The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from August 2006

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from August 2006

PM and the road less traveled.(preventive maintenance)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Being a soldier that learns from his or her mistakes can be costly. Sure, it's a good idea not to repeat a mistake, but it's an even better idea to have never made the mistake. That's the philosophy that powers preventive maintenance. PM...

Heater repair has a new home.(Personnel Heaters ...)
August 1, 2006... Personnel heater testing and repair is now a field-level task. Formerly performed at the DS/GS level by MOS 63G (fuel and electrical systems repairers), heaters are now tested and repaired by MOS 52C (utilities equipment repairers). Any...

Cable crushing concerns.(Stryker ...)
August 1, 2006... A recent modification to the Stryker moved the driver's vision enhancer (DVE) to a new position higher up on the vehicle. The modification also included a longer, 6-ft cable to reach the DVE screen. The cable is routed alongside a metal bar...

Get a handle on liner disposal.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... After replacing the combustor liner on your tank's AGT-1500 engine, do you know what to do with the old liner? That depends on which liner you have. There are two types. If you're replacing the new-style liner, NSN 2835-01-422-9131 (PN...

Leave breech handle behind.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... When it's time to turn in an M1-series tank, most crewmen remove the breech handle, NSN 1015-01-173-9350. Since they'll need one for their next tank--and at a cost of almost $2,400 each--it makes pretty good sense. Unfortunately, that's...

Give it a pull.(Ms/M3-Series Bradley, MLRS ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Drivers, you can't be pushy when it comes to the fuel shutoff lever on your Bradley or MLRS. When shutting off the engine, you have to pull out the fuel shutoff lever. However, there are a few drivers who think it's OK to push the lever...

Not so good vibrations.(MLRS Carrier ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Vibration: It comes in the form of a working engine, the jarring bumps of rugged terrain, the terrific concussion of missile firing. When you add all that to the temperature changes that come from the engine heating up and cooling down,...

Beat the heat!(M577A3, M1068A3 Command Post Carrier ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Your command post carrier's 5-KW generator can take a real beating from desert heat. So do your part to keep it as cool as possible. Something as simple as properly reattaching the air duct hose after inspecting the air filter can make all...

Too hot to handle.(M577-Series Command Post Carrier ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Summers are hot enough without adding hot air to your M577's 4.2-KW generator, crewmen. That's why the engine air shutter has a SUMMER/WINTER lever. During cold weather, setting the lever to WINTER deflects cold incoming air past the...

Use correct Javelin shipping container.(Javelin ...)
August 1, 2006... The only container the Javelin weapon system's command launch unit (CLU) should be shipped in is the approved CLU shipping and storage container, PN 13305402-509, CAGE 18876. It was specifically designed to protect the CLU. If you use other...

You heard it here! once is enough!(Small Arms ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Don't let anybody convince you that you have to clean a rifle, machine gun, or pistol three times before it's clean enough for inspection. It just isn't so. Once is enough, if you do it right. And right means cleaning by the book, the...

Shipshape shipping.(M2, MK19 Machine Guns ...)
August 1, 2006... If you don't ship your M2 and MKI9 machine guns with the correct lubrication and packing protection, you can end up with weapons that arrive in Southwest Asia so corroded they are unusable and unrepairable. Here's how to keep your M2s and MK19s...

... It's the humidity!(Small Arms ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... When it comes to corrosion ruining weapons stored in the arms room, it's not the heat, it's the humidity. Humidity causes moisture to build up on and in weapons. And then corrosion is close behind. If the corrosion is not cleaned off, soon you...

Making a HMMWV mock-up.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Knowing how to correctly and instinctively use the HMMWV gunner's station can be the difference between life and death on the battlefield. But the problem is that sometimes units don't have HMMWVs available for training with the gunner's...

HMMWV brake pads could be bad.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... About 4,000 defective brake pads have mistakenly been issued to the field. Defective brake pads can pose a serious safety hazard by leading to degraded braking capability, wheel lock-up, loss of control, or an accident things you want to...

Keep spacer in place so ears won't break.(HMMWV ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... If a spacer is not in place when installing the older style alternator bracket, your HMMWV's alternator ears soon might not be either. A big strain is put on the alternator ear as the brace nut is tightened when the spacer is missing....

Smart idea slips one in for oil filter.(HEMTT ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... An Army warrant officer earned $250 for suggesting that HEMTT trucks could use screw-on oil filters instead of the old torqued housing bolt filter. CW2 Martin Smith of the 508th Trans Co noted that housing bolts for HEMTT oil filters are...

Wiper news you can use.(M915-Series Trucks ...)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Dear Editor, The wiper valve, P/N 7547068, (Item 16 of Fig 280 in TM 9-2320-273-24P, and Item 43 of Fig 139 in TM 9-2320-283-24P), for the M915-M920 is no longer available. You'll have to replace the entire wiper system. NSN...

M915A2/M916A1 tachometer kit.(BRIEFLY NOTED ...)
August 1, 2006... NSN 6680-01-502-6523 gets a new tachometer kit for the M915A2 and the M916A1 tractor trucks. The tachometer replaces the old-style tachograph shown as Item 1 in Fig 335 of TM 9-2320-363-24P. Use NSN 6680-01-503-7539 to get a new meter-recorder...

M915A3 lug nut.(BRIEFLY NOTED ...)
August 1, 2006... Use NSN 5310-01-521-6727 to get a lug nut for the M915A3 tractor truck. THis NSN replaces the parts info shown as Item 2 in Fig 166 of TM 9-2320-302-24P.

M915A4 AC belt.(BRIEFLY NOTED ...)
August 1, 2006... Use NSN 3030-01-100-2171 to get the air conditioner belt for the M915A4 tractor truck. This NSN replaces the part info shown as Item 13 in Fig 224 of TM 9-2330-303-24P.

New HET/PLS fuel filter.(BRIEFLY NOTED ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... NSN 2910-01-478-5210 gets the new secondary fuel filter for the M1070 HET and M1074/M1075 PLS. This filter replaces the one shown as Item 2 in Fig 39 of HET's TM 9-2320-360-24P and as Item 5 in Fig 44 of the PLS' TM 9-2320-364-24P. The new...

HEMTT tanker hose reel gasket.(BRIEFLY NOTED ...)
August 1, 2006... USe NSN 5330-01-431-9947 to get the gasket for the M978 fuel tanker's hose reel. This NSN replaces the parts info for Item 19A in Fig 283 of TM 9-2320-279-249-1.

HEMTT slave receptacle cap.(BRIEFLY NOTED ...)
August 1, 2006... NSN 5340-01-059-0114 gets the dust cap for the HEMTT's NATO slave receptacle. The NSN is missing from Fig 118 of TM 9-2330-279-24P-1. Use NSN 4020-01-092-0331 to get the cord assembly that secures the cap to the receptacle.

Finding parts!(350 GPM Pumps ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, Is there a good NSN for the air hose elbow on the 350 GPM water pump? The hose deteriorates from exposure to the elements. It's shown as Item 3, Fig H of TM 10-4320-226-24P. SFC M.S.F. Dear SFC M.S.F., The air...

Stay on NBC trail with PM.(Fox NBC Vehicle ...)
August 1, 2006... Cover the Fox in the motor pool. If the Fox is going to sit for weeks, cover it with the Fox's tarp. That will help keep rain out of the engine compartment where it can cause corrosion problems and dilute fuel and oil. If you're missing the...

Exhaust nozzle broken? No problem.(ACADA Chemical Alarm ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The first thing that usually gets broken on the ACADA is the exhaust nozzle. That used to mean a trip to direct support, which could last for weeks. No more! Change 3 to TM 3-6665-321-12&P authorizes you NBC NCOs to do the job if your...

Huh? What aircraft?(Sentinel Radar System ... Comic)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2006... WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN US ABOUT THE APPROACHING ENEMY AIRCRAFT? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EH? WHO'S THAT? SPEAK UP! I CAN'T SEE OR HEAR A THING! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A...

Solving a Titanic mystery.(Comic)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2006... SHORTLY BEFORE NOON ON APRIL 10, 1912, THE UNSINKABLE SHIP OF DREAMS, THE RMS TITANIC, CAST OFF FROM HER DOCK AT SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, AND STEAMED AWAY ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOUR DAYS AND 14 HOURS LATER, SHE...

Milking an MMA.(AH-64D ...)(mast-mounted assembly)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Mechanics, over time, moisture and condensation will get inside your AH-64D's mast-mounted assembly (MMA). So what do you do? When TM 1-1520-25 I-PMD tells you in Task 8-3 to remove condensation from the MMA, don't assume the TM means for...

Aviation vibration analyzer hookup.(UH-60 Series ...)
August 1, 2006... Dear Sergeant Blade, When using the aviation vibration analyzer test set NSN 6625-01282-37N6, For Black Hawk main rotor blade track and balance, the avionics access door ventilation cover, NSN 1560-01-095-7573, must; be removed to allow...

Reinforce the antenna mount.(SINCGARS .)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Dear Editor, Vibration on SINCGARS antennas mounted on HMMWVs with mounting kits, MK-2327, NSN 5895-01-229-1298, or MK-232~, NSN 5895-01-297-8000, is causing the mounting bolts to pull away from the vehicle. The problem is the metal is...

It's elementary!(Communications Batteries ...)
August 1, 2006... So, if you're a commo equipment user, maintainer or repairer, you need to know some battery basics. Here are a few of those basics: Communications batteries are either rechargeable or non-rechargeable. Rechargeables are reused after being...

Use material safety data sheets.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... What you don't know about lithium battery handling could hurt you. So read the material safety data sheet (MSDS) on lithium batteries before you handle them. Where do you get an MSDS? Glad you asked! Log on to the Internet and go to:...

DAGR battery pack is a tight fit.(GPS ... Comic)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2006... IT AIN'T COOL TO BE ON A MISSION AND HAVE YOUR DAGR AA BATTERY PACK POP LOOSE. SO THAT YON WON'T LOSE YOUR COOL OR YOUR BATTERIES THE BATTERY PACK IS A TIGHT FIT. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THAT TIGHT FIT MAKES IT HARD TO OPEN WHEN...

Same cost, but twice the life.(AN/PVS-6 MELIOS ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The ANIPVS-6 mini eyesafe laser infrared observation set (MELIOS), NSN 5860-01-350-8551, takes two batteries to do its observation job. One is in the sight and the other is a backup. Until now, the recommended battery was the Ni-Cad,...

You need an able cable!(GPS DAGR ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The DAGR-to-DC power cable, NSN 6150-01-521-6757, is takin' a lickin' and it's not still tickin'. This GP5 power cable is breaking and the pins inside the threaded connector are shearing because soldiers are hanging equipment on it. ...

Gasket gab!(Modern Burner Unit ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... A worn or leaking gasket on the fuel tank cap of your modern burner unit (MBU) can prevent powered fueling. A leaking gasket allows air instead of fuel to flow into the tank. It also lets fuel leak out, which fouls the environment, creates a...

Without a strap, you take it on the chin.(Advanced Combat Helmet ...)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The older version--the Mine Safety Appliance (MSA) TC2000--is no longer available. If you order the MSA TC2000 and its parts, you won't get them. Order the SDS Warrior only. SDS Warrior A four-point chin strap, NSN 8470-01-530-0868,...

As the worm turns.(Packaging and Shipping ...)
August 1, 2006... If you build or repair wooden boxes, crates, pallets, skids, dunnage or other wood packing used for shipping, make sure your wood packing materials are cut from heated-treated (HT) lumber. Otherwise, your shipment may not reach its destination....

Telemaintenance: reach-back help for maintenance and training.(Internet... Comic)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2006... SOLDIER! HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT TELEMAINTENANCE IS DOING FOR YOU NOW?! TELE-WHAT? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TELEMAINTENANCE IS REACH-BACK ONLINE ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMEs) AND TRAINERS. THE SMEs CAN HELP DIAGNOSE...

Replace RFI items through supply.(rapid fielding initiative )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Units must use normal supply channels to replace worn, damaged or lost individual and unit equipment they receive from the Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) run by the Program Executive Office-Soldier. RFI has been responsible for fielding at...

Presenting the logistics excellence awards.
August 1, 2006... ARMY AWARDS FOR MAINTENANCE EXCELLENCE ACTIVE ARMY MTOE Small Category Winner: HHD, 728th MP Bn, Camp Walker, Korea Runner-up: 568th Med Co,Camp Humphreys, Korea Medium Category Winner: 297th Trans Co, Ft Hood,...

Recharge Hawker batteries.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Before you toss any of those sealed, service-free 6TAGM Hawker batteries you're using in SWA (or elsewhere), give 'era a recharge! One of the benefits of the technology built into Hawkers is that they can be recharged to full service from...

HMMWV coolant ratio changed.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Here's the latest scoop on the HMMWV's antifreeze-to-water coolant mixture rates: * Use a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water for temperatures -34[degrees] F and above. * Use a 60/40 mixture of antifreeze and water for arctic...

Change to HMMWV 6.5L turbocharged engine injection pump timing.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Mechanics, have your drivers complained about less kick to the 6.5L turbocharged engine's power on their HMMWVs? It could be a fuel injection pump timing issue. It's direct support's job to check the timing ASAP. Plus, direct support will need...

M1-series tank annual service kit.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... When you receive a new annual service kit, NSN 4330-01-117-7943, for your tank, check for missing parts. In particular, make sure you have two filter elements, NSN 4810-01-014-1896. One is for the NBC prioritization valve (on the turbine) and...