The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from July 2007

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from July 2007

Mad about PM.(Comic)(Cartoon)
July 1, 2007... RUDYARD KIPLING SAID, "EVERYONE IS MORE OR LESS MAD ON ONE POINT." HERE AT PS, THE POINT WE ARE MAD ON IS PM. WE'RE MADLY ANGRY WHEN IT'S NOT DONE. AND WE'RE MADLY HAPPY WHEN IT IS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TO PREACH THE POWER...

New plates for upgrades.(M1131 FSV Stryker ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... All M1131 Fire Support Vehicles have been upgraded to FSV/FS3s. The upgrade included the addition of the long range advanced scout surveillance system (LRAS3) and the laser designator module (LDM). With the upgrade, the vehicle's NSN and...

Software locking you out?(Stryker ...)
July 1, 2007... The first time you try to install the Stryker IETM software on your maintenance support device (MSD) could be a problem. A lot of soldiers are reporting that the MSD locks up on them. If this is the first time that you've tried to install...

Shut down FBCB2 right.(M1A2 SEP Tank ...)
July 1, 2007... Tankers, there's a right way and a whole bunch of wrong ways to shut down the FBCB2 system on your M1A2 SEP tank. If you use one of the wrong ways, the FBCB2 software stops communicating properly. The tank's software treats this as an FBCB2...

Communication is key.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Tankers, you need to be able to move, shoot and communicate to get the mission done as quickly and safely as possible. Lose the ability to do any of the three and your mission is jeopardized. That's why it's important to have a complete and...

Dipstick predicament.(M2/M3-Series Bradleys ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The gasket under the top of your Bradley's transmission oil dipstick is pretty important, crewmen. After checking the oil level, you have to turn the T-handle on the dipstick to lock it in place. Turning the T-handle makes the gasket under...

Count threads for faulty exintinguishers.(M88A1 Recovery Vehicle, AVLB ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Crewmen, the fixed fire extinguishers on some of your M88A1s and AVLBs are hanging by a thread. And that can put you in danger if there's a fire. Some of the bottle assemblies, NSN 4210-01-048-8646, under contract number DAAE07-03-D-N070...

Don't choke on air cleaner PM.(M113A3 FOV ...)
July 1, 2007... Gaskets The gaskets on the air cleaner door and element are the first line of defense. Gaskets that are torn, loose or missing allow dirty air to get inside the engine and damage it. First, eyeball the air cleaner door gasket for cuts...

Shedding light on a failure.(M1078A1 2 1/2-Ton Truck ...)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Dear Editor, We recently spent some long hours troubleshooting an M1098A1 for transmission failure. The truck came to us with a burned ground wire and inoperative gauges. The engine light came on, the blackout marker lights stayed on, and...

Fan clutch troubleshooting tip.(M939A2-Series Truck ...)
July 1, 2007... Dear Half-Mast, What's with the fan clutches for M939A2-series 5-ton trucks? When the Fan clutch won't engage, I thought the right thing to do was to replace it. But the replacement clutch still won't engage. How can I fix this? SSG...

Heat shrink tubing to the rescue.(Tactical Vehicles ...)
July 1, 2007... A LITTLE HEAT SHRINK TUBING AROUND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS IS A GOOD WAY SEAL OUT MOISTURE AND KEEP THE WIRING CONNECTION TIGHT. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] USE THIS LIST TO ORDER THE SIZE AND COLOR TUBING YOU NEED FOR THE JOB... YOU...

You'd better do windows!(Tactical Vehicles ...)
July 1, 2007... The ballistic glass on your tactical vehicle needs regular cleaning. And you'd better clean it right because you can't see very well through glass that's scratched or starting to separate. 1. Rinse the window with clean water from a squirt...

Got pubs?(PLS ...)
July 1, 2007... PUBS UPDATES GIVE YOU VALUABLE INFO, SUCH AS CHANGES TO PART NUMBERS, NSNS, AND REPAIR PROCEDURES. GOT CURRENT PLS PUBS FOR YOUR PLS TRUCK, TRAILER, AND FLATRACK? EYEBALL THIS CHART TO FIND OUT. Model TM Number ...

Conversion math made easy.(Metrically Challenged? ...)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Dear Editor, I get frustrated sometimes while trying to convert; millimeters to inches and decimals to fractions. But I came across a couple of websites that make conversion math easy. Tell your readers in the field that are metrically...

How loose can rivets be?(M2 Machine Gun ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Armorers--Do the PMCS check in Item 14 on WP 0010 00-23 in TM 9-1005-213-23&P (Change 2). Check the receiver for cracks or movement of riveted components. Rivets are allowed to turn as long as there's no movement of riveted components. Item 14...

Keeping the spring in spring.(M2 Machine Gun...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... * Get the timing nut spring and sear spring changed annually. If the timing nut spring becomes weak, the timing nut won't stay put and the M2's timing is thrown off. A weak sear spring means the M2 can stop firing. It's direct support's job to...

Barrel extension loose? No go!(M203 Grenade Launcher ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Dear Half-Mast, Item 3 in the M203 grenade launcher's quarterly PMCS in TM 9-1010-221-23&P says that there can be no obvious play or movement; in the barrel extension. I don't; have one single M203 in the arms room that doesn't have some...

Big arms rooms need big dehumidifiers.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Dear Editor, The article in PS 645 (Aug 06) suggesting armorers run a dehumidifier in the arms room was good--Dug it; didn't; go far enough. The dehumidifier listed in the article was the type used in the home and holds only 15 pints....

Help to start smoking.(M157 Smoke Generator ...)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Dear Editor, Smoking is your M157's business so you want to help it start smoking, not stop. * M157 operators tend to hold the ENGINE toggle switch up in the START position. That often makes stalling harder because the M157 loses air...

ID the easy way.(M40-, M42-Series Masks ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Having to hunt down each soldier's mask in your NBC room is the slick path to frustration, NBC NCOs. Here's an easy way to make mask ID easy: Use metal dog tags, NSN 8465-00-242-4804, and dog tag covers, NSN 8465-00-999-7905. Attach them...

Rx for avenger pm.
July 1, 2007... * When your Avenger is going to just sit in the motor pool, install the SVML (standard vehicle mounted launcher) caps from inside the launcher. That way the caps can't fall out and disappear. If you're in the field, though, and there's a chance...

No more hydraulic fluid waste.(Tools ...)
July 1, 2007... If you don't use all of a newly opened bottle of hydraulic fluid, you're supposed to dispose of it. That keeps you from accidentally using contaminated fluid in your equipment. The cost of all those partially used bottles of hydraulic fluid...

Fresh outlook on door screws.(M7 Forward Repair System ...)
July 1, 2007... Your day will be completely ruined if one of the side doors on the M7 forward repair system (FRS) falls on your head. And that's exactly what can happen if you don't pay attention to the piano hinge screws at the top of the doors. ...

The evolution of weaponry: when PM became the point.(COMIC)(Cartoon)
July 1, 2007... WEAPONS FALL INTO TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES: SHOCK AND MISSILE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ORIGINAL SHOCK WEAPON WAS... THE CLUB. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ORIGINAL MISSILE WEAPON WAS... THE ROCK. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Six pack, disc pack.(OH-58D)(tail rotor drive shaft disc packs )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... But we do have to tell you that tail rotor drive shaft disc packs in your Kiowa Warrior need work, too. Maintenance information message OH-58D-MIM-05-025 has the full story. Here's what you need to do to take care of them. Make sure...

Detecting defective buffers.(M296 Machine Gun ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Some defective M296 machine gun recoil buffer assemblies have gotten into the supply system and could be in use on your OH-58D. The buffer rivets securing the depressors onto the oil buffer body were installed wrong. The rivet heads can back...

Protect windshield from desert sand.(UH-60 Series ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Mechanics, sand wreaks havoc on a Black Hawk windshield, whether it's in a sand storm or the result of rotor wash. Once sand scratches up a windshield, your pilots will be squinting their eyes just to see where they're flying! Take a...

Washing helicopter turbine engines.(AGSE ...)
July 1, 2007... Mechanics, the aviation ground support equipment (AGSE) office at AMCOM has given a "thumbs up" on using the turbine engine wash system (TEWS), NSN 4940-01-514-0087, to wash helicopter engines. The word is in aviation maintenance...

Record it or lose it.(All Aircraft ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Be a champion of good maintenance! If you find a problem or a fault, or perform maintenance, make sure it's recorded daily on your bird's DA Form 2408-13-1, Aircraft Inspection and Maintenance Record. Write down every problem and fault on...

State of Charge indicator is here!(BA-5390/5590 Batteries ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Deployed units should order BA-5390A/U, NSN 6135-01-517-6060, and BA-5590A/U, NSN 6135-01-523-3037, batteries with a state of the charge indicator (SOCI) so you will always know how much of a charge is left in the battery. That way, you...

New sub for old power supplies.(PP-2953D/U Power Supply ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Contrary to what you may be hearing, power supply, NSN 6130-00-435-1116, is not a recommended replacement for powering a SINCGARS. For more information on power supply availability, contact Charles Puleo, 732-427-4767 or DSN: 987-4767. Or...

Questions about those LRAS3 IOB parts?(AN/TAS-8(V)1 & (V)2 ...)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Dear Editor, I am a manager For the AN/TAS-8(V)1 & (V)2, long range scout; surveillance system (LRAS3). I need your help to get the word out to all 45 Golfs and LRAS3 operators and maintainers. Here's the word: The critical internal...

Mount 'em up!(SINCGARS LS-671 Loudspeaker ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... When it comes to mounting the LS-671/VRC SINCGARS loudspeaker, NSN 5965-01-222-1420, the location is the call of the commander. Two preferred locations on 2 1/2-ton M35-series and 5-ton M809-series trucks are the dashboard and the...

It's all about good contacts.(SINCGARS Vehicular Antenna ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... DIRTY AND CORRODED CONTACTS. ON THE SINCGARS VEHICULAR ANTENNA LEAD TO INTERMITTENT OR BROKEN TRAFFIC. WORSE YET, DIRT AND CORROSION CAN CAUSE HIGH REFLECTED RF POWER, WHICH CAN DAMAGE THE RECEIVER-TRANSMITTER. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR...

A crucial question.(Commo Shelters ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Dear Half-Mast, We faithfully read your magazine and try to follow all your maintenance tips, but recent articles on commo shelters have us puzzled. In articles about the inside of the shelter, you say to limit what we store there to...

Got thirst?(Hydration System ...)
July 1, 2007... You've heard the same story ever since you were a green recruit: drink plenty of water, especially if you're in full gear and soldiering in the heat. Just a couple of hours out in the sun without enough water will begin to sap your energy and...

NSNs on ice.(Ice Storage Chest ...)(National Stock Number)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The no-caster chests replace the 200-lb ice chests in the mobile kitchen trailer and the company-level field feeding kitchen. All chests are made of high impact polyethylene with foam insulation. They can store 175 lbs of ice or ice with...

Canteen care and parts.(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... You won't find a parts list for the 1-qt plastic canteen in any TM. So we've listed them for you. Now you have no excuse for ditching a canteen just because it's missing a cap or a cover. NSN 8465-01-115-0026 brings you a canteen with the...

Can care lets water flow.(Plastic Water Cans ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Water is vital when you're soldiering in the summer heat. You need to drink long and often when the sun is scorching and the land's baked dry and dusty. Give your water cans some basic care so you won't go thirsty. The first step is to get...

Message in a bottle.(Troop Support ...)
July 1, 2007... In the desert, bottled water is a real convenience. But it can quickly become a toxic weapon if it falls into the wrong hands. During distribution from the bottling plant to you, the bottled water won't spend every minute under the Army's...

Match wayward parts with end items.(Logistics Management ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... LOGSA has consolidated WEB LOG, WebLIDB and ILAP into a single location known as the Logistics Information Warehouse (LIW). That allows you to log into LIW with your AKO login and password and have access to the features of all three sites. You...

Where are my parts? At the DRMO!(Comic)(Cartoon)
July 1, 2007... SOMEWHERE IN A MOTOR POOL ON A BASE FAR, FAR AWAY... A LONELY PRIVATE IS WAITING ON A CRITICAL PART TO REPAIR ONE OF HIS UNIT'S VEHICLES... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRIVATE! WHY HAVEN'T YOU REPAIRED THIS VEHICLE? WELL, SARGE, BASE...