The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from December 2005

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from December 2005

Staying on the verification track.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... As too many Army units discovered when they were mobilized for Afghanistan or Iraq, if your equipment has not had its required verifications, it's non-mission capable. That's the last thing a commander wants to hear when his unit is...

Who ya gonna call?(M1A1 Tank ...)(testing distribution panels)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... There are several configurations of the commander's power distribution panel on the M1A1 tank. Most of them can be tested using the direct support electrical system test set (DSESTS) with the operator interface unit (OIU). The only...

You need both kits.(M1A1, M1A2 Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Mechanics, it's not surprising if you're confused about what you're supposed to do during annual and semiannual PMCS for M1AI and M1A2 tanks. Why? Because only the semiannual kit, NSN 2540-01-255-3347 (PN 5705438), was listed under...

Extracting a solution.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Dear Half-Mast, We're currently going through gunnery and have had some problems with one oF our M1A1 tanks. When the tank fires, the breechblock doesn't drop to allow the aft cap to be ejected from the chamber. Since we have to...

16 lb-ft is just right.(M2/M3, M2A2/M3A2 Bradleys, MLRS Carrier ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Mechanics, when you're working on the Bradley or MLRS' 300-amp generator, NSN 6115-01-458-0096, have some mercy on the output stud nut. There should be a decal beside the stud nut that lists the proper torque requirement of 16 lb-ft. When...

Raise the pressure.(Stryker ...)
December 1, 2005... Drivers, the highest air pressure setting for your Stryker's CTIS system is 80-85 psi. That's just not high enough for vehicles equipped with slat armor in Iraq. You'll run through tires quicker than a NASCAR driver at those lower pressures....

Mileage limit on TOWs?(Stryker ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Dear Half-Mast, We've been told to Keep tracK of how many miles our Strykers travel with TOW missiles loaded. The reason is supposed to be that after TOWs have bumped along for 2,000 miles they need to be turned in because that much...

The search is over.(M113a3 FOV ...)
December 1, 2005... Need some repair parts for your M113A3 FOV's towbar, NSN 2540-00-936-7801? They've been kinda hard to find--at least until now. Order from this list of components to repair your towbars. (A) Pin, NSN 5315-01-035-5307 [ILLUSTRATION...

Are you a gun card user?(DA Form 2408-4 ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Neglecting this duty leads to expensive cannon tubes being replaced early. Even worse, some cannon tubes continue to be used when they should be condemned. Very unsafe! Unfortunately, a lot of users aren't updating their cards on the Army...

4L8OE tranny troubleshooting.(M998A2-Series and Up-armored HMMWVs ...)(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... REPORTS FROM SWA INDICATE THAT SOME DRIVERS AND UNIT MECHANICS DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE 4L80E TRANSMISSION IN ALL M998A2-SERIES AND UP-ARMORED HMMWVS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING...

Cargo net and rack.(HEMTT, PLS ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Scattered cargo is the last thing a driver wants to see while looking in his rearview mirror. To keep cargo in place, use the adjustable cargo net and rack kit that comes with NSN 2590-01-522-8060. The rack fits above the vehicle's cab. It...

Coolant temp level increased.(Turbocharged HMMWVs ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... TM 9-2320-387-10 (Oct 97, w/Ch 2) says HMMWVs with 6.5 liter turbocharged engines (M1113, M1114, M1116, M1151, and M1152) that run at coolant temperatures above 230[degrees]F are NMC. But, according to the manufacturer's specs, those...

Smell fuel?(M978 HEMTT Tanker ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Operators, just remember that "What goes on, must go off." It's OK to use the free flow (gravity feed) valve for bulk fuel transfer from your fuel tanker. But for your sake, remember to turn the valve off when you're finished. Leave...

No-hassle connections.(Electrical Hardware ...)(connector assembly repair kit, NSN 5940-01-518-2091)
December 1, 2005... You're in the field and need to make a minor electrical repair to your vehicle. You don't have any crimping or splicing tools. Chances are you don't have any connectors or terminal ends to use either. So you have to make do with what's on...

John Deere website.(Construction Equipment ...)
December 1, 2005... Engineer units searching for parts for John Deere equipment can use the company's online parts catalogs to find info that may not be in the TMs. Take a look at: http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com.deere.u90490.partscatalog....

Remote charger spring broken?(Avenger Missile System ...)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Dear Editor, As any experienced crew is keenly aware, a trouble spot in the Avenger is the spring for the M3P machine gun's remote charger. It often breaks or disappears. Then you can't fire the M3P. We've Found a good field fix is the...

Lube right for smooth rotation.(Avenger Missile System ...)
December 1, 2005... Some Avenger missile repairmen think they can take care of the semiannual lubing of the turret ring gear/azimuth assembly by just squirting lube through the access cover. It just isn't so! To do a proper lubing job, you have to first clean...

How do I get a mount poster?(Machine Gun Mounts ...)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Dear Half-Mast, Thanks for the article in PS 621 (Aug 04) on all the mounting options for machine guns. It answered a lot of our questions on what was needed for different vehicles and the NSNs for ordering mounts and supporting hardware....

Leave that pin alone!(M249 Machine Gun ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Some M249 machine gunners are removing the short pin that holds the gas regulator collar on some short barrels and replacing it with a longer pin from the standard M249 barrel or the newer short barrel. They figure a longer pin will keep the...

Borescoping changes e-x-t-e-n-d barrel life.(M224 Mortar ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Good news, mortar units! The Army has changed the condemnation limit on M224 mortar cannon tubes from 2.411 inches to 2.421. That means you will be able to use the tubes longer. But the change means you will need to update parts of TM...

Shooting down rumors.(Small Arms ...)
December 1, 2005... Rumors about better ways to take care of your rifle, pistol or machine gun just don't seem to want to die. PS still hears reports of soldiers using lubricants and cleaners on their weapons that they've heard are better than what the operator...

Bandoleer good for carrying ammo.(M16-Series Rifle ...)
December 1, 2005... RIFLEMEN, DON'T PITCH THE M8 BANDOLEER THAT CONTAINS A DOZEN 10-ROUND CLIPS FOR YOUR M16 RIFLE OR M4 CALIBER. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO STORE M16/M4 MAGAZINES, TOO. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JUST REMOVE THE WHITE SLIP STITCHING AT THE...

MFCM kit changed.(M31A1 BIDS ...)(flow cytometer)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The mini-FCM (flow cytometer) kit with the freeze-dried dye has a very short shelf life, which is why the Army is switching to a liquid dye. The liquid dye has a shelf life of two years with a predicted reliability of 98%. The part number...

Stop Mr. Cold!(M17-Series Decon, M12A1 Decon ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... It's almost impossible to drain out all water from the M17 and M12A1 decons no matter how careful you are. Then when the decons sit for weeks in the cold, that water freezes and damages stuff like the tanks and pumps. They are expensive to...

A Christmas Noel.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS... NO CREATURE WAS STIRRING... ALL WERE ABED... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ... WHILE VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS... TURNED INTO DREAD! NOOOO! IT CAAAN'T BEEEEE...... MEEEE? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Cover 'em up.(All aircraft ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Crew chiefs, in cold weather, you can't do your best if you're not covered up. The same goes for your bird's pitot tubes. Mr. Freeze can bit your bird like a ton of bricks in the mountains of Afghanistan or in the Iraqi desert at night....

For want of storage.(AH-64A/D ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Mechanics, any and every place on your AH-64A/D is not for storage. All the gear you carry on your bird goes in certain areas. Your -10 TM tells you where to store gear like flight bags and pubs bags. Check out the TM and put your stuff...

Hook it up right.(AH-64D ...)(Longbow mast-mounted assembly usage)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... During the 250-hour inspection, mechanics, if you remove or install the Longbow mast-mounted assembly (MMA), use the sling correctly and follow the 1-1520-Longbow IETM. One wrong move and the whole shebang will crash down on you. You could...

Countermeasure set too hot to cover.(ALQ-144A/C ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... However, be careful how you do it. The set gets really hot and even more so in the desert. After a mission, it's a good idea to allow it to cool down before putting on the cover, NSN 5865-01-109-1800. That's because covering the...

Are you jammin'?
December 1, 2005... Button pushing The flight control closet is a tight area, but not doing the integrated lower control actuator (ILCA) jam simulation test prior to the first flight of each day puts your bird at risk. Get in there and get at it! Test...

Go figure.(150-KW Generators ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I'VE TURNED THIS TM INSIDE OUT TRYING TO FIND THE FIGS... ... I DON'T THINK THEY EXIST!! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EQUIPMENT PARTS MANUALS ARE THE ENCYCLOPEDIAS OF REPAIR PART KNOWLEDGE THAT LEAD YOU DOWN THE RIGHT PATH TO PART...

Is the eyecup important?(AN/PVS-14 MNVD ...)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Dear Editor, I have inspected many units which use the AN/PVS/-14 monocular night vision device (MNVD). I have been surprised at how many of these MNVDs don't have an eyecup. I have been told by users that they don't use the eyecup because...

Just ask Toby.(Electronic Equipment Helpline ...)(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... ARE YOU A MAINTENANCE OR SUPPLY MINDED SOLDIER WITH A SPECIALITY IN MAINTAINING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YES... YES, I AM. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WE ALL ARE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THERE'S A...

New, different, flexible.(Army Combat Uniform ...)
December 1, 2005... What all warfighters will be wearing by May 2007, the ACU benefits from multiple improvements made as a result of field testing in the war zone, testing that continues even now. The basic ACU consists of a jacket, trousers, patrol cap,...

A little bit about a good fit.(Interceptor Body Armor ...)
December 1, 2005... When it comes to choosing your interceptor body armor's outer tactical vest (OTV), take the time and trouble to get the right size. The extra effort's worth it. A good fit not only provides comfort but also gives your torso maximum protection....

A warm shower is just ducky.(Containerized Shower ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... CONTAINERIZED SHOWERS GET PLENTY OF USE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BEFORE LONG LIME AND CRUD BUILD UP IN THE SHOWER HEADS. THEN THE FLOW OF WATER IS REDUCED TO A TRICKLE. DO SOMETHING SIMPLE IN THE NAME OF GOOD HYGIENE: CLEAN OUT THE...

A key to faster resupply.(Logistics Management ...)(Brief Article)(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... SOLDIERS IN THE BIG SANDPIT KNOW THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING SUPPLIES ON TIME, IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND IN THE RIGHT QUANTITY. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR DELAYS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JUST...

LOGNet: peer-to-peer info sharing.
December 1, 2005... Dear Half-Mast, I'm a maintenance chief getting ready go deploy to Iraq. I've been there before, but things have probably changed. Is there somewhere I can meet other logistics professionals and subject matter experts (SMEs) to get...

Update software to solve IETM viewing problems.(Logistics Management ...)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Dear Editor, Some electronic maintenance system (EMS) users have version conflicts when they try to view recent interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs). Usually this happens because the current EMS software isn't installed on...

M88A1 air cleaner parts.(Connie's Post Scripts)
December 1, 2005... The numbers for Items 22 and 23 in Fig 21 of TM 9-2350-256-24P-1 are reversed. If you order Item 22, the rubber collar flange, you'll actually receive what's pictured as Item 23. And if you order Item 23, the air duct collar, you'll receive...

No training with old M2 barrel support.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... We told you in PS 627 (Feb 05) that because of a shortage in M2 machine gun barrel supports it is temporarily OK to use the old barrel support with rectangular cooling holes. But because the old support has larger cooling holes it's not OK to...

M1A1 tank DSESTS software.(Connie's Post Scripts)
December 1, 2005... Have you had DSPS 32.1 software loaded on your Direct Support Electrical Systems Test Set (DSESTS) with a Combined Support Function Module (CSFM)? Without it, you won't be able to check the tank commander's panel (TCP), PN 12549797-3, on tanks...

M1A1 tank commander's panels.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... If you need a new tank commander's panel (TCP) for your M1A1 tank or an upgraded tank commander's panel (UTCP) for your M1A1 AIM tank, be sure you order the latest versions. Requisitions for the older, obsolete versions will be rejected. The...

AR 750-1 2005 released.
December 1, 2005... The 2003 version of AR 750-a Army Materiel Maintenance Policy, was replaced on 15 Aug. The version is available on the Army Directorate website: http://www.army/mil/usapa/epubs/750_Series_Collection_1.html.

Unauthorized modifications: hurt your weapon and put you and your unit at risk.
December 1, 2005... WHAT THE HECK!? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MY RIFLE'S JAMMED! I'M DEFENSELESS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT JAMMED BECAUSE YOU PUT THAT M4 BUTTSTOCK ON YOUR M16 RIFLE. WHO GAVE YOU THAT BRIGHT IDEA!? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]