The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from March 2004

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from March 2004

PM talk.
March 1, 2004... Everybody loves talking about the latest fad in clothing, shoes, and whatever makes people look good. But it takes more than talking to make you look sharp. The same is true for PM. Talking PM is great, but talk is cheap without a little...

Out of your depth.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... When taking your M1-series tank's mine clearing blade through brushy areas, the depth indicators lake a beating. Sometimes the beating's bad enough to bend or even break the indicators. A broken or missing indicator deadlines your mine...

Switch selection significant.
March 1, 2004... Gunners, selecting the right position on the GPS ammunition select switch isn't so clear-cut when it comes to using M908 high explosive obstacle reduction tracer rounds. The switch doesn't specifically pinpoint the right setting to use. ...

Give dirty floor the slip.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... It doesn't take a banana peel to make you slip inside the turret of your MI-series tank, crewmen. When water, mud, oil, and hydraulic fluid collect on the turret floor plates, it's easy to take a dive when you least expect it. And it's...

Stop the confusion!(M1A1 Tank ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear Half-Mast, I'm confused. How many periscopes, NSN 6650-01-370-5628, are needed for the driver's hatch center position and loader's hatch on my M1A1 tank? Item 1 on Page B-3 in the old version of TM 9-2350-264-10-2 (Sep 90 w/Ch...

Stops stop swinging ISU doors.(M2/M3-Series Bradley ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... If the doors for your Bradley's integrated sight unit (ISU) swing open too far, you could be headed out the door when it comes Io the ISU. A left door that opens too far hangs up on the TOW launcher and a right door with the same problem...

Get splines and teeth in line.(M88A1 Recovery Vehicle ...)
March 1, 2004... Mechanics, when reinstalling the M88A1 recovery vehicle's powerpack, you have to align the splines on the final drives with the teeth on the transmission output shaft. Unless you're extremely lucky, the splines and teeth won't line up...

Give carbon the boot.(M109-Series SP Howitzers ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Crewmen, keeping the muzzle brake and bore evacuator free of carbon is one secret to straight shooting with your M109-series SP howitzer. Each time the cannon is fired, a little carbon builds up inside. Wait too long for a cleaning and...

Turn 'Em In!(M113-series FOV ...)
March 1, 2004... Mechanics, when you get a newly repaired engine or generator for your M113-series vehicle, what do you do with the unserviceable one? When unserviceable items aren't turned in, the depot runs out of stuff to repair. Pretty soon, the supply...

The PM line on your linebacker.(M2/M3-Series Bradley ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear Editor, I have a few tips for Bradley crews to Keep their Linebackers in line for firing Stingers: * Pay attention to the top and bottom doors of the Linebacker. They can become loose after miles of rough travel. If they bounce...

What you can use on your weapon.(Small Arms ...)
March 1, 2004... Today's Army offers several different sights, lasers and infrared illuminators that can be used on rifles and machine guns. But sometimes it's difficult to tell what can be used on what. AN/PAQ-4(A)(B)(C) infrared aiming lights: AN/PAS-13...

Light spots carbon.(M16-Series Rifle, M4/M4A1 Carbine ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Dear Editor, When you clean the "star chamber" in your M16-series rifle or M4/M4A1 carbine, it's difficult to see into the chamber to make sure you've gotten all the carbon. I found the mini nag light does a good job lighting up the...

Slide assembly DS job.(M249 Machine Gun ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear MSG Half-Mast, I'm confused. Change 7 to TM 9-1005-201-23&P lists on Page C-6-1 all the parts of the M249 machine gun slide assembly as PAFZZ (direct support). But the procedure For disassembling and assembling the slide assembly is...

Four-post weapon station only.(M939-Series Trucks ...)
March 1, 2004... There is one and only one machine gun mount kit that can be used on the M939-series truck: machine gun mount kit, NSN 1005-01-432-3339, which is a 4-post lightweight weapon station. To mount the weapon station, you must also install the cab...

Spring height check.(M978 HEMTT Fuel Tanker ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear MSG Half-Mast, Is there a torque requirement for the front fuel tank springs on the M978 HEMTT Fuel tanker? These springs hold the fuel tank to the vehicle's frame. SGT T.M. Dear SGT T.M., There is no torque requirement...

Camouflage storage rack.(HMMWVs ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear Half-Mast, I need information on the HMMWV's camouflage storage rack that's shown as CAGE 19207 and PN 57K1641 in Figure 440 of TM 9-2320-280-24p-2. Can the rack be used on all series HMMWVs? The parts info does not cross to an...

Radiator testing kit.
March 1, 2004... ST255 and SVT262 radiator testing kits are great for testing the cooling system on your vehicle--except when your vehicle happens to be a 2 l/2-ton or larger truck. The tester head in both kits won't fit on the radiator neck in those trucks, so...

Keeping rear door shut.(SECM, BEOD ...)
March 1, 2004... Some units who use the SECM (shop equipment, contact maintenance) truck or BEOD (body explosives ordnance disposal) vehicle have reported problems keeping the rear door shut while the vehicle is moving. If you've had that experience, try these...

Clean magnetic strainer.(D7G Tractor ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Mechanics, metal shavings in the transmission oil is the last thing your dozer needs for smooth operation. Contaminated oil with metal shavings will clog the screen in the transmission system's magnetic strainer. A clogged screen restricts...

Rear winch cable parts.(D7G Tractor ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... To repair a cable, cut off the damaged end. You'll need a thimble and 5 clamps. Seize the ends so the wires won't unravel. Measure back 6 feet and bend the end back to there. Put a clamp around both wires, with the cast saddle on the live...

Cab floor cleanup.(815F Compactor)
March 1, 2004... The compactor's cab floor seems like a handy area to put rags, tools, soda cans and chains during the day's operations. Problem is, these items can get under the accelerator and the left and right brake pedals and keep them from working...

Cool fan PM.(815F Compactor ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Operators, the radiator in your compactor needs some cool relief during construction operations. Keep these PM pointers in mind during PMCS. Grease Fitting Reminder One grease fitting that's often overlooked during scheduled services...

The pirates of PM: curse of the black oyster.
March 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE HMS DAUNTLESS, BOUND FOR PORT ROYAL IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA BUT, CAPTAIN I THINK IT WOULD BE FASCINATING TO MEET A PIRATE. BE CAREFUL. WHAT YOU WISH FOR, MISS CONSTANCE. THE PIRATES OF THE...

Fuel sampler tool.(UH-60, AH-64D, OH-58D ...)
March 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: GRRRR! THERE'S GOTTA BE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS! MECHANICS, THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO TAKE FUEL SAMPLES... ... BETTER THAN USING HOMEMADE CONTRAPTIONS THAT USUALLY SPILL FUEL. GET RID OF...

working hard under job pressure.(Aircraft Tires ...)
March 1, 2004... Aircraft tires carry a lot of weight. They need the right amount of air pressure to get the job done when the rubber meets the road. Service your aircraft tires by the book, with no shortcuts just like it says in each bird's maintenance TM...

Keep them wheels turnin'.(UH-60A/L ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear Sergeant Blade, Our mechanics had a tough time assembling tires on rims For our Black Hawks using the suggested line-up bolts in Paragraph 3-4-13 of TM 1-1520-237-23 to help draw the wheel halves together. The problem is that the...

Thanks for the memories.(Global Positioning System ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Once a year, cowboy, you need to say adios to the 3.6-volt, lithium memory battery, NSN 6135-01-301-8776, in your precision lightweight GPS receiver (PLGR). The memory battery preserves the fault codes, satellite data and almanac when your...

Dry dry dry dry, staying dry!(Shelters ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Airing It Out Closing the door to your commo shelter makes it practically airtight. If the outside temperature changes, condensation forms in the closed shelter. Keep things dry by opening the door's vent cover. Also turn on the...

Can anything go on top?(Commo Shelters ...)
March 1, 2004... Dear Half-Mast, Once and for all, can we or can we not store and transport anything on top of commo shelters? SGI" I.W.K Dear Sergeant I.W.K., You cannot! CECOM and the folks at Ft Huachuca that have to fix the shelters...

RT-524 cleaning and covers.(AN/VRC-12 Radio Set ...)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The RT-524 receiver/transmitter of the AN/VRC- 12 radio set has been a workhorse for a long time and for some units it's still doing the job. Now it's asking for your steadfast support to keep it clean and its connectors covered. ...

Ok, here's your JSLIST PM list for taking care of me.
March 1, 2004... The TM for JSLIST is TM 10-8415-220-10. If you haven't gotten a copy for every Soldier in your unit, do so. The TM gives you help for training and gives your unit a source for information. Also check out TC 3-11-55, JSLIST, which gives more...

Getting the most out of JSLIST.
March 1, 2004... Dear Editor, Here at the US Army Chemical School we teach soldiers the best; ways to use and take care of their joint; service lightweight integrated suit technology (JSLIST). These are some of the JSLIST tips we give our Students: *...

Winches, wings and other things.(Container Kitchen ...)
March 1, 2004... Your container kitchen (CK), NSN 7360-01-473-3408, comes with a newly designed winch that lowers and raises the CK's wings. Learn to use it the right way or you could damage the winch or bind the cable. The first step in your education is...

Renovating the building blocks for parts requests.
March 1, 2004... Watch out for falling blocks! SMR codes have been updated by the Joint Regulation Governing the Use and Application of Uniform Source Maintenance and Recoverability [SMR] Codes, AR 700-82, (31 March 2003). The revised regulation adds new...

Spreading the word by computer.
March 1, 2004... * Some soldiers are dyed-in-the-wool, through-and-through logisticians. One such soldier is WO1 Guerra Bernabe Jr. from Ft Hood, TX. WO1 Bernabe created an online publication he calls The Motor Pool! website. We've found his info through two...

What are you riding on?(Tire PM saves lives!)
March 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption:... SO THERE I WAS! THAT FLAT TIRE WAS SO BADLY WORN I COULD SEE THE BELTS... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: YOU SHOULD A DONE PM ON YOUR POV. AND YOU SHOULDA DONE PM ON ME! MY TIRES ARE READY...