Presented here is a list of things you might want to do prior to your first steam engine firing of the new year. This assumes, of course, that you’re living in an area where you don’t or can’t run your engine year-round, and that your engine has seen a period of downtime for winter storage. The items listed are presented in no special order of importance.
Prior to the first Spring Fire Up:
- Look for and clean out any trash or critter’s homes left during winter storage in the mud legs or bottom of the wet bottom boiler.
- Re-install the pop valve if it was taken off for storage or calibration.
- Re-install the pressure gauge if it was taken off for storage or calibration.
There are many more items that one could add to this list, but each of us has their own way of getting his engine ready for the first firing of the year. Above all, be safe, pay attention to your engine and have fun.
Contact steam enthusiast Curtis Cook at: 3500 Martin Johnson Rd., Chesapeake, VA 23323-1210, or e-mail: ccfrick@att.net.
