A. First see that no one is working under the engine, that there is the
proper amount of water in the boiler and that it will flow through the
gauge cocks, that there is no accumulation of oil in the ash-pan or
fire-box or existing leaks throughout. If there is no steam in the
boiler, the steam connections can be made to the three-way cock at the
smoke-arch that will answer for blower and atomizer. If there are twenty
pounds of steam in the boiler, it can be operated with its own blower.
If oil in the tank is too cold to flow into the burner readily, it must
be heated. Open the front damper and put on the blower strong enough to
create the necessary draft, open the atomizer valve long enough to blow
out any water that might be in the steam pipe to the burner, then close
the valve and throw a piece of burning waste in front of the burner and
open the atomizer valve enough to carry oil to the burning waste and
open the regulating valve slowly until the oil is known to be ignited.
Watch the ignition through the hole in the fire-box door, then regulate
the steam and oil supply to suit. Be sure that no oil is wasting below
the burner or an explosion may result that will prove disastrous.
11. Q. Should the fire go out and it is desired to rekindle it while
bricks are hot, is it safe to depend on the hot bricks to ignite the oil
without the use of lighted waste?
A. No; depending upon the heat from the firebricks to re-light the fire
is dangerous and forbidden.