After the engineer's side has been properly examined, the under side of the engine next claims attention. The engineer should begin at the crank shaft, taking his stand, where it is possible to do so, between the shaft and the fire box, while he is testing the bolts and rivets connected with it.
Big Ends require to be fitted brass and brass, to work well, and to be well-cottered or bolted up, but with sufficient slackness on the crank bearing to allow of their being easily moved sideways by hand, so that a little room may be left for the expansion of the journal by heat.
Big End brasses do best, wear longest, and knock least, when tightened up a little at a time and often, instead of being allowed to run until they thump alarmingly. With proper attention they seldom run hot.
Little Ends need scarcely any supervision excepting what is required from the oiler, provided they are fitted with steel bushes. Those fitted with brasses require the same attention as Big Ends.
When the eccentrics are being examined particular attention should be paid to the bolts, nuts, safety-cotters and set-pins. The bolts which hold the two halves of each eccentric strap together should always nip tightly, as any slackness always affects the engine's speed.
Inspect carefully also the inside springs and axle boxes, specially the latter. See that the fireman oils them; if he does not, you are to blame.
The ash-pan, piston rod, smoke box, etc., all need to be looked at with care, for to run right the engine must start right, and this brings us to the most important thing of all--the condition of the fire before leaving the round house, for there is no other one thing on which an engineer's good name, success and future prospects depend so much as on the condition of the fire at the beginning of the day's work.
If the fire is not properly lighted at the start, no matter how good the engine or how smart the engineer, constant trouble during the trip, to say nothing of an increased consumption of coal which is bound to tell against him, will be the result.
Don't get to your work late, and don't allow your fireman to be late. If the fire is to be properly built he has got to take time to it. Fires thrown together in a hurry always turn out bad.