The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from June 2006

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from June 2006

High-falutin' commo still needs down-and-dirty PM.
June 1, 2006... Coming to a tank, HMMWV, or aircraft near you over the next decade is the joint tactical radio system (JTRS). JTRS will eventually make sure that no matter what piece of communications equipment you have, you'll be able to "talk" to any other...

BII goes upscale.(M1129E1 MCV Stryker ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Operators, it's time to get out your stubby pencils and make a few additions to the BII in your M1129E1 mortar carrier vehicle's TM 9-2320-311-10-12. All items are from CAGE 19200. Here's the list: ...

Give desert trouble the boot.(Stryker ...)
June 1, 2006... Those old desert enemies--dust and sand--are up to no good again. This time they're getting up close and personal with the hatches on your Stryker. The two slowly work their way into the cracks and crevices of the latches on the troop,...

Kicking the habit.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Drivers, your tanks have kicked the smoking habit! So if you've been trying to use the smoke generator, give it up. All current M1-series tanks use JP8 fuel. And JP8 won't smoke! Now that doesn't mean you should physically disconnect...

No seal a big deal.(M1-Series Tanks ...)
June 1, 2006... Mechanics, far too many tank line replaceable units (LRU) are being put back into service after a repair job without new seals. Using the old seal--or no seal at all--means moisture, dust and other contaminants get inside and damage the...

Nix the mix on fuel pumps.(M2/M3-Series Bradleys, M6 Linebacker, M7 BFIST, MLRS Carrier ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... WHY IS YOUR ENGINE RUNNING SO BADLY? COUGH! I THINK I'VE GOT THE WRONG EE-HACK FUEL PUMP FOR MY ENGINE! BRADLEY AND MLRS FUEL PUMPS MAY LOOK THE SAME, BUT IF YOU MIX 'EM WITH THE WRONG ENGINE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FUEL FLOW...

M242 TM wrong-on breech inspection.(M2/M3-Series Bradley ...)
June 1, 2006... The M242 automatic gun's TM 9-1005-200-23&P is misleading in a couple of places on the rounds count replacement criteria for the enhanced breech assembly, PN 12524527. The information for Step 1 on WP 0051 00-2 is accurate about the...

Beefed-up ramp is a heavyweight.(M113-Series FOV ...)
June 1, 2006... The ramp on an M113-series vehicle is heavy enough to begin with, mechanics. But as more armor was added, it got a whole lot heavier--going from 500 to 1,300 pounds! While that's within the weight limit for the ramp pump--2,400 lbs ([+ or...

Watch your step!(HEMTT ...)(Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Operators, your HEMTT would appreciate a little less fancy footwork when you climb up on the cab. It seems quite a few of you are using the fuel/water separator as a step to get up top. Unfortunately, that often leads to a cracked or...

Keep your neck off the chocking block.(Semi-trailers ...)
June 1, 2006... Sure the trailer's brakes are supposed to lock on and stay on when you uncouple from your tractor truck. Just don't bet on it! If your trailer's parked on a slope, it may roll away. Then all kinds of bad things can happen! That's the...

Change priming pump filter.(M1074/M1075 PLS ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... PLS mechanics, don't be chumps and forget about the priming pump! The electric priming pump, NSN 2910-01-408-1530, pressurizes the vehicle's fuel system. Because the pump sits out of sight behind the fuel/ water separator, it's often...

Need small arms help? Need depot repair?(M1074/M1075 PLS ...)
June 1, 2006... If your unit is preparing to deploy, the Army has an assistance team that will help armorers get their pistols, rifles, and machine guns ready for battle. The Small Arms Readiness and Evaluation Team (SARET) will pay your unit a visit and...

Is dry firing bad?(Small Arms ...)
June 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast;, Here in Iraq we dry fire our weapons into a clearing barrel at almost every control point. That means some days we're dry firing a weapon as much as 12 times. We're wondering if all this dry firing hurts our weapons? ...

Get your M24 repaired.
June 1, 2006... Because the M24 sniper weapon system is such a precise weapon, repairing it is very precise. That means almost anything that needs fixing must be fixed by Remington Arms, the manufacturer. So how do you get it to Remington? Begin by...

A better way to stop runaways.(MK19 Machine Gun ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The TMs for the MK19 now say if you have runaway firing to drop down one charging handle to stop the gun. Well, that's being changed. The trouble with dropping one handle is that it causes the charger housing to bow when it's done again...

New locking block needs new plunger.(M9 Pistol ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A new locking block for the M9 pistol was put into the supply system in Oct 05. The new locking block has rounded corners instead of the squared corners on the old block it replaces. The new block has the same NSN as the old block, NSN...

How do you mount sight?(M14 Sniper Rifle ...)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2006... DEAR HALF-MAST, HOW DO YOU MOUNT THE AN/PVES-10 MOUNT VISION SIGHT ON THE M14 SNIPER RIFLE? MSG M.T. MASTER SERGEANT M.T., ORDER A SIGHT MOUNT FOR THE M14 WITH NSN 5855-01-506-5750 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Replacement knobs?(M68 Reflex Sight ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, We're getting a number of M68 reflex sights in our repair shop that; are missing power switch Knobs and we can't; find replacement; knobs. It's a shame to lose a sight because of a missing knob. Can we order replacements?...

What's left behind?(M9 ACE ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Using the fan shroud as a shelf isn't a bad idea when you're working in the engine compartment, but it will be if you leave those items sitting there when you close the hoods. Anything left behind bounces off the shelf--then ends up hitting...

Stack up PM.(RT 240 RTCH ...)
June 1, 2006... The rough terrain container handler (RTCH) is a workhorse when it comes to lifting and stacking 20- and 40-ft ISO containers. To keep it on the job, though, you need to read and heed the word in TM 10-3930-675-10 and keep these PM pointers...

Mark a line.(IHMEE ...)
June 1, 2006... So eyeball the nuts for tightness every week. Look for two things: shiny spots on the nut's washer and corrosion around the nuts. Have your mechanic tighten any loose nuts to 475-525 lb-ft. Once they're torqued, make your mark so you can...

Check for drink system blockage.(M45 Masks ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Some M45 masks have been found to have a blockage in their outlet valve housings that prevents a soldier from getting water through the drink tube. The blockage doesn't hurt the mask's ability to protect, but a soldier won't last long...

What are mask MWOs?(M40/M42-Series Masks, M45 Mask ...)(Letter to the editor)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Dear Editor, We teach at the Ft Sill Chemical School and encounter many NBC NCOs who aren't aware of the modification work orders that have come out for the M40/M42 and M45 protective masks. We think it; would be an excellent; idea for PS...

CBRN on the Internet.(Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Sometimes you search and search through your technical manuals and ask your fellow NBC NCOs for help but still can't find the answer to your CBRN question. That answer may be as close as your computer. The secure Army Electronic Product...

A revolutionary idea.(Comic)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2006... IT'S 1775 IN BOSTON. A WELL-TO-DO MERCHANT HOLDS THE REINS TO HIS HORSE AS HE TALKS TO A BLACKSMITH... THE HORSE MUST BE READY BY NIGHTFALL. AYE, MR. REVERE. I'LL LOOK HIM OVER AND GET HIM READY. HMM... THAT SILVERSMITH IS GOING...

Stop doin' your own thing.(ANVIS ... Comic)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2006... IT'S ADMIRABLE, PILOTS AND USERS, TO WANT TO DO MAINTENANCE ON YOUR AVIATION NIGHT VISION IMAGING SYSTEMS (ANVIS) BUT DOING YOUR OWN THING IS NOT PMCS BY THE BOOK PMCS ON YOUR ANVIS BINOCULARS IS GOOD BUT THE ALSE SHOP, PRODUCTION &...

Cover those holes!(AH-64D ...)
June 1, 2006... Mechanics, when you remove the universal tracking device (UTD) camera, NSN 6210-01-348-8252, from the AH-64D left extended forward avionics bay (EFAB) and put it back into the vibration analysis kit, NSN 6625-01-282-3746, don't leave the four...

Seal out water.(AH-64A/D ...)
June 1, 2006... Mechanics. during your next AH-64A/D 25-hour/14-day inspection of the right and left extended forward avionics bay (EFAB), check the seal gaskets for wear. Over time the gaskets harden and lose their seal, leaving components vulnerable to...

PM smarts and needed parts.
June 1, 2006... Okay, we know on the Top Ten list of glamorous PM jobs posted on your commo shop wall, 26-pair cable maintenance doesn't even rate an honorable mention. But somebody has to do it! And if you're that somebody, here are a few words of wisdom to...

CX-13295A/G: completely cable.
June 1, 2006... Fiber optic cable assembly, CX-13295A/G, is a high-use, high-volume item in the Army communications arsenal. It must be maintained by the user to ensure peak performance at the most demanding times. Here are some things you need to know...

How do you mark buried cables?(underground power lines)
June 1, 2006... Guidance on identification and location marking of buried cables is as scattered as a buckshot blast from a sawed-off shotgun To help, we have pulled the pellets from various sources and put them in this one shell. Cable-Route Markers ...

What's cooking with the MBU?(modern burner unit in cooking equipment)
June 1, 2006... Chances are, you're using the modern burner unit (MBU) as the heat source for the griddles, ranges or cooking racks in your field kitchen. So, before you flip another burger of barbeque another chicken leg, take a look at the MBU's data plate....

Hazmat.(cleaning equipment)
June 1, 2006... Make a mess and you get to clean it up. Clean-up is especially important if you work around hazardous materials. Fuel, oil, solvent and other HAZMAT spills must be controlled and sopped up quickly and safely to protect both you and the...

LOGNet, your online tool room.
June 1, 2006... Dear Editor: We have received many requests for tactical SOPs (TACSOPs) for the new modular logistics units of the brigade combat; team (BCT). Courtesy of the 4th Inf Div, the Logistics Network (LOGNet) now offers TACSOPs on-line: BCT...

When SMART rejections help.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... It's inevitable that some suggestions for equipment improvement will be turned down in the SMART program. Sometimes those rejections recognize the soldier has correctly identified a problem but that another solution has already been adopted....

Connie's post scripts.
June 1, 2006... MWO Regulation Updated AR 750-10, The Army Modification Program, was revised 24 Feb 06. It updates the emergency modification work order (MWO) process, changes maximum completion time of routine MWOs from 4 to 5 years, and sets the correct...