CHAPTER XVII. 



WINTER CARE OF THE ENGINE. 



If an engine is not in use it should be stored in a dry 

 shed to prevent deterioration caused by rust and 

 dampness. It should be cleaned of all dirt. The 

 smoke stack and outside of the boiler should have a 

 coat of linseed oil to prevent rusting. The inside of 

 the boiler should be cleaned, the handhole plates 

 should be fastened in again and all valves and con- 

 nections kept closed, to exclude air. The boiler will 

 not rust or corrode on the inside, if kept air tight. 



The piston rod and valve stem should be coated 

 with some non-corroding oil and the engine should be 

 left in position with the piston at the end of the back 

 stroke; this leaves the piston rod housed in the 

 cylinder. The cocks should be kept closed to exclude 

 air and prevent rust. 



All pipes and valves should be well drained to 

 guard against bursting or straining by freezing. 



If the boiler has formed much scale on its heating 

 surface, the most of it will loosen and drop off during 

 the idle season by the unequal expansion of the iron 

 and the scale from changes of temperature. The 

 loosened scale should be removed from the boiler 

 before starting the engine again. 



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