Q. What would you do after being bothered in this way?
A. Clean out the-boiler and get better water if possible.
Q. How would you manage your pumps while the water was
foaming.
A. Keep them running full.
Q. Why? A. In order to make up for the extra amount of water going out with the steam.
Q. What is "cushion?" A. Cushion is steam retained or admitted in front of the piston head at the finish of stroke, or when the engine is on "center."
Q. What is it for? A. It helps to overcome the "inertia" and momentum of the reciprocating parts of the engine, and enables the engine to pass the center without a jar.
Q. How would you increase the cushion in an engine?
A. By increasing the lead.
Q. What is lead? A. It is the amount of opening the port shows on steam end of cylinder when the engine is on dead center.
Q. Is there any rule for giving an engine the proper lead?
A. No.
Q. Why not?
A. Owing to their variation in construction, speed, etc.
Q. What would you consider the proper amount of lead,
generally.
A. From I/32 to I/I6.