Kohútiky valcov

Keď para už nie je tlačená do valcov, rýchlo vychladne. Je to spôsobené tým, že valce sú oddelené od kotla a ohniska. Para vo valcoch potom veľmi rýchlo kondenzuje späť na vodu. Keďže voda nie je na rozdiel od pary stlačiteľná, ak sa jej nahromadí vo valcoch viac a je stlačená piestom, môže poškodiť valce a spôsobiť katastrofálne zlyhanie hnacieho ústrojenstva.

For this reason there are cylinder cocks. They are operated by a valve from inside the cab, allowing water to be released from the cylinders. As some of the steam from the cylinder is lost while the cylinder cocks are open, acceleration is reduced. Typically, the drivers open cylinder cocks for a few seconds after being stationary for some time.

Cylinders can also fill with water in a process called priming. This is the case of the boiler having too much water, or running the vehicle with the cutoff set in the opposite direction, causing water to overflow into the cylinders.

See also: Mechanical Powertrain Damage, Water Level, Cutoff