Directions for Working Portable Steam- Engines. 431 



Prepaeing Engine for Work. 



Place the engine as nearly dead-level as possible, and in such 

 a position that the dust caused by thrashing may not be blown 

 upon it. The wheels should all have an even bearing on the 

 ground, so as to prevent any rocking motion when at work. 



Filling the Boiler. 



Care should be taken to procure water as clean as possible for 

 the use of the engine ; water from ponds or ditches, into which 

 the drainage of the farmyard is taken, should be avoided. The 

 water must be poured into the boiler through the opening provided 

 for that purpose (by means of the iron funnel furnished with the 

 engine) till it appears about half way up the glass gauge tube. 



Glass Water-Gauge Apparatus. 



The water-gauge cocks should always be tried before the fire 

 is lighted, to ascertain that there is no obstruction in the passages, 

 which would prevent the water finding its proper level in the 

 glass tube. In case the water does not appear to move freely in 

 the tube, on opening the small cock at the bottom of the gauge, 

 take out the two screws opposite the passages to the boiler, and 

 insert a wire through the holes into the boiler, till the water 

 issues freely ; the screw-plugs may then be put in again, and the 

 fire lighted. Great care should be taken to prevent either of the 

 cocks between the boiler and the glass tube becoming shut when 

 the fire is burning and the steam up. 



Use of Gauge-Cocks. 



It is possible that the glass gauge may become choked up when 

 the engine is at work, so that it cannot be cleaned out without 

 letting down the steam ; if the water does not appear to move 

 freely in the glass tube, the small cock at the bottom of the gauge 

 must be opened, so as to let tlie steam and water blow out of the 

 gaug^ ; if it is then evident that the gauge is choked, the gauge- 

 cocks must be used to ascertain the height of the water In the 

 boiler: the bottom one should discharge water only, and the top 

 one steam ; the level of the water in the boiler being somewhere 

 between the two gauge-cocks. 



Lighting the Fire. 

 The fire-bars must be well cleaned from dirt and clinkers 

 before the fire is laid ; a few dry shavings and a small quantity 

 of firewood should then be spread over the bars, and some small 

 coal scattered over them ; a light may then be applied to the 

 shavings from beneath the grate bars, and the fire will soon burn 

 briskly ; with some fuel it is better to place the fire-door a little 



