43G Directions for Working Portable Steam-Enfjines. 



small iron rod, tlie end of which should be made like a hoe ; at 

 the same time the plug beneath the tubes in the smoke-box should 

 be taken out, and the man-hole cover be lifted off, a long rod 

 being pushed backwards and forwards through the hole under 

 the tubes, so as to loosen the dirt and sediment. Water should 

 be poured into the man-hole plentifully, so as to wash out all 

 that may be collected in the boiler through the various mud- 

 holes, wliich should all be open during this operation. On again 

 putting in the brass plugs, be careful not to cross the threads ; 

 they must be entered with the fingers only, and not screwed up 

 with the spanner until they have been screwed in several turns by 

 hand. 



Pr.EPAKING THE ExGHSTE FOR LYING OUT OF WORK FOR A 

 CONSIDERABLE TIME. 



If the engine is not going to be used for some length of time 

 (say a month), the cylinder-cover should be taken off, and the 

 cylinder well rubbed dry and oiled ; the fly-wheel should then 

 be turned round a few times by hand, to ensure every part of the 

 piston and slide becoming well covered with oil ; the cylinder- 

 cover may then be put on again ; the joint only requires a little 

 red-lead cement to be spread around it ; but the red-lead must not 

 be so placed as to squeeze into the cjdinder itself when the cover 

 is screwed up : care must be taken to screw the bolts up very 

 equally. Tlie whole of the bright work of the engine must be 

 well dressed over with a mixture of white-lead and hot tallow, 

 put on with a painter's brush. The packings from the piston-rod, 

 slide-rod, and pump-plunger should be taken out, for they injure 

 the rods by causing corrosion to take place from the moistui'e of 

 the hemp packing. 



Packing the Engine. 



This operation cannot easily be described, and must be seen to 

 be comprehended thoroughly ; the engine-man who is sent from 

 the works with the engine will instruct the person who is about to 

 take charge of the engine how to do the packing, and many other 

 things which require practice to do properly. None but the best 

 white spun-yarn and white hemp must be used for packing, and 

 it must be quite free from all grittv particles. The packing, 

 before being put into the stuffing-boxes, must be well soaked in 

 hot tallow. 



Oil FOR Engine. 



Neatsfoot or sperm-oil should be used ; but if this cannot be 

 procured, olive-oil will answer the purpose. Hot tallow should 

 never be poured into the cylinder, for much dirt is thereby intro- 

 duced, which will cut and injure the piston and cylinder. 



