about the pump. I have no doubt that many who read this book, cannot
tell why the old wooden pump (from which he has pumped water ever since
he was tall enough to reach the handle) will pump water simply because
he works the handle up and down. If you don't know this I have quite a
task on my hands, for you must not attempt to run an engine until you
know the principle of the pump. If you do understand the old town pump,
I will not have much trouble with you, for while there is no old style
wooden pump used on the engine, the same principles are used in the
cross head pump. Do not imagine that a cross head pump means something
to be dreaded. It is only a simple lift and force pump, driven from the
cross head. That is where it gets its name and it don't mean that you
are to get cross at it if it don't work, for nine times out of ten the
fault will be yours. Now I am well aware that all engines do not have
cross head pumps and with all respect to the builders of engines who do
not use them, I am inclined to think that all standard farm engines
ought to have a cross head pump, because it is the most simple and is
the most economical, and if properly constructed, is the most reliable.

A cross head pump consists of a pump barrel, a plunger, one vertical
check valve and two horizontal check valves, a globe valve and one stop
cock, with more or less piping. We will now locate each of these parts
and will then note the part that each performs in the process of feeding
the boiler.

You will find all, or most pump barrels, located under the cylinder of
the engine. It is placed here for several reasons. It is out of the
way. It is a convenient place from which to connect it to the cross
head by which it is driven. On some engines it is located on the top or
at the side of the cylinder and will work equally well. The plunger is
connected with the cross head and in direct line with the pump barrel,