The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from February 2006

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from February 2006

Welcome back!(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Welcome back! You've done your tour in Southwest Asia and now you're back at home base among friends and family in the good ol' U.S of A. Enjoy the homecoming, but don't forget your equipment. Your trucks, tanks, generators, aircraft and...

Say 'no' to slat armor swinging.(interim armoured vehicle)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Drivers, when it's time to refuel your Stryker, you first have to swing open the section of slat armor that protects the fuel caps. Unfortunately, too many of you are forgetting to resecure the armor with the hitch pin when you finish...

Don't be a hatch basher.(Stryker)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... WHAM! CR-A-A-CK! That's the sound you'll hear if you let the troop hatch fall open on your Stryker. With the addition of slat armor, the edge of the hatch hits the armor instead of the rubber cushion that's designed to absorb the...

The right way's the best way.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... A lot of tank crewmen have come up with "homemade tools" and "better ways" of cleaning the 120mm cannon tube. These are the same crewmen who have to explain why their cannon tubes have to be replaced before their time. THERE'S ONLY ONE...

It's not over 'til it's over.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... After a mission, you're hot, tired, and ready to call it a day. But the job's not finished until you've completed your tank's alter-operation PMCS. That's especially important when it comes to servicing the main gun tube, bore evacuator,...

Start with right parts.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Mechanics, here's what you need when it comes to the right generator and parts for M2/M3-series Bradleys and MLRS carriers. The 300-amp generator assembly, NSN 2920-01-204-4470, for both vehicles is no longer stocked. You now have to order...

Right length bolt reminder.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Mechanics, one bolt can make the difference between a vehicle being mission-ready or NMC. Keep that in mind when it comes to installing the propeller shaft and universal joints on a vehicle from the M113A3 family. Some mechanics are using...

Correct rotation crucial.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, We're confused about; the correct rotation for the scissoring cable strands on our AVLBs. Page 2-31 in TM 5-5420-203-14 (Jun 91 w/Ch2) shows the rotation as right; side counterclockwise and left side clockwise. Then on Page...

Air filters can fold in the cold.(Combat Vehicles ...)
February 1, 2006... Dust, sand and dirt aren't the only things that can clog your combat vehicle's air filters. Water, especially when it freezes in cold weather, plugs the filter and keeps the engine from getting the air it needs. Pretty soon you've got a...

Wheel lift.(Tactical Wheeled Vehicles ...)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Wrestling a truck's wheel and hub assembly back onto an axle can cause some real damage. That axle damage includes banged-up threads, leaky seals and bearings... not to mention a sore back! So what else is new'? Well, you unit...

Follow the chain route.(trucks)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Drivers, follow the word in your -10 TM on securing your vehicle. Doing it the right way prevents wiring harness and turn signal lever damage. For instance, for FMTVs, the right way is shown in Para 2-21 of TM 9-2320-365-10 w/C2 and Para...

Get reflective.(Wheeled Vehicles)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Too many drivers say they never saw the vehicle in front of them... until it was too late. With a nod from your commander, you can add reflective decals (just like those you see on Army vehicles in Europe) to your over-the-road vehicles....

Snow plow kits.(High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Instructions come with each kit, but only depot is authorized to install it on your HMMWV. If your maintenance facility doesn't have depot capability, call the CRREL at DSN 220-4470 or (603) 646-4470. They can help you arrange an appointment...

PM lessons of excavating.(IHMEE...)
February 1, 2006... Operators, even a workhorse like your interim high mobility engineer excavator needs some TLC to keep it moving dirt and sand. Follow the operator info in TM 5-2420-230 10 and use these PM tips to keep your excavator mission-ready. ...

Spare tire reminder.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2006... BEFORE BACKHOE OPERATIONS, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE EXCAVATOR'S TOW PINTLE, SPARE TIRE, AND THE TIRE'S CARRIER ASSEMBLY. MAKE SURE THESE ITEMS ARE OUT OF THE WAY IF YOU NEED TO BACK UP THE EXCAVATOR. ALSO, DON'T LEAVE 'EM BEHIND AT THE...

Tips for driving in the sand.(earthmovers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Moving sand, excavating dirt and reinforcing berms is what these earthmovers are all about. But they're racking up more and more hours in the sandbox, so it's critical that you follow the word in TM 5-2350-262-10 and keep these driver tips in...

Painting precautions.(CCE ...)
February 1, 2006... When you prep commercial construction equipment for the paint shop, you know you have to cover all the glass and lamp components like the windshield, mirrors, headlights and taillights. But you'll also need to cover all the polyethylene/...

PM a boon for boom.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... A boom that won't work on your MLRS is a real bummer. No boom means no missile loading. These PM points will prove a boon for the boom: Good greasing means first getting rid of the old grease. As you know, the MLRS kicks up lots of dirt...

New racks more versatile, efficient.(The Spacesaver racks)
February 1, 2006... The Army's current family of racks is quite specific. Each rack can store only a specific weapon, with the exception of the universal rakc, which is basically a cage with shelves. NOW THE ARMY HAS AN ALTERNATIVE. SPACESAVER'S UNIVERSAL...

A goodly amount of mount info.(machine gun pedestal)
February 1, 2006... New and improved machine gun pedestal--The new M7 HMMWV pedestal, NSN 1005-01-518-9037, is an improvement over the old M6. It can be mounted in the forward or rear (over the wheel wells) positions on the M998 cargo carrier. The M7 comes with a...

Highbrow Hand Tool Theatre.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2006... GOOD EVENING, HAND TOOL DEVOTEES, WELCOME TO ANOTHER EXCEEDINGLY STUFFY EPISODE OF HIGHBROW HAND TOOL THEATRE. I'M ALISTAIR RACHET, YOUR POMPOUS HOST. TONIGHT'S EAGERLY AWAITED INSTALLMENT SHALL BEGIN PRESENTLY. BUT FIRST, LET US...

Place your orders!(body armors)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Looking for body armor for the aircrew integrated recovery survival armor vest and equipment (AIRSAVE)? For a while, getting your order filled was slow going. There just weren't enough of these items in the Army supply system. Not any...

No stuffing.(helmet care)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Pilots and co-pilots, your AH-64's integrated helmet and display sighting system (IHADSS) is a delicate piece of equipment. Treat it with care. Also, do not coil the 1R harness and the ICS cord inside the helmet. Over time the IR harness...

All is not well until you finish!(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Mechanics, maintenance procedures usually turn out OK--if you finish the job. Finishing a job may mean not forgetting sealing compound. For example, any time Black Hawk rotor head maintenance is done, the TM requires track and balance of...

Missing safety cable information.
February 1, 2006... MECHANICS, SOMETHING'S MISSING FROM SOME OF YOUR BLACK HAWK TMs! RESTRICTIONS ON SAFETY CABLE USE DISAPPEARED AFTER THE LAST CHANGE TO TM 1-1520-237-23-3 (7 NOV 2002). THE WARNINGS WERE INADVERTENTLY DELETED. THE NEXT REVISION...

Birds of a feather flock together.(All Aircraft ...)
February 1, 2006... As in the Alfred Hitchcock movie, "The Birds," birds have descended on aircraft hangars to hang out, to nest, and to breed. The resulting droppings cause problems. As the battle of the birds continues, one way to scare birds away and keep...

Handle like glass.(Fiber Optic Cables ...)
February 1, 2006... CHANCES ARE YOUR UNIT IS USING FIBER OPTIC CABLES. IF NOT, IT SOON WILL BE. FIBER OPTIC CABLE HAS SOME SPECIAL HANDLING NEEDS AND REQUIRES SOME SPECIAL MAINTENANCE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HERE IS A BAKER'S DOZEN THINGS YOU NEED TO...

Some GRM news.(Ground Risk Management)
February 1, 2006... RADIO TEST SET, AN/GRM-221, NSN 6625-01-432-8369, IS ASKING FOR SOME RESPECT. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THAT'S RIGHT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AHH! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S TELLING YOU FROM THE CORNER OF YOUR WORKBENCH...

New instructions for old sanator.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... BECAUSE THE ARMY NEEDS ALL THE LIGHTWEIGHT DECON SYSTEMS IT CAN FIND, IT'S NOT PHASING OUT THE OLD A/E32U-8 SANATORS. TO SIMPLIFY OPERATIONS AND INCREASE SAFETY, THE ARMY HAS COME UP WITH NEW STARTING INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY CAUTIONS. ...

Wet dog in the rain.(foul smell)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... When the skies open up and the rain pours down, it's time to pull on your wet weather parka and trousers. But some soldiers say the rainsuit smells foul and they don't like wearing it. That smell comes from sweat deposited on the clothing...

Pondering paints.(helmets and ground troops)
February 1, 2006... Given enough time and wear, the paint on PASGT (personal armor system ground troops) (Kevlar) and CVC helmets can crack, chip and peel. Sooner or later the helmets will need repainting. If you've been handed the task of painting helmets,...

No metal, plenty of plastic!(Water Cans ...)
February 1, 2006... But the Army does stock 5-gal plastic water cans and accessories. The plastic can is lighter and more durable than the metal one. It won't corrode and it fits in the same vehicle racks. If you lose the covers to the breather cap and pour...

Back to basics.(fosh)
February 1, 2006... ANOTHER ICY WINTER COMES HOWLING DOWN FROM THE NORTH. HUDDLED IN TENTS, YOUR UNIT DEPENDS ON THE FAMILY OF SPACE HEATERS (FOSH) FOR WARMTH. QUESTION IS: CAN THE FOSH DEPEND ON YOU TO KEEP THEM WORKING SAFELY? SOME COMMON ISSUES FACED...

Stay warm and safe this winter.(field deployable environmental control unit)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... THE USAMC COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS COMMAND HAS RELEASED A SAFETY OF USE MESSAGE. FOR THOSE OF YOU LOOKING TO STAY COMFORTABLE IN SHELTERS YEAR-ROUND, THIS WILL BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST. CECOM SOUM #05-001 CECOM SOUM #05-001...

Correcting forms under TAMMS.(the army maintenace management system)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast DA Pare 738-750 provided instructions on how to correct; TAMMS forms (see Para 1-6(c)). Why doesn't the new TAMMS, PA Pam 750-8, have these instructions? MR. E.B., THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION! HERE'S YOURS...

Make sure your deployment shipments get to you!(Logistics Management ...)
February 1, 2006... So you're preparing vehicles and shipping containers for your deployment to the sand box. Did you know there's a system for tracking those items and increasing the probability you'll actually get them? The Intransit Visibility (ITV) server...