The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from January 2004

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from January 2004

Beat the heat with PM!(M2/M3-Series Bradley...)
January 1, 2004... LET'S FACE IT, CREWMEN. DESERT OPERATIONS ARE TOUGH ON YOUR BRADLEY'S TRACK. HEAVY LOADS, LONG HOURS OF OPERATION, HIGH SPEEDS AND EXTREME HEAT ALL COMBINE TO WEAR OUT TRACK MUCH FASTER THAN IT WOULD NORMALLY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT...

Bradley turret travel lock.
January 1, 2004... Having problems with the turret travel lock on your M2A2/M3A2 Bradley? Don't try to fix it yourself. Tell your mechanic. He'll adjust, repair of replace the travel lock following the instructions in Chap 9 of TM 9-2350-284-20-2-2.

Remove A-20 before welding?(Personnel Heaters ...)
January 1, 2004... Got any electric arc or resistance welding scheduled for your combat vehicle? Better check to see if it's equipped with ah A-20 personnel heater, NSN 2540-01-396-2826, first. IF IT IS YOU'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES BEFORE WELDING....

Clobber engine slobber.(M1070 Hets...)
January 1, 2004... Drivers, you're asking for trouble when you run the heavy equipment transporter's diesel engine for long stretches at low idle. You're asking for even more trouble if you continually start the engine and shut it down before it has a chance...

Battery box liner NSN.
January 1, 2004... NSN 6160-01-389-1966 GETS A ROLL OF BATTERY BOX LINER! Acid spills from batteries causes corrosion on the bottom of battery boxes. But that acid doesn't have to get a free shot. Use NSN 6160-01-389-1966 to get a roll of battery box liner...

M1070 het O-ring.
January 1, 2004... NSN 5331-01-357-0846 gets an O-ring for the counterbalance valve in the heavy equipment transporter's auxiliary winch. The O-ring is missing from the valve body that's shown as Item 18, Fig 221 of TM 9-2320-360-24P.

HET battery disconnect kit.
January 1, 2004... Batteries are known to run down 011 the M1070 heavy equipment transporter (HET). You mechanics can put an end to dead batteries with a battery disconnect kit that comes with NSN 5930-01-494-9353. Installation instructions come with the kit.

BII 12-volt cable assembly.
January 1, 2004... NSN 6150-01-478-6510 gets the 12-volt cable assembly for the M915A2 and M916A1/A2 tractor trucks. This NSN replaces the parts info shown as Item 6, Page B-4 of TM 9-2320-363-10.

Don't forget the gun.(Avenger Missile System ...)
January 1, 2004... Unfortunately, too many Avenger units do forget the M3P machine gun when it comes time for PMCS. The M3Ps are stored down in the arms room, not at the motor pool, and no one bothers to go get them. The Avenger gets a thorough PMCS, while the...

Spares spare you trouble in field.(MLRS...)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Editor, Here at FT Hood we've Found taking a few spare part to the field spares us downtime and problems with our MRLS. An Extra Adapter The W19 and W20 cables are the interface between the launcher and rockets and must be...

MK64 mounts modified?(Machine Guns ...)
January 1, 2004... MWO 9-1010-231-30-2 (Mar 98) modified the MK64 machine gun mount from Mod 7 (NSN 1010-01-179-7616) to Mod 9 (NSN 1010-01-412-3159). All units should have had the MWO done to their MK64s by now. Unfortunately, that's not the case and units are...

Don't forget feed throat.(MK 19 Machine Gun ...)
January 1, 2004... Lots of units who have deployed have shipped out their MK 19 machine guns without the feed throat assemblies. It's easy to forget the teed throat assembly because it's usually stored separately in the arms room from the test of the gun. ...

Catch MK93 catch bag problems.
January 1, 2004... If you don't catch MK93 mount catch bag problems on your MK 19 machine gun, they will catch you during firing. A catch bag that's installed wrong or is not emptied of spent cartridge cases lets cases pile up under the bolt. That makes it...

The word on deconning.(M17-Series Decon ...)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Dear Editor, Based on our unit's experience maintaining and using the M17 decon, we've come up with a few suggestions for getting the most out of your M17s. * When you start up, you're supposed to squeeze the ball pump on the fuel...

Radiating good health.(Radiac Equipment...)
January 1, 2004... most NBC rooms have at least some radiac sets and radiac meters: generally AN/VDR-2s, UDR-13s, IM-93s, and AN/PDR-75s. Normally, radiac equipment doesn't need much care, but unfortunately the equipment often gets no care. Then it doesn't work....

Chemical Equipment Hotline.
January 1, 2004... Where do you turn when you have questions about your protective mask, decon equipment, smoke generator, chemical alarms, or other chemical/biological equipment? The Chemical Equipment Hotline! The hotline, which is managed by the Edgewood...

How to get PMCS card?(M40/M42-Series Marks...)
January 1, 2004... Dear Half-Mast, The PMCS card that comes with the M40/M42--series masks makes it easy for soldiers to do a thorough inspection of their masks. Unfortunately, over time those cards disappear. Is there any way to get more? SGT D.K. ...

A squeeze will do!(HYEX...)
January 1, 2004... Clean air filters are important for all vehicles, but they're crucial on a HYEX. The engine will run rough or not at all if the filters are dogged. A dirty filter steals power and forces the excavator to struggle with any load in the backhoe....

Stop turbo burnout!(CCE/MHE ...)
January 1, 2004... Way too many turbochargers on the engines of commercial construction equipment are ending up at support and DOL shops for repair or replacement. How come, you ask? While transported on the back of a semitrailer, the exhaust pipe on...

Pressure on shut-off valve.(CH-47D ...)
January 1, 2004... Remember to complete the primary and secondary checks before single point refueling of a Chinook's FWD, MAIN and AFT fuel tanks. They are spelled out in Task 1-51 of TM 55-1520-240-23-1. Forget these checks, which means you don't check the...

Main rotor bifilar e-x-p-a-n-d-a-b-l-e pin.(UH-60A/L ...)
January 1, 2004... Dear SFC Blade, The Black Hawk's bifilar expandable pins, NSN 5315-01-112-2991, are tougher than nails to remove. The procedure in paragraph 5-4-27 of TM 1-1520-237-23-3 makes good sense. It tells you to hold the pin with a hex wrench...

Load rounds, not your fingers.(AH-64D...)
January 1, 2004... Dear SFC Blade, We have a problem with soldiers getting their fingers caught in the sideloader while loading 30mm ammo on the Apache. During Field exercises, because of the rapid pace of the forward area ammo refueling point (FAARP)...

Snake the drain hole.(AH-64A/D)
January 1, 2004... Standing water inside the canopy jettison handle access door (T50) of your Apache means you need a rotor rooter job, repairers. The canopy jettison handle sits forward of the copilot gunner window (CPG) under a quick release panel for the...

M42A2 mask microphone ...
January 1, 2004... The M42A2 chemical/biological mask uses a dynamic microphone, NSN 5965-01-414-2257. When wearing a CVC helmet and plugging into the AN/VIS-3 communications system, one end of the microphone cord plugs into the front voicemitter socket of your...

When a battery goes blooey!
January 1, 2004... First, get away from the battery! Your natural tendency will be to get closer and see what is happening. You'll want to investigate. Don't! Get away from the area until the noise stops and the odor dissipates. Alert others in the area to get...

It's your noggin!(CVC Helmet ...)
January 1, 2004... Keep It Clean * Oil and sweat build up in the liner and destroy the fabric. Remove the liner and protective pads and wash them in mild detergent and water. Let them air dry. * Wipe inside the shell with a soft cloth dampened in the...

Put the bite on O-rings.(AOAP ...)
January 1, 2004... YOU NEED GOOD O-RINGS IN YOUR VAMPIRE PUMP, NSN 4930-01-119-4030, TO KEEP SUCKING UP THE OIL. SO REPLACE THE BAD ONES IN YOUR PUMP USING THESE NSNS... Pump with Stand [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pump without Stand ...

Eyeing some new goggles.(Eye Protection ...)
January 1, 2004... The sun, wind and dust goggles (SWDG) date back to the 1950s. For years they've been the standard goggles providing ballistic and laser eye protection. But times have changed and now the Army offers you a choice: the old standby SWDG or a new...

A short lesson on litters.
January 1, 2004... Sometimes even a medical litter, NSN 6530-00-783-7905, needs a little medical attention. Here's a small dose of care: * Inspect the frame for cracks or wear. Make sure all screws and rivets are tight and in place. * If the hinge on the...

Safe paint cleans up easy.
January 1, 2004... Painting guide marks and wanting lines inside your motor pool makes good safety sense--unless you're using the wrong paint. Yellow paint, NSN 8010-00-900-3648, has been the paint of choice for years. Unfortunately, it's flammable and...

Parts for hospital cot.
January 1, 2004... GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT, DOC! HOW BAD IS IT? THE BAD NEWS IS YOUR LEG IS BROKEN. THE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU IS, REPLACLEMENT PARTS CAN KEEP YOUR FOLDING HOSPITAL COT, NSN 6530-00-299-8517, IN GOOD HEALTH. HERE'S THE PRESCRIPTION... ...

Soldier collaboration encouraged on AKO.
January 1, 2004... I WONDER WHY THIS BARLEY'S TURRET DRIVE IS NMC AGAIN? I'VE GOT THE ANSWER! CHEEK YOUR TURRET DOOR AND COMBAT OVERRIDE SWITCH. MOST SOLDIERS DON'T LIKE REINVENTING THE WHEEL. A LOT OF SOLDIERS HAVE THE KERNEL OF AN IDEA OF HOW...

2003 supply excellence awards.
January 1, 2004... ACTIVE ARMY MTOE Company With Property Book Winner: HHD, 115th MI Grp, Schofield barracks, HI Runner-up: HHD, 59th Sig Bn, Ft Richardson, AK Honorable Mention: HHC, 8th MP Bde, Yongsan, Korea MTOE Company Without Property...

M1070 battery switch.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Dead batteries and the M1070 HET tractor seem to go hand-in-hand, especially when the vehicle sits idle for long periods of time, After shutdown, the clock on the tractor's tachograph continues to draw power from the batteries. Stop battery...

Fuel tanker TM.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... POL folks, listen up! If you're still using TM 9-2320-279-20P (June 1994) to get parts for your M978 fuel tanker, STOP! It's been superseded by TM 9-2320-279-24P-1 and TM 1-2320-279-24P-2.

Landing mats.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Parking aircraft in the sand damages rotating parts on take off and landing Also, you'll probably have problems with the bird sinking into the sand Avoid the headaches by ordering 4 X 4, aluminum landing mats, NSN 5680 00 930-1524 or pallet and...

HET tachometer and gauge.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... NSN 2841-01-494-6557 gets a new tachometer and dash panel with gauges for the M1070 heavy equipment transporter. This tachometer replaces the old-style tachograph shown as item 1 in Fig 58 of TM 9-2320-360-24P (w/C2).

M1000 backing plate kit.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Get a backing plate kit for the M1000 HET semitrailer's brake housing with NSN 2530-01-445-9205 This new kit includes Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4a, Fig 17-1 of TM 9-2330-381 24P w/Change 3.

Replacing HMMWV seat belts.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Damaged seat belts for the M998 HMMWV can be replaced with a 3-point seat belt, NSN 2540-01-495-087, The belt is made of slicker material for better retraction. NSN 2540-01-495-4018 is an MWO kit installing 3-point seat belts on trucks still...

PLS headlight.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... NSN 6240-01-420-8320 gets the 12-volt headlight assembly for the palletized loading system truck, The NSN shown as Item 3, Fig 92, of TM 9-2320-364-24P is wrong.

Life preserver update.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... ALSE techs, on Page 41 of PS 611 (Oct 03), we said to inspect the life preservers (LPU-10) every 120 days. That was correct as stated in multi-service Air Force/Army T.O. 14S-1-102 and TM 5-4220-202-14. The Army has decided to require LPU-10...

5-KW and 10-KW TQG filters.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... If your unit is running 5 or 10-KW tactical quiet generators, keep this list of filters handy: Get the fuel filter seal kit with NSN 2815-01-139-4010 Filter NSN Air 2940-00-934-7989 Prima fuel ...

Black hawk desert operations.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Units, desert operations worked your birds overtime! Now it's time to get them back into shape. So be on the lookout for authorized contractor field teams and depots to do a thorough inspection and cleaning of your aircraft. They will use TB...

Send in SINCGARS airborne amplifier-oscillator.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Unserviceable SINCGARS airborne amplifier-oscillators, NSN 5895-01-451-9743, need to be turned in to Tobyhanna Army Depot for repair. There is a shortage due to lack of turn-ins. Your unit will get "unserviceable credit" for each turn- in.

PLS heater switch.(Connie's Post Scripts)
January 1, 2004... Use NSN 5930 01 207 6337 to get the heater control switch for the palletized loading system This NSN replaces the parts info shown as Item 3, Fig 440 of TM 9-2320-364-24P-2.