressure out of the cylinder 
 cock or cocks will be of the same 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 9 
 
 strong nature as that out of the ex¬ 
 haust, which will indicate the loca-~ 
 tion of the defect. 
 
 Fig. i shows the slide valve in the 
 central position, with steam lap, line 
 in line, or, in other words, no ex¬ 
 
 haust clearance. Fig. i also shows 
 the defective valve strip, and why 
 there would be a strong blow out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of the cylinder cocks, even if the 
 valve had exhaust clearance. The 
 blow is so direct into the exhaust 
 
10 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 that the steam pressure would be 
 very slight out of the cylinder cocks. 
 The position of the Valve will be 
 found as shown in Fig. i, with either 
 crank on the top or bottom quarter, 
 with the reversing lever in the cen¬ 
 tral position; but in some cases 
 where the valves are out of square, 
 or the reach rod too long or too 
 short, the above would not prove 
 true, so the best method is to move 
 the reversing lever until the valve 
 shuts the steam off from the cylinder. 
 In case the valve seat or the valve 
 rings are leaking, the reversing lever 
 is to be moved until the steam pres¬ 
 sure is equal out of the cylinder 
 cocks. 
 
 Figure 2 shows the position of the 
 valve with the defective valve strip, 
 with either crank on the bottom 
 quarter and with the reversing lever 
 in the extreme forward position. 
 The front cylinder port is then wide 
 open to live steam and the rear 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 11 
 
 cylinder port is wide open to the ex¬ 
 haust, showing the blow into the ex¬ 
 haust and out of the back cylinder 
 cock. Then, with the reversing lever 
 in the extreme backward position, 
 the position of the valve would be as 
 
 that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 also 
 shows why the defective valve strip 
 shows a stronger steam pressure out 
 of the cylinder cock or cocks when 
 in either of the extreme positions, 
 because the small hole in the top of 
 the valve is then more directly over 
 
12 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 the cylinder port, which is open to 
 the exhaust. 
 
 Fig. 3 shows the position of the 
 valve with the defective bridge, with 
 either crank on the top quarter and 
 with the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 
 treme forward position. Fig. 3 also 
 shows why there would be a blow out 
 of the exhaust only when the rear 
 cylinder port is opened to live steam. 
 (On the class of engines where the 
 exhaust slobber cocks are found they 
 can be used to some advantage to 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 13 
 
 locate the defective bridge.) Then 
 with the reversing lever, in the ex¬ 
 treme backward position, the posi¬ 
 tion of the valve would be as that 
 shown in Fig. 2, and the steam would 
 be shut off from the defective, bridge. 
 
 Fig. 4 shows the position of the 
 valve when the front port opening is 
 taken. When point A is at point B, 
 or one sixty-fourth of an inch open, 
 then the valve is in the correct posi¬ 
 tion for scribing the port opening on 
 the valve stem or the valve rod. With 
 
14 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 a tram placed at some stationary 
 point, scribe point E on the valve 
 stem. Then move the valve ahead 
 until point C is at point D, or one 
 sixty-fourth of an inch open. The 
 valve is then in the correct position 
 for scribing the rear port opening on 
 the valve stem at point F, and half 
 of the distance between point F and 
 point E will always give the amount 
 that the valve laps beyond each cyl¬ 
 inder port, as that shown in Fig. i. 
 The inside admission piston valve port 
 openings are taken by performing the 
 same operation, only the front port 
 opening would be at point F, and the 
 rear port opening would be at point 
 E. Fig. 4 also shows the position in 
 which the under balanced valve lifts 
 from its seat. After the front cyl¬ 
 inder port has been opened wide to 
 live steam and then the valve moved 
 ahead to the point shown, the steam 
 pressure in the cylinder lifts the 
 valve from its seat, which causes a 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 15 
 
 very strong blow out of the exhaust 
 and the rear cylinder cock. 
 
 Fig. 5 shows the inside admission 
 piston valve in the central position 
 with steam lap, exhaust clearance, 
 the admission rings A and B defec¬ 
 
 tive, and shows the steam blowing 
 into the exhaust and out of both cyl¬ 
 inder cocks. This position of the 
 valve will be found with either crank 
 on the top or bottom quarter with 
 the reversing lever in the central po¬ 
 sition. It can be seen from Fig. i 
 
16 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 and Fig. 5 that a valve with steam 
 lap is a valve that laps beyond each 
 cylinder port. 
 
 Fig. 6 shows the position of the 
 valve with the admission ring A and 
 the exhaust ring D defective, and 
 
 shows the steam blowing into the ex¬ 
 haust. The position of this valve will 
 then be found with either crank on 
 the bottom quarter and with the re¬ 
 versing lever in the extreme forward 
 position. (On the class of engines 
 where the extension valve stem is 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 17 
 
 used, by slacking off the cap on the 
 front valve ahead, it can be proven 
 that the packing rings A and D are 
 blowing.) Then, with the reversing 
 lever in the extreme backward po¬ 
 sition, the position of the valve would 
 be as that shown in Fig. 7, and the 
 packing rings A and D would still be 
 blowing into the exhaust and out of 
 the front cylinder cock. It can be 
 found from the position of Fig. 1 
 and Fig. 6 how to tell the inside ad¬ 
 mission valve from the outside ad¬ 
 mission valve, regardless of the de¬ 
 sign of the engine or the valve gear. 
 The inside admission valve, when 
 either crank is below the center, 
 would move in the same direction as 
 the reversing lever is moved and the 
 outside admission valve would move 
 in the opposite direction. The inside 
 admission valve, when either crank 
 is above the center, would move in 
 the opposite direction from which the 
 reversing lever is moved and the out- 
 
18 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 side admission valve would move in 
 the same direction as the reversing 
 lever is moved. 
 
 Fig. 7 shows the position of the 
 valve with the admission ring B and 
 the exhaust ring C defective, and the 
 
 steam blowing into the exhaust, with 
 either crank on the top quarter and 
 with the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme forward position. By slack¬ 
 ing off the valve stem gland it can 
 be proven that the rings B and C are 
 blowing. Then, with the reversing 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 19 
 
 lever in the extreme backward posi¬ 
 tion, the position of the valve will be 
 as that shown in Fig. 6, and the rings 
 B and C would still be blowing into 
 the exhaust and out of the back cyl¬ 
 inder cock. 
 
 Fig. 8 shows the valve with the de¬ 
 fective rings A, B, C, and D, and 
 shows the steam blowing from each 
 end of the valve into the exhaust, 
 which admits the steam into each end 
 of the cylinder at the same time, re¬ 
 gardless of the position of the valve. 
 
20 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 In this case no one can tell but that 
 the cylinder packing rings are blow¬ 
 ing, even though the cylinder packing 
 rings may be steam tight. 
 
 'Fig. 9 shows the position of the 
 valve with lead, and the cylinder 
 
 packing ring E blowing into the ex¬ 
 haust and out of the back cylinder 
 cock. Lead is a valve which opens 
 the cylinder port when the piston is 
 at the end or the beginning of each 
 stroke. The position of the valve re¬ 
 mains the same regardless of the po- 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 21 
 
 sition of the reversing lever, which 
 would cause a constant roar out of 
 the exhaust while testing the oppo¬ 
 site side. Then with the crank on 
 either quarter and the reversing lever 
 in the central position the valve and 
 piston would be as shown in Fig. 5. 
 The valve would then shut the steam 
 off from the cylinder. 
 
22 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 THE DRIVING GEAR. 
 
 It is very important to see that the 
 reach rod is kept the proper length. 
 Plutnb the reversing lever, then see 
 if the vertical arm of the lifting shaft 
 is plumb; if plumb, the reach rod is 
 then of the proper length. If the 
 vertical arm of the lifting shaft leans 
 to the right the reach rod is too long; 
 if the vertical arm of the lifting shaft 
 leans to the left, the reach rod is too 
 short and should be adjusted until 
 the vertical arm of the lifting shaft is 
 plumb with the reversing lever. 
 
 If the links or reversing yokes are 
 out of the central position when the 
 vertical arm of the lifting shaft is 
 plumb, the vertical arm is not prop¬ 
 erly set or the gear reach rods are 
 not properly adjusted. 
 
 If the reversing lever operates too 
 hard with either crank on the top or 
 bottom quarter, look for the trouble 
 at the bottom end of the reversing 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 23 
 
 lever or the reach rod connections or 
 the lifting shaft boxes. 
 
 If the reversing lever operates too 
 hard only when the right crank is on 
 either quarter, look for the trouble in 
 the right valve gear. If it operates 
 too hard only when the left crank is 
 on either quarter, look for the trouble 
 in the left valve gear. 
 
 To find if the lifting shaft boxes 
 should be closed, pry the shaft up and 
 down in its boxes and if the lost mo¬ 
 tion is over one-eighth of an inch the 
 boxes should be closed or rebushed. 
 
 The valve gear should not be al¬ 
 lowed to strike any of its parts, and 
 the parts pried up and down, back 
 and forth, to find the badly worn pins 
 and bushings. 
 
 When the side play in any part of 
 the valve gear becomes over one- 
 eighth of an inch it causes defects, 
 especially on the baker gear, and 
 should be taken up by using brass 
 washers. 
 
24 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 When the lost motion in the valve 
 cross-heads becomes over one-eighth 
 of an inch it causes defective valve 
 stems, and the guides should be closed 
 or the worn parts replaced. 
 
 When the valves become out of 
 square they should be squared up, for 
 the engine will not make the time or 
 handle the tonnage, and will burn 
 enough more fuel in one trip to pay 
 for the needed repairs. 
 
 When the front end of the cross¬ 
 head is over one-sixteenth of an inch 
 loose in the front end' of the guides, 
 or the back end of the cross-head is 
 over one-sixteenth of an inch loose 
 in the back end of the guides, the 
 guides should then be closed. The 
 side play should also be kept out of 
 the cross-heads. 
 
 The brasses at the front end of the 
 main rods should be tried often for 
 pound, and the lost motion should be 
 kept out by keeping the brasses keyed 
 up. The brasses at the back end of 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 25 
 
 the main rods should be kept keyed 
 up tight in the rod, and when the 
 brasses become over one-sixteenth of 
 an inch larger than the pin the brasses 
 should then be closed. When the side 
 play in the back end of the main rods 
 or side rod bushings become over 
 one-eighth of an inch, it also should 
 be taken up. 
 
26 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 THE RUNNING GEAR. 
 
 The engine frame should be kept 
 level over the driving boxes and 
 should not be allowed to strike the 
 boxes. Where the engine is low on 
 one side it sometimes causes the 
 flange or flanges to cut on the oppo¬ 
 site side. When the driving tire 
 flanges start to cut on either side, the 
 side that is being cut should be lined 
 ahead. The engine truck wheel also, 
 should be lined ahead, when the 
 flange starts to cut. Then one pair 
 of wheels will last as long as three 
 pair under former conditions. 
 
 Fig. io shows the driver and the 
 position of the right lead engine 
 cranks. When the right crank A is 
 on the forward center the left crank 
 B is on the top quarter. When the 
 engine is moving forward, the right 
 crank A is always in the lead of the 
 left crank B. Then, when the engine 
 is moving backward, the left crank B 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 27 
 
 is always in the lead of the right 
 crank A. Fig. io also shows how to 
 determine the stroke of the piston. 
 
 Twice the distance from the center 
 of either crank A or B to the center 
 of the axle E will always give the 
 
28 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 stroke of the piston. For example, 
 twice the distance from the center of 
 the crank B to the center of the axle 
 E is two times fourteen and one-half 
 inches, or twenty-nine inches, the 
 stroke of the piston. Fig. io explains 
 how the cranks should be placed for 
 testing the right lead engine for valve 
 and cylinder packing defects. For 
 testing the right side the right crank 
 B should be placed on the bottom 
 quarter; then the left crank A will 
 be, as shown on the forward center. 
 For testing the left side, the left crank 
 B should be placed on the top quarter; 
 then the right crank A will be, as 
 shown, on the forward center. 
 
 Fig. ii shows the driver and the 
 position of the left lead engine 
 cranks. When the left crank D is on 
 the forward center the right crank C 
 is on the top quarter. When the en¬ 
 gine is moving forward, the left 
 crank D is always in the lead of the 
 right crank C. Then, when the en- 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Detects. 29 
 
 gine is moving backward, the right 
 crank C is always in the lead of the 
 left crank D. Fig. n explains how 
 the cranks should be placed for test¬ 
 ing the left lead engine for valve and 
 cylinder packing defects. For testing 
 the right side, the right crank C 
 should be placed on the top quarter; 
 then the left crank D will be as 
 shown, on the forward center. For 
 testing the left side, the left crank C 
 should be placed on the bottom quar¬ 
 ter; then the right crank D will be 
 as shown, on the forward center. 
 
 To find if it is necessary to test 
 the engine for valve and cylinder 
 packing defects, place the crank or 
 cranks in the above mentioned posi¬ 
 tion and move the reversing lever 
 very slowly from one extreme po¬ 
 sition to the other; then, if a blow is 
 heard out of the exhaust, use the fol¬ 
 lowing instructions. 
 
 The outside admission piston valve 
 defects, can also be located by per- 
 
30 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 forming the same operation, as that 
 used for the slide valve. Of course 
 the engine throttle is to be opened, 
 and the steam leaks of the steam chest 
 and cylinder apparatus, can all be lo¬ 
 cated when the tests are performed. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 31 
 
 TO LOCATE THE VALVE STRIP 
 BLOW. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end 
 of the cylinder. A sharp blow out 
 of the exhaust and the back cylinder 
 cock indicate that the valve is blow¬ 
 ing. Place the reversing lever in the 
 central position. A sharp blow out 
 of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the cylinder cocks indi¬ 
 cate that the valve strips are blowing. 
 Then place the reversing lever in the 
 extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. A sharp blow 
 out of the exhaust and the front cyl¬ 
 inder cock proves that the right valve 
 strips are blowing. 
 
 To prove if the constant blow out 
 of the exhaust all comes from the 
 right side, place the left crank on the 
 
32 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 top quarter and the reversing lever 
 in the extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. A sharp blow 
 out of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the front cylinder cock 
 indicate that the cylinder packing is 
 steam tight. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. The 
 same blow out of the exhaust and no 
 steam pressure out of the cylinder 
 cocks indicate that the valve is steam 
 tight. Then place the reversing lever 
 in the extreme backward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 front end of the cylinder. The same 
 blow out of the exhaust and no 
 steam pressure out of the back cyl¬ 
 inder cock prove that the left side is 
 steam tight, and that the constant 
 blow out of the exhaust all comes 
 from the right valve strips. See Fig. 
 i and Fig. 2 for a strip blow. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 33 
 
 TO LOCATE THE VALVE SEAT 
 BLOW. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. A shrill blow 
 out of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the back cylinder cock 
 indicate that the right valve and the 
 right cylinder packing are steam tight. 
 Place the reversing lever in the cen¬ 
 tral position. The same shrill blow 
 out of the exhaust but no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the cylinder £Ocks prove 
 that the right valve is steam tight. 
 Then place the reversing lever in the 
 extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. The same blow 
 out of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the front cylinder cock 
 prove that the right cylinder packing 
 is steam tight. 
 
34 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 Next place the left crank on the 
 top quarter and the reversing lever 
 in the extreme forward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 back end of the cylinder. A shrill 
 blow out of the exhaust and the front 
 cylinder cock indicates that the left 
 valve is blowing. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. A 
 slight blow out of the exhaust and 
 a strong steam pressure out of both 
 cylinder cocks indicate that the valve 
 seat is blowing. Then place the re¬ 
 versing lever in the extreme back¬ 
 ward position. The steam is thus 
 admitted into the front end of the 
 cylinder. A shrill blow out of the 
 exhaust and the back cylinder cock 
 proves that the left valve seat is 
 blowing, when the valve is in all 
 positions. It is not necessary to ex¬ 
 amine the cylinder packing in this 
 case because the sound of the blow 
 did not indicate a cylinder packing 
 4 blow. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 35 
 
 TO LOCATE THE DEFECTIVE 
 BRIDGE. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bot¬ 
 tom quarter and the reversing lever 
 in the extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. A roar out of the 
 exhaust and no steam pressure out 
 of the back cylinder cock indicate 
 that the cylinder packing is steam 
 tight. Place the reversing lever in the 
 central position. The same roar out 
 of the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of the cylinder cocks prove that 
 the valve is steam tight. Then place 
 the reversing lever in the extreme 
 backward position. The steam is thus 
 admitted into the back end of the cyl¬ 
 inder. The same roar out of the ex¬ 
 haust and no steam pressure out of 
 the front cylinder cock prove that the 
 right side is steam tight, and that the 
 roar comes from the left side. 
 
 Next place the left crank on the 
 
36 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 top quarter and the reversing lever in 
 the extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. No blow out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of the front cylinder cock in¬ 
 dicate that the left cylinder packing 
 is steam tight. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. No blow 
 out of the exhaust and no steam 
 pressure out of the cylinder cocks 
 prove that the valve is steam tight. 
 Then place the reversing lever in the 
 extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. A roar out of 
 the exhaust and a slight steam blow 
 out of the back cylinder cock, in¬ 
 dicate a defective bridge. There be¬ 
 ing a blow only when the front 
 cylinder port is open to live steam, 
 prove that the bridge between the 
 front cylinder port and the exhaust is 
 defective. See Fig. 3 for defective 
 bridge. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 37 
 
 TO LOCATE THE UNDERBALANCE 
 VALVE BLOW. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. No blow out of 
 the exhaust or no steam pressure out 
 of the back cylinder cock indicate that 
 the right cylinder packing is steam 
 tight. Then slowly move the revers¬ 
 ing lever toward the central position 
 until a blow is heard. A very strong 
 blow out of the exhaust and a strong 
 steam pressure out of the back cyl¬ 
 inder cock indicate that the right 
 valve is blowing. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. No 
 blow out of the exhaust or no steam 
 pressure out of the cylinder cocks 
 prove that the valve seat is steam 
 tight. Then place the reversing lever 
 in the extreme backward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 
38 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 back end of the cylinder. No blow 
 out of the exhaust or no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the front cylinder cock 
 prove that the right cylinder packing 
 is steam tight. 
 
 Slowly move the reversing lever 
 toward the central position until a 
 blow is heard. A very strong blow 
 out of the exhaust and a strong steam 
 pressure out of the front cylinder 
 cock indicate, from the position of the 
 reversing lever, that the valve has 
 closed the cylinder port and the steam 
 pressure in the cylinder is greater 
 than the steam pressure on the top of 
 the valve. This causes the valve to 
 be lifted from its seat, which causes 
 the blow. By having a blow only 
 when the reversing lever was in the 
 above mentioned positions proves that 
 the valve is not properly balanced. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 39 
 
 TO LOCATE THE DEFECTIVE 
 PRESSURE PLATE. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bot¬ 
 tom quarter and the reversing lever in 
 the extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. No blow out of 
 the exhaust or no steam pressure out 
 of the back cylinder cock indicate that 
 the right cylinder packing is steam 
 tight. Place the reversing lever in 
 the central position. No blow out of 
 the exhaust or no steam pressure out 
 of the cylinder cocks prove that the 
 right valve is steam tight. Then place 
 the reversing lever in the extreme 
 backward position. The steam is thus 
 admitted into the back end of the cyl¬ 
 inder. No blow out of the exhaust 
 or no steam pressure out of the front 
 cylinder cock, prove that the right side 
 is steam tight. 
 
 .Next place the-left crank on the 
 top quarter and the reversing lever in 
 
40 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 the extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. A very sharp 
 blow out of the exhaust and a strong 
 steam pressure out of the front cyl¬ 
 inder cock indicate that the left valve 
 is blowing. Move the reversing lever 
 back three notches and no blow is 
 heard. Place the reversing lever in 
 the central position. No blow out of 
 the exhaust or no steam pressure out 
 of the cylinder cocks prove that the 
 left valve is steam tight. Then place 
 the reversing lever in the extreme 
 backward position. The steam is thus 
 admitted into the front end of the cyl¬ 
 inder. No blow out of the exhaust 
 or no steam pressure out of the back 
 cylinder cock prove that the left cyl¬ 
 inder packing is steam tight. 
 
 Having a blow only when the re¬ 
 versing lever was in the extreme for¬ 
 ward position indicates that the front 
 end of the pressure plate is defective, 
 or too much travel of the valve, which 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 41 
 
 caused the blow. If the valve would 
 blow with the reversing lever in both 
 of the extreme positions, it would in¬ 
 dicate that the pressure plate was too 
 short, or too much travel of the valve. 
 
42 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE BOTH CYLINDER 
 PACKING BLOWING. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end 
 of the cylinder. A roar out of the 
 exhaust and a strong steam pressure 
 out of the back cylinder cock indicate 
 that the right cylinder packing is 
 blowing. Place the reversing lever in 
 the central position. A roar out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of the cylinder cocks prove that 
 the right valve is steam tight, and the 
 roar out of the exhaust comes from 
 the left side. 
 
 Then place the reversing lever in 
 the extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. A roar out of 
 the exhaust and a strong steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the front cylinder cock 
 prove that the right cylinder packing 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 43 
 
 is blowing. Next place the left crank 
 on the top quarter and the reversing 
 lever in the extreme forward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 back end of the cylinder. A roar out 
 of the exhaust and a strong steam 
 pressure out of the front cylinder 
 cock indicate that the left cylinder 
 packing is blowing. Place the revers¬ 
 ing lever in the central position. The 
 same blow out of the exhaust and no 
 steam pressure out of the cylinder 
 cocks prove that the left valve is 
 steam tight. Then place the revers¬ 
 ing lever in the extreme backward po¬ 
 sition. The steam is thus admitted 
 into the front end of the cylinder. 
 The same roar out of the exhaust and 
 a strong steam pressure out of the 
 back cylinder cock prove that the left 
 cylinder packing is blowing. 
 
44 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE INSIDE ADMIS¬ 
 SION PISTON VALVE BLOW. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end of 
 the cylinder. A slight blow out of the 
 exhaust and a slight steam pressure 
 out of the back cylinder cock indicate 
 that the right valve is blowing. Place 
 the reversing lever in the central po¬ 
 sition. A strong blow out of the ex¬ 
 haust and a strong steam pressure out 
 of both cylinder cocks prove that the 
 right valve rings or the steam chest 
 bushings are badly worn, which causes 
 the blow. Then place the reversing 
 lever in the extreme backward posi¬ 
 tion. The steam is thus admitted into 
 the back end of the cylinder. A slight 
 blow out of the exhaust and a slight 
 steam pressure out of the front cyl¬ 
 inder cock indicate that the blow 
 comes from the right valve. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 45 
 
 Next place the left crank on the top 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. A blow out of the ex¬ 
 haust and no steam pressure out of 
 the front cylinder cock indicate that 
 the left cylinder packing is steam 
 tight. Place the reversing lever in the 
 central position. The same blow out 
 of the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of the cylinder cocks prove that 
 the left valve is steam tight. Then 
 place the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme backward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end of 
 the cylinder. The same blow out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure out 
 of the back cylinder cock proves that 
 the left side is steam tight and the 
 constant blow out of the exhaust 
 comes from the right valve. 
 
46 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE VALVE RINGS 
 BROKEN. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bot¬ 
 tom quarter and the reversing lever 
 in the extreme forward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 front end of the cylinder. A roar out 
 of the exhaust and a strong steam 
 pressure out of the back cylinder cock 
 indicate that the right cylinder pack¬ 
 ing is blowing. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. A roar 
 out of the exhaust and a strong steam 
 pressure out of both cylinder cocks 
 prove that the packing rings at both 
 ends of the valve are blowing. Then 
 place the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme backward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. The same roar out of 
 the exhaust and a strong steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the front cylinder cock 
 indicate that the cylinder packing is 
 blowing. In this case, no one can tell 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 47 
 
 but that the right cylinder packing is 
 blowing too and it should also be ex¬ 
 amined. 
 
 Next place the left crank on the top 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. A roar out of the ex¬ 
 haust and no steam pressure out of 
 the front cylinder cock indicate that 
 the left cylinder packing is steam 
 tight. Place the reversing lever in 
 the central position. The same blow 
 out of the exhaust but no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of either cylinder cock prove 
 that the left valve rings are steam 
 tight. Then place the reversing lever 
 in the extreme backward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 front end of the cylinder. The same 
 roar out of the exhaust but no steam 
 pressure out of the back cylinder 
 cock prove that the left cylinder pack¬ 
 ing is steam tight, and the constant 
 roar out of the exhaust comes from 
 the right side. 
 
48 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE CYLINDER PACK¬ 
 ING AND THE VALVE BLOW¬ 
 ING. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. A roar out of 
 the exhaust and a strong steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the back cylinder cock 
 indicate that the right cylinder pack¬ 
 ing is blowing. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. The 
 same roar out of the exhaust and no 
 steam pressure out of either cylinder 
 cock prove that the right valve rings 
 are steam tight. Then place the re¬ 
 versing lever in the extreme backward 
 position. The steam is thus admitted 
 into the back end of the cylinder. The 
 same roar out of the exhaust and a 
 strong steam pressure out of the front 
 cylinder cock prove that the right cyl¬ 
 inder packing is blowing. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 49 
 
 Next place the left crank on the top 
 quarter and the reversing lever in 'the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. A roar out of the ex¬ 
 haust and a strong steam pressure out 
 of the front cylinder cock indicate 
 that the left cylinder packing is blow¬ 
 ing. Place the reversing lever in the 
 central position. The same roar out 
 of the exhaust and a strong steam 
 pressure out of the front cylinder 
 cock, but no steam pressure out of the 
 back cylinder cock, prove that the 
 packing rings at the front end of the 
 left valve are blowing. Then place 
 the reversing lever in the extreme 
 backward position. The steam is thus 
 admitted into the front end of the cyl¬ 
 inder. The same roar out of the ex¬ 
 haust and no steam pressure out of 
 the back cylinder cock prove that the 
 left cylinder packing is steam tight, 
 and also that the packing rings at the 
 front end of the left valve are blow¬ 
 ing. 
 
50 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE DEFECTIVE 
 EXHAUST RING. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end 
 of the cylinder. A roar out of the 
 exhaust and no steam pressure out 
 of the back cylinder cock indicate that 
 the right cylinder packing is steam 
 tight. Place the reversing lever in the 
 central position. The same roar out 
 of the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of either cylinder cock prove that 
 the right valve rings are steam tight. 
 Then place the reversing lever in the 
 extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder. The same roar 
 out of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the front cylinder cock 
 prove that the right side is steam 
 tight. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 51 
 
 Next place the left crank on the top 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. No blow out of the ex¬ 
 haust or no steam pressure out of the 
 front cylinder cock indicate that the 
 left cylinder packing is steam tight. 
 Move the reversing lever slowly to the 
 central position. No blow out of the 
 exhaust or no steam pressure out of 
 either cylinder cock prove that the 
 admission rings and the exhaust ring 
 at the back end of the valve are steam 
 tight. Then place the reversing lever 
 in the extreme backward position. 
 The steam is thus admitted into the 
 front end of the cylinder. No blow 
 out of the exhaust or no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the back cylinder cock 
 prove that the left cylinder packing is 
 steam tight. Move the reversing lever 
 slowly toward the central position 
 until a blow is heard. A roar out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure out 
 
52 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 of the back cylinder cock indicate that 
 the exhaust ring at the front end of 
 the left valve is blowing. Having a 
 blow out of the exhaust only when 
 the front cylinder port is open, until 
 the valve is moved forward far 
 enough for the admission ring to close 
 the steam off from the exhaust, and 
 no blow is heard, proves that the front 
 exhaust ring is defective. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 53 
 
 TO LOCATE THE WORN CYLINDER 
 PACKING. 
 
 Place the right crank on the bottom 
 quarter and slowly move the revers¬ 
 ing lever to the extreme forward 
 position. The steam is thus admitted 
 into the front end of the cylinder, 
 and no blow out of the exhaust is 
 heard. Then slowly move the re¬ 
 versing lever to the extreme back¬ 
 ward position. No blow out of the 
 exhaust proves that the right side is 
 steam tight. Next place the left 
 crank on the top quarter and move 
 the reversing lever slowly to the ex¬ 
 treme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. A blow out of the ex¬ 
 haust is heard, but stopped before one 
 could locate the defect. 
 
 Place the reversing lever in the 
 central position. No blow out of the 
 exhaust or no steam pressure out of 
 either cylinder cock prove that the left 
 
A Guide, 
 
 5T 
 
 valve is steam tight. Move the re¬ 
 versing lever slowly to the extreme 
 backward position. When the steam 
 was first admitted into the front end 
 of the cylinder a blow was heard, but 
 stopped before one could locate the 
 defect. Then place the reversing 
 lever forward again, until the valve 
 opens the rear cylinder port a trifle. 
 A blow out of the exhaust and a 
 strong steam pressure out of the front 
 cylinder cock indicate that the cyl¬ 
 inder packing is blowing. Move the 
 reversing lever two notches forward. 
 There is a roar out of the exhaust 
 and a strong steam pressure out of 
 the front cylinder cock. Again move 
 the reversing lever two notches for¬ 
 ward, and the blow stops. This indi¬ 
 cates that the cylinder packing is worn 
 too small for the cylinder, and with 
 only a little port opening, the volume 
 of steam is not forceful enough to ex¬ 
 pand the rings to the cylinder; but 
 after the port is half open or more, 
 
Locomotive Eng|ne Mach. Defects. 55 
 
 then the steam pressure expands the 
 rings to the cylinder and no blow is 
 heard, proving that the left cylinder 
 packing is defective. 
 
56 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE TURNED 
 CYLINDER BUSHING. 
 
 If the engine becomes suddenly 
 lame and there seems to be nothing 
 wrong with the valve gear, place the 
 right crank on the top quarter and the 
 reversing lever in the extreme for¬ 
 ward position. The steam is thus ad¬ 
 mitted into the back end of the cyl¬ 
 inder. The boiler pressure on the 
 back cylinder cock indicates that the 
 cylinder bushing is not turned. Then 
 place the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme backward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end of 
 the cylinder. The boiler pressure on 
 the front cylinder cock proves that the 
 right cylinder bushing is not turned. 
 
 Next place the left crank on the top 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. No steam pressure on 
 the back cylinder cock indicates that 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 57 
 
 the cylinder bushing is turned. Then 
 place the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme backward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end of 
 the cylinder. No steam pressure on 
 the front or either cylinder cock 
 proves that the left cylinder bushing 
 has turned and closed the outlet to 
 the cylinder drain cocks. 
 
58 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE CYLINDER POUNDS. 
 
 The piston head working to and 
 fro on the piston rod will cause a 
 very bad pound which can be located 
 best by placing either crank on the top 
 quarter and moving the reversing 
 lever to and fro. When the steam is 
 admitted into the front end of the cyl¬ 
 inder no pound is heard, but when 
 the steam is admitted into the back 
 end of the cylinder a very sharp 
 pound is heard, which sounds as 
 though the pound is either at the front 
 end of the main rod or at the main 
 crank. Then listen to the cylinder 
 when the steam is admitted into the 
 back end. A ringing sound heard 
 in the cylinder indicates that the pis¬ 
 ton head is loose on the piston rod. 
 
 The tapper fit of the piston head on 
 the piston rod, and the large nut that 
 holds the head on the piston rod con¬ 
 trols the sound of the piston head 
 pound. This pound is heard only 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 59 
 
 when the steam is admitted into the 
 back end of the cylinder. 
 
 Other cylinder pounds can be lo¬ 
 cated best when the engine is running, 
 by placing the hand or foot on the cyl¬ 
 inder and feeling the jar to see if the 
 pound is at one end or at both ends of 
 the cylinder. The very slightest cyl¬ 
 inder pound should be repaired. 
 
60 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 TO LOCATE IF THE GUIDE BARS 
 
 NEED CLOSING OR ARE BENT. 
 
 The back ends of the cross-heads 
 always wear the most. For this rea¬ 
 son, it should not be judged that the 
 guides need closing from looking at 
 the back end of the cross-head, when 
 the cross-head is at the front end of 
 the guides. If the front end of the 
 cross-head is neatly fitted at the front 
 end of the guides and the back end 
 of the cross-head is neatly fitted at 
 the back end of the guides, but the 
 front end of the cross-head is an 
 eighth of an inch or more loose in 
 the middle of the guides, this proves 
 that the guide or guide bars are bent 
 and should be straightened. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE MAIN ROD AND 
 MAIN BOX POUNDS, 
 
 Place either crank on the top quar¬ 
 ter. Move the reversing lever to and 
 fro and feel if the pound is in the 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 61 
 
 front end or in the back end of the 
 main rod. Then feel if there is any 
 pound in the main box or the main 
 crown bearings. Do not judge from 
 the sound, but feel the pound. Then 
 the defect can be repaired. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE ENGINE OUT 
 OF TRAM. 
 
 Place the engine on a straight and 
 level track. Next place either side on 
 the forward center and then on the 
 back center. If the bushing or bush¬ 
 ings are free on the pin or pins when 
 on either center, it indicates that the 
 engine is in tram. If the bushing or 
 bushings are so tight on the pin or 
 pins, when the engine is on either 
 center, that they can not be moved by 
 means of a pry, it proves that the 
 driver or drivers, or the side rod or 
 rods, are out of tram. 
 
 The badly worn side rod and 
 knuckle pin bushings can also be lo¬ 
 cated when the engine is in the above 
 
62 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 mentioned positions, by lifting the 
 side rods up and down on the pins. 
 If the bushing or bushings lift up and 
 down on the pin or pins an eighth of 
 an inch or more, it indicates that the 
 bushing or bushings are three-six¬ 
 teenths of an inch larger than the pin 
 or pins, and should be renewed. 
 
 TO LOCATE THE LOOSE WEDGES 
 
 AND HOW TO ADJUST SAME. 
 
 Place the engine on a straight and 
 level track, with the right crank on the 
 top quarter and the reversing lever in 
 the extreme backward position. Then 
 place the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end of 
 the cylinder. This forces the boxes 
 tight against the shoes, which is the 
 proper position to find if the wedge 
 or wedges need adjusting. 
 
 If the wedge or wedges are loose, 
 loosen the wedge bolt lock nut, screw 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 63 
 
 the wedge bolt up with one hand, and 
 pry the wedge up with a small pin bar 
 with the other hand, until the wedge 
 sticks without dropping down. The 
 wedge or wedges are then in the 
 proper place. 
 
 Perform the same operation on the 
 left side. 
 
A Guide. 
 
 64 
 
 THE MALLET ENGINE. 
 
 The compound mallet engine admits 
 the steam into both the high and low 
 pressure engines direct from the 
 boiler, with the intercepting valve in 
 the simple position. The defects can 
 then be located by using the same op¬ 
 erations as for any other engine. For 
 illustration, place the right crank of 
 the low pressure engine on the 
 bottom quarter and the reversing lever 
 in the extreme forward position. The 
 steam is thus-admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. A roar out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure 
 out of the back cylinder cock, in¬ 
 dicate that the right cylinder packing 
 is steam tight. 
 
 Place the reversing lever in the cen¬ 
 tral position. The same blow out of 
 the exhaust and no steam pressure out 
 of either cylinder cock, prove that the 
 right valve is steam tight. Then place 
 the reversing lever in the extreme 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 65 
 
 backward position. The steam is thus 
 admitted into the back end of the 
 cylinder. 
 
 The same blow out of the exhaust, 
 but no steam pressure out of the front 
 cylinder cock, prove that the right side 
 is steam tight. Next place the left 
 crank on the top quarter and the re¬ 
 versing lever in the extreme forward 
 position. The steam is thus admitted 
 into the back end of the cylinder. 
 
 The same roar out of the exhaust 
 and a sharp steam pressure blows out 
 of the front cylinder cock, indicate 
 that the valve is blowing. 
 
 Place the reversing lever in the cen¬ 
 tral position. The same blow out of 
 the exhaust and a sharp steam pres¬ 
 sure blows out of both cylinder cocks, 
 prove that the left valve is blowing. 
 
 Then place the reversing lever in 
 the extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. The same blow 
 out of the exhaust and a sharp steam 
 
66 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 pressure blows out of the back cylin¬ 
 der cock, indicates that the left valve 
 blows in all positions. 
 
 Next place the right crank of the 
 high pressure engine, on the bottom 
 quarter and the reversing lever in the 
 extreme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the front end 
 of the cylinder. A roar out of the 
 exhaust and a very strong steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the back cylinder cock, 
 indicate that the right cylinder pack¬ 
 ing is blowing. Place the reversing 
 lever in the central position. No roar 
 out of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of either cylinder cock, prove 
 that the right valve is steam tight. But 
 there is a sharp blow out of the ex¬ 
 haust which comes from the left low 
 pressure engine valve. Then place the 
 reversing lever in the extreme back¬ 
 ward position. The steam is thus ad¬ 
 mitted into the back end of the cylin¬ 
 der. 
 
 A roar out of the exhaust and a 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 67 
 
 strong steam pressure out of the front 
 cylinder cock, prove that the right 
 high pressure engine cylinder packing 
 is blowing. 
 
 Next place the left crank of the 
 high pressure engine, on the top quar¬ 
 ter and the reversing lever in the ex¬ 
 treme forward position. The steam 
 is thus admitted into the back end 
 of the cylinder. 
 
 A roar out of the exhaust, but no 
 steam pressure out of the front cylin¬ 
 der cock, indicate that the left side is 
 steam tight. 
 
 Place the reversing lever in the cen¬ 
 tral position. The same roar out of 
 the exhaust, but no steam pressure 
 out of either cylinder cock, prove that 
 the left valve is steam tight. 
 
 Then place the reversing lever in 
 the extreme backward position. The 
 steam is thus admitted into the front 
 end of the cylinder. The same roar 
 out of the exhaust and no steam pres¬ 
 sure out of the back cylinder cock, 
 
68 A Guide. 
 
 prove that the left side of the high 
 pressure engine is steam tight. Also 
 proves, that the right high pressure 
 cylinder packing and the left low pres¬ 
 sure valve, are blowing. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 69 
 
 DONTS. 
 
 Don’t report both valves examined 
 when only one side is defective. 
 
 Don’t report both cylinder packing 
 when only one side is defective. 
 
 Don’t report the piston or valve 
 stem packed when it is only the gland 
 joint leaking. 
 
 Don’t report the brasses at the 
 front end of the main rods filed when 
 the pound is in the back end. 
 
 Don’t report the brasses filed at the 
 back end of the main rods when the 
 pound is in the main driving boxes. 
 
 Don’t report all of the side rod 
 bushings renewed when only one or 
 two of them are pounding. 
 
 Don’t report all of the knuckle pin 
 bushings renewed when only the back 
 ones are pounding. 
 
 Don’t examine the piston valve 
 packing rings without examining the 
 steam chest bushings for defects. 
 
70 
 
 A Guide. 
 
 Don’t pack the piston or the valve 
 stem without examining same to see if 
 in fit condition to be packed. 
 
 Don’t close the guides from the top 
 when they need closing from the bot¬ 
 tom. 
 
 Don’t key up the brasses at the 
 front end of the main rod when the 
 crank is on either center. 
 
 Don’t file the brasses open at the 
 back end of the main rods. 
 
 Don’t use three or four thin liners 
 in lining brasses or guides when one 
 solid liner can be used. 
 
 Don’t close the guides without see¬ 
 ing that the guide oil cups are in per¬ 
 fect working condition. 
 
 Don’t use short rush iron liners in 
 resetting the driving tires. 
 
 Don’t fail to see that the tire or tires 
 are set at the proper place. 
 
Locomotive Engine Mach. Defects. 71 
 
 Don’t adjust the wedges only when 
 the engine comes in from a run; the 
 boxes are then expanded. 
 
 Don’t connect up the main rods 
 without dividing the clearance in the 
 cylinders. 
 

 
 
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