The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from March 2006

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from March 2006

Time heals all wounds?
March 1, 2006... You've heard the old saying, "Time heals all wounds." While that might be true for people, time does just the opposite to your equipment. Over time, your equipment takes a real beating. Trucks and tanks are driven through mud and sand....

To "air" is human.(Stryker ...)
March 1, 2006... Drivers, you know how important it is to keep vehicle air tilters clean in the desert. Well, the air filter element on the Stryker is no different. Or is it? Of course a clean air filter is vital if you want to keep your Stryker...

Don't make transfer trouble.(Stryker ...)
March 1, 2006... Preparing to tow a disabled Stryker, mechanics? Make sure you remember to disengage the transfer first! If you forget, you'll not only damage the transfer, but you can also blow the turbocharger and tear up the back four tires. That's...

Drips can be a drag.(M1-Series Tanks, M104 Wolverine ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Mechanics, if you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Class III oil drips are bad news and make a vehicle NMC. That's true most of the time. But there are a couple of circumstances where you need to do a little more...

What you see is what you get.(cleaning tank glass)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Clean your M1-series tank's shock absorber sight glasses the wrong way and what you won't see is the oil level. That's because the wrong cleaning method scratches and clouds the sight glass surface. Never use wire brushes, knife blades...

Armor plated problem.(missing, damaged armor)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, I'm stationed in Iraq and we've had a big question come up. If any of the armor on the Bradley is missing or damaged (small bullet holes), is the vehicle considered NMC? I've been unable to find anything in the TMs that...

HTU SOP for no-go.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Editor, It's not unusual to run into handheld terminal units (HTU) that have defective batteries that cause them to not; operate properly or at all. That stops artillery targeting in the field. I've found a way that sometimes can...

No decking substitutes.(deck boards)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Mechanics, reports from the field say units are replacing deck boards with unapproved wood or rubber/ composite products that actually cover the semitrailer's existing decking. These modifications mean your semitrailer will end up with...

Alternators & kits.(HMMWVs ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, Can you provide me with good NSNs for the HMMWV's 100-amp alternator and parts kit? These items (Fig 35 of TM 9-2320280-24P-1) show up as terminal in FED LOG. SFC M.S.F. Use NSN 2920-01 407-0532 to get the 100-amp...

Extra! Extra! HMMWVs get add-on armor TB! Your AOA TB is available from three online sites!(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... A new technical bulletin, TB 92510-251-24, for HMMWV add on armor has been published. The TB can be downloaded from the AKO, LOGSA and AEPS websites. The 17 MB file loaded more quickly on AKO and slowest on AEPS. Here's how to use these...

Sneaky gasket leak.(FMTV ...)(Cartoon)
March 1, 2006... DRIVERS, WHILE RAISING OR LOWERING THE CAB ON YOUR FMTV HAVE YOU NOTICED A SMOKY MIST COMING FROM THE VEHICLE'S AIR/HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT? HEY! WHAT'S THAT SMOKY MIST IN THERE? LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING FROM THE AIR/HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT....

M66 ring mount cover NSN wrong.(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... PS steered you wrong on Page 13 in PS 627 (Feb 05) on the NSN for the cover for the M66 ring mount when it's on the MTV (5-ton model). There is only one cover NSN for the M66 regardless of what it's mounted on: NSN 1005-00-707-0725.

How do you use lever tool?(MK19 Machine Gun ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, We have the Mew tool For adjusting the MK19 machine gun's secondary drive lever, but we don't know how to use it and there's nothing on it in the TM. Where do we go for instructions? SGT J.R. Dear Sergeant J.R.,...

HMMWV weapon shield update.(armored vehicles)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... We told you in PS 620 (Jul 04) that there is now a weapon shield available for the M1114 up-armored HMMWV and the M1025/M1026 HMMWVs. The shield kit comes with NSN 2510-01-498-4996 and contains the shield, brackets, adapters, hardware, and...

Where do I find M68 sight info?(M68 Reflex Sight ...)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, We use the M68 reflex sights on our M16 rifles and M4 carbines. Where do you go For info on repair, calibration, parts, and operating instructions? I can't find anything in the weapons TMs on the M68. C.V. Dear...

Do I need a discriminator?(M240B Machine Gun ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, How do I get a discriminator and blank firing attachment (BFA) for my M240B machine gun? I can't find anything on them in the TM. SPC C.C. Dear Specialist C.C., Good news. You no longer need a discriminator to...

What's the difference between AR and LMG?(M249 Machine Gun ...)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, Our unit has been gold that; we will be receiving M249 light machine guns. How is that different from a regular M249? Mr. B.S. Dear Mr. B.S., There are two roles For the M2H9 machine gun the automatic rifle...

How do I get a filler?(M16-Series Rifle, M4/M4A1 Carbine ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Half-Mast, We noticed in PG 631 (dun 05) you said to use a magazine filler to load amino in M16-series rifle and MH/M4A1 canine magazines. Trouble is that many times at the range, amino is not issued with the M3 bandoleer, so we don't...

What we learned in the desert.(AN/TPQ-36, -37 Firefinder Radar Systems ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Editor, From our tour in Iraq helping to Keep a Firefinder radar system operating, we learned several valuable lessons that will make things easier for other Firefinder crews: Forget what the TM says about how often to do PMC--do...

We can help!(AN/TPQ-36, -37 Firefinder Radar Systems ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear Editor, The AN/TPQ-36 and -37 Firefinder radars are sophisticated systems that require intensive care to work right. At the Ft Sill Ordnance Training Detachment, we've developed a few publications that can help Firefinder crews...

Good air flow.(Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover ...)
March 1, 2006... The DEUCE needs clean air--and lots of it--to keep the vehicle's engine running smoothly. Stay on top of the info in TM 5-2430-200-10 and keep these PM pointers in mind before the day's run. Air Filter Brush-off A clean air filter...

PM: it's never invisible.(Cartoon)
March 1, 2006... HA HA! WITH THIS INVISO-SUIT THERE'S NO WAY THE ENEMY CAN SEE ME! ... AND THAT IS HOW WE ENVISION THE INVISIBLE SUIT IN COMBAT. SOLDIERS... I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THIS EXERCISE IS--YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT. YOU'VE...

Unscrambling the flight gear scramble.(ALSE ...)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... ALSE techs, the scramble is over for aviation life support equipment. Gear like aviation battle dress uniform items, aviator cold weather control system (ACWCS) items, HGU-56/P aircrew integrated helmet system (AIHS) accessories, flyer's...

The Logbook and the AWR.(Comic)(Cartoon)
March 1, 2006... GAH! I CAN'T CLOSE THIS LOGBOOK! ALL THESE AIRWORTHINESS RELEASES HAVE TURNED IN INTO AN OVERSTUFFED DOORSTOP! I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. THE CREW COMPLAINS ALL THE TIME THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR OPERATING RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE...

Streamers in a knot?(AH-64/D ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Mechanics, "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree" as a pretty good song. But your airframe ship won't be in a singing mood if you tie together the red REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT streamers to prevent losing the AH-64 primary exhaust covers....

Big and tall coveralls.(AH-64/D ...)
March 1, 2006... Coveralls are not one-size-fits all. For the big and tall, TM 10-8400- 201-23 stops at size 48 long for the green flight suit. NSN 8415-01-437-0741 will bring you size 52 regular for those who need that size. Write in the REMARKS block "NSN not...

The woes of sand and water mixed.(UH-60 ...)(helicopters)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... That's why pre-flight inspections in the desert are doubly important before washing your bird. Get all the sand out first by using a brush or vacuum, then wash. Here's why: A sand and water mixture turns to a mud-like substance that hardens...

PRC-90 radio test set.(UH-60 ...)
March 1, 2006... Having problems finding a test set for the AN/PRC-90 radio? You need the TS-24B test set. It's covered by TM 11-6625-3203-12, Operator's Aviation Unit and Intermediate Maintenance Manual for Radio Test Set TS-24B (NSN 6625-01-128-8588). The TM...

Ordering, the handling.(Lithium Batteries ...)
March 1, 2006... Over the last couple of years, many lithium batteries have been replaced by newel ones or gone though a change of designation, unit of issue or NSN. So purge that list of important battery NSNs you have in a green notebook in your pocket and...

Louvers may need some lovin'.(36,000 BTU Horizontal ECU ...)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Dear MGG Half-Mast;, What's the deal with the louvers on the condenser air outlet on the 36,000 BTU horizontal environmental control unit (ECU), NGN 4120-01467-2638? Every once in a while, the louvers don't open when the ECU is turned on...

Hey, Harry, got a light?(Electronic Lightsticks ...)
March 1, 2006... Lightsticks are handy for marking just about anything--guy wires on mast antennas, landing strips, mine fields, birthday cakes, you name it. Now the Army has a series of electronic lightsticks available. Unlike the old chemlights, these new...

A drip pan hazmat plan.(Cartoon)
March 1, 2006... DRIP... DRIP... DRIP Y'HEAR THAT? THAT'S THE FAINT SOUND HEARD HERE AND THERE AROUND THE MOTOR POOL. IT'S THE SOUND OF OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLES. OR IT COULD BE LEAKING FUEL, LUBRICANT, ANTIFREEZE OR BRAKE FLUID....

MSDs and IETMs new maintenance tools.(Computers and Publications ...)
March 1, 2006... Soldiers like high tech items such as night vision goggles, HMMWV ballistic glass, Interceptor body armor, and unmanned aerial vehicles because they give them an edge over their enemies. In the same way, the maintenance support device (MSD)...

Online logistics tools improved.
March 1, 2006... The web-based Logistics Integrated Database (WebLIDB), WebLOG and the Integrated Logistics Analysis Program (ILAP) all had avid fans. Some preferred ILAP. while others used WebLIDB or WebLOG. Each tool provided good data, but they sometimes...

HMMWV spare tire carrier.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... NSN 2590-01-525-1995 gets a spare tire carrier for only HMMWV vehicles with an airlift rear bumper: M1113 expanded capacity HMMWVs (not carrying a shelter), M1114 up-armored armament carriers, M1025A2 armament carriers, and M1097, M1097A1 and...

Weapon shield NSN change.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... TACOM ground precautionary message (GPM) 06-003 gives you a way to connect the weapon shield to the M197 machine gun mount so the shield moves with the mount. But the message has the wrong NSNs for the hexagon screws and lock washers needed to...

HEMTT transmission dipstick tube.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... Item 13 in Fig 494 of TM 9-2320-31514&P (IETM 0232) does not list the NSN for the M977A2 and M977A2R1 HEMTT'S transmission dipstick tube. The correct part number is 3213442, CAGE 45152. That crosses to NSN 4710-01-511-3975.

HEMTT engine with container.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... Item 1 in Fig 510 of TM 9-2320-315-14&P (IETM 0232) lists a part number of 3365178 for the M977A2 and M977A2R1 HEMTT'S engine with container. That part number doesn't cross to an NSN. The correct part number is 57K4539, which crosses to NSN...

Survival knives.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... ALSE techs, the only knifes authorized for your AIRSAVE vest is the new improved ASEK knife system. Order the knife system with NSN 1095-01-518-6832. For the knife only, order NSN 1095-01-5186868. For the sheath only, order NSN...

Tanker purging solution NSNs.(Connie's Post Scripts)(fuel tankers)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Use NSN 7930-01-350-7034 to get a 6-gal container of cleaning compound (purging solution) for the M978 HEMIT fuel tanker. NSN 7930-01-350-7035 gets a 55-gal container. Make sure all purging solution is out of the tanker before deployment and...

The Motor Pool gets new URL.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... The Motor Pool, a private website featured on AKO and LOGNet, has new features and a shorter URL. To see what this website offers try: www.themotorpool.org

M1A1 aim stabilization check revisited.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... Pages 6-7 of PS 635 (Oct 05) said to use the IETM 1800 test to perform the semiannual stabilization system check for M1A1 AIM tanks with embedded diagnostics. In order to run that test, you'll need a maintenance support device (MSD) loaded with...

DSESTS website.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... The manufacturer for the Direct Support ELectrical System Test Set (DSESTS) has a new website to share information on DSESTS equipment inventory, test connection procedures, and maintenance advisory messages. It also contains DSESTS...

Abrams/Bradley newsletters.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... The Abrams Tank Information Paper (A-TIP) and Bradley Bits newsletters are available through the Army Knowledge Online (AKO) website. Getting to them is a little tricky, though. That's why the Program Executive Office-Ground Combat Systems...

More on tank bore evacuator.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... Mechanics, Pages 2-3 of PS 615 (Feb 04) said to replace damaged O-rings at the front and rear of the bore evacuator after the M1-series tank is fired. The O-rings help prevent flareback. What we didn't tell you is that the service kit has...

Chemical equipment hotline changes name.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2006... The name of the Chemical Equipment Hotline has changed to Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Hotline to better reflect the different kinds of equipment questions it will help answer. If you need assistance with any CBRN equipment,...