THE VALVE-GEAR. 71 



up," that is, placing the lever in notches between the end 

 and center of the quadrant, In these positions, the valve 

 travel is reduced and the points of "cut-off" made earlier, 

 which, of course, lessens the amount of steam required. It 

 is, therefore, economy to run the engine "hooked up" when- 

 ever its load will allow. Provision is made for taking up 

 lost motion in the parts subjected to wear. All the joints 

 should be kept well oiled, but the only parts which require 

 frequent attention in this respect, are the eccentric and the 

 sliding block. When the valve is sufficiently lubricated, and 

 the valve-gear is properly oiled and adjusted, the reverse 

 lever is easily handled, when under a full head of steam. 



Caution Against Disturbing the Valve Setting. It so 

 often happens that an expert, when called to an engine, finds 

 that the valve has been re-set after the engine left the factory, 

 that it seems best, at this point, to say a few words of cau- 

 tion against disturbing the valve of a new engine. Let us 

 advise you not to jump to the conclusion that your valve is 

 incorrectly constructed or improperly set. Remember that 

 the engine has been designed and built by experienced men, 

 thoroughly competent to make it all that it should be. Re- 

 member, too, that the engine has been tested at the factory, 

 in the belt and on the .road with heavy loads, within sight 

 and hearing of a dozen men, whose long experience has 

 made them so critical that they could not fail to detect any- 

 thing wrong in the engine's performance. Let us add that 

 in nine cases out of ten, where an expert is called to re-set 



