What is the remedy?  Well, if the “rings” are the trouble, a new set will most likely remedy it should they be of the automatic or self-setting pattern, but should they be of the spring or adjusting pattern, you can take out the head and set the rings out to stop this blowing.  As most all engines now are using the self-setting rings, you will most likely require a new set.

If the trouble is in the valve or steam chest, you had best take it off and have the valve seat planed down, and the valve seated to it.  This is the safest and best way.  Never attempt to dress a valve down, you are most certain to make a bad job of it.

And yet I don’t like the idea of advising you not to do a thing that can be done, for I do like an engineer who does not run to the shop for every little trouble.  However, unless you have the proper tools you had best not attempt it.  The only safe way is to scrape them down, for if your valve is cut, you will find the valve seat is cut equally as bad, and they must both be scraped to a perfect fit.  Provide yourself with a piece of flat steel, very hard, 3x4 inches by about I/8 inch, with a perfect straight edge.  With this scrape the valve and seat to a perfect flat surface, It will be a slower process than scraping wood with a piece of glass, but you can do it.  Never use a chisel or a file on a valve.

LUBRICATING OIL

What is oil?

Oil is a coating for a journal, or in other words is a lining between bearings.

Did you ever stop long enough to ask yourself the question?  I doubt it.  A great many people buy something to use on their engine, because it is called oil.  Now if the object in using oil is to keep a lining between the bearings, is it not reasonable that you use something that will adhere to that which it is to line or cover?

Gasoline will cover a journal for a minute or two, and oil a grade better would last a few minutes longer.  Still another grade would do some better.  Now if you are running your own engine, buy the best oil you can buy.  You will find it very poor economy to buy cheap oil, and if you are not posted, you may pay price enough, but get a very poor article.

If you are running an engine for some one else, make it part of your contract that you are furnished with a good oil.  You can not keep an engine in good shape with a cheap oil.  You say “you are going to keep your engine clean and bright.”  Not if you must use a poor oil.

Poor oil is largely responsible for the fast going out of use of the link reverse among the makers of traction engines.  While I think it very doubtful if this “reverse motion” can be equalled by any of the late devices.  Its construction is such as to require the best grade of cylinder oil, and without this it is very unsatisfactory, (not because the valves of other valve-motions will do with a poorer grade of oil) but because its construction is such that as soon as the valve becomes dry it causes the link to jump and pound, and very soon requires repairing.  While the construction of various other devices are such, that while the valve may be equally as dry it does not show the want of oil so clearly as the old style link.  Yet as a fact I care not what the valve motion may be, it requires a good grade of oil.