At the dead centre end the work is supported by a female cone centre d in the tail spindle t.
In order to set a valve the engine must be brought to a dead centre.
An old engineer5 gives the following directions for finding the dead centre accurately.
The object of the square arbor or tail spindle is to enable it to carry cutting tools in place of the dead centre.
Wind the dead centre in again, and tighten and loosen the spindle clamp, and see if doing so moves the spindle in the socket.
The plate for the dead centre is formed on the same principle as is shown in figure 769.
It consists of a piece fitted to the tail spindle in place of the dead centre, its end being provided with V-grooves.
It is obvious that the work centres wear to fit the dead centre, because of the friction between the two.
A work-holding device containing a dead centre, used upon a milling machine.
The lead of the valve is the amount the port is open to the live steam when the crank is on the dead centre.