The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from March 2008

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from March 2008

Supply requires discipline.(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No, we aren't talking about punishment. We are talking about really believing in and practicing fundamental supply procedures. If your unit wants rations, ammo, fuel, water-any of a number of things it needs to...

Too short to tow.(Stryker ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, I need some help with a tow bar for our Strykers. We're stationed in Iraq, so all our vehicles have slat armor. Our problem is that the regular tow bar, NSN 2540-00-9367801, is too short. When we...

Don't forget your returns!(M2/M3-Series Bradleys ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanics, what you do with your Bradley's unserviceable assets can have a big impact on whether or not repair parts are available when they're needed. If you don't turn them in, the depot won't have them to...

Rust removal made easy.(M2A3/M3A3 Bradley ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A little rust on the driver's hatch periscope thumbscrews can end up being a nightmare. Those thumbscrews are supposed to make removing the periscope to install the night sight an easy task. But if they get rusty...

Pivot steer reminder.(M113-Series FOV ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] * Because the carriers no longer have swim capability, you don't need pivot steering for moving around in the water. That's always been the main use of pivot steering. * U-joints and the transmission case break...

Taking a stand.(M88A1 Recovery Vehicle ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's usually a good idea to pick and choose the places where you want to take a stand. Unfortunately, you don't have a whole lot of choice when it comes to the commander's seat on your M88A1 recovery vehicle. ...

Don't let hatch escape attention.(M109A6 Paladin ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If there's a fire in the cab of your Paladin, you need to get out NOW, gunner! But it'll be slow going if you let the hinges, handle and hold-open latch on the gunner's escape hatch escape your attention! ...

Use the hawker battery.(Vehicles ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Hawker absorbed glass mat battery, NSN 614001-485-1472, is a sealed, maintenance-free battery that offers improved "deepcycle" performance. It costs more than the 6TMF-$317 vs. $125-but has a longer service life....

Towing a trailer.(Wheeled Vehicles ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, Drivers in our unit are known to tow more than one trailer from a single vehicle, like a water trailer connected to a generator being towed by a 21/2- or 5-ton truck. This doesn't seem safe...

Fins don't bend when protection's in.(HMMWV ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Want to reduce overheating your HMMWV's engine and transmission? You can if you have straight fins on your HMMWV's radiator and oil cooler! Without protection, the fins can bend during PMCS and repair work. And...

Reset and V10 valves.(M978 HEMTTs ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, We have M978 HEMTT fuel tankers that have just returned from RESET. Now the V10 valve is a problem. It allows the tanker to store fuel, but it won't allow the fuel to recirculate! What's the...

Wheel assembly switch.(5,000-gal Fuel Tankers ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The old 20-in split-rims, NSN 2530-00-603-5768, are now obsolete on these vehicles. Since the basic M967 and M969 tankers have the older suspension configuration and wedge-type brake system, keep using the 20-in split rims with the bias-ply...

Eyeball ITAS PM!
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PMCS Just do it! Too many ITAS units put their ITAS away and don't check it out until they're already in the field. Then when they find problems, they can't get them fixed until they come back to the motor pool....

Use the right lube.(MK19 Machine Gun ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanics, there is one thing you should never do to your MK19 machine gun--lubricate it with cleaner lubricant protectant (CLP). Using CLP on the MK19 affects the gun's firing, destroys its alloy coating and...

Crack down on cracks ... and other stuff.(M9 Pistol ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] An M9 pistol that sees lots of use will probably develop cracks eventually. There's nothing you can do to stop them, but you can spot cracks before they stop your M9 from firing. * locking block along the front...

Are there spring length standards?(M249 Machine Gun ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, Are there minimum and maximum length standards for the M249 machine gun recoil and firing pin springs? I can't find anything in TM 91005-201-13&P on that. SSG J.D. Dear Sergeant J.D.,...

How do you store m11 pistols?(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Dear Half-Mast, What rack do you store M11 pistols in? We think it's the M14 rack, which is the one used for M9 pistols. But doesn't that rack need to be modified? SGT J.B. Dear Sergeant J.B., You're right that M11s are...

Check ASP for filler.(M16-Series Rifle, M4/M4A1 Carbine ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Editor, I saw on Page 17 in PS 640 (Mar 06) that you gave soldiers the NSN for the filler for the M16 rifle and M4 carbine's magazine. The filler is a great thing to have, but I would encourage soldiers to...

Batteries for my ballistics computer?(Mortars ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, The batteries listed in the M23 Mortar Ballistics Computer's TM 9-1220-246-12&P are no longer available in the supply system. Are there replacement batteries? SGT M.M. Dear Sergeant...

Stamp out barrel marking.(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, I know PS has talked about how important it is to ID both barrels for the M2, M249, and M240 machine guns. That way you know you're using a barrel headspaced for that specific weapon. You...

Getting ... personnel ... back.(recovery of isolated, missing, detained or captured military personnel )
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The movie Behind Enemy Lines, about a Navy navigator downed in the Balkans, portrays the stress of finding yourself alone in a hazardous area. It also shows the anxiety that fellow servicemembers feel for those...

The birds-again!(CH-47D ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bird nests have been found in the opening of the AH-64 tail rotor and nestled underneath the cambered fairing of a Black Hawk just above the stabilator. The Chinook is also a target. Birds use the rotor head area...

Dirty uniballs won't last.(CH-47D ...)(swashplates )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanics, sand is unforgiving and relentless when it attacks aircraft components. You can avoid premature wear and tear of your Chinook swashplates and forward and aft uniball surfaces by wiping off dirt and...

Lights out.(CH-47D ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When working with the formation lights on your Chinook, it is not necessary to cut the wires to remove them or to gain access to other components. Formation light wires have quick disconnects and need no cutting. ...

Handle lower cabin door step.(CH-47D ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crewmembers, when eyeballing your Chinook for problems during daily and preflight inspections, don't get hasty and forget the cabin door step. Mistreatment of any part of your bird will damage components or a...

As the blades turn.(CH-47D ...)(rotor blades )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rotating the rotor blades is a normal task during maintenance. But make sure you're careful and watch out for the aft rotating beacon. When the flight controls are in certain positions, it is possible for the...

You need the LIF!(AN/PVS-7B, -7D, -14 ...)(light interference filter )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The light interference filter (LIF), NSN 5855-01-379-1410, is a light protection filter for the image tube on your AN/PVS-7B, -7D or -14 night vision devices. Your image tube cannot recover from bright light...

Shipping and storage container.(AN/PVS-5 Night Vision Device ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Drop NSN 1240-00-137-7768, shipping and storage container for the AN/PVS-5 night vision device, from your component-of-end-items list. Check any of those "special NSNs lists" you have and make sure that NSN is deleted on them, too. That...

Infinity is far enough.(AN/PVS-7B, -7D ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unfortunately, operators, some of you aren't happy with the sharpest focus you can get. You're sure you can do a little better. So, you break the seal on the locking ring and start twisting the infinity focus. Soon,...

Don't break diopter pins!(NVD Eyepieces ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The diopter adjustment rings on eyepieces of the AN/AVS-6 series, AN/PVS7B or -7D and AN/PVS-14 let you focus your NVD even if you normally wear glasses. The rings adjust for the sharpest image possible in a range of...

Is there a TM for the dash five?(FDECU ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, We have several -5 models of the field deployable environmental control units (FDECU), NSN 4120-01-449-0459. FDECU models 2, 3 and 4 are covered by TM 9-4120-411-14 (1 May 2000) and TM...

Return fuel lines.(5-, 10-KW TQG ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Dear Editor, The 5-KW DED, NSN 2815-01-350-2205, and the 10-KW DED, NSN 2815-01-350-2206, tactical quiet generators need 10 feet of return fuel lines. According to the 5-KW engine manual, TM 9-2815-252-24P, and the 10-KW manual, TM...

Restore with improvement kit.(Mobile Kitchen Trailer ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] For those of you still holding canvas, it means you won't find canvas replacement parts in the Army supply system-and that includes covers and skirts for the MKT. It also means direct support will no longer repair...

A better paint, a safer paint.(Shop Safety ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A better choice is yellow traffic paint, NSN 8010-01-019-1776. It's designed for marking airfields, streets, highways and other traffic-bearing surfaces made of asphalt or cement. It's a water-based latex paint....

Bad harness causes bad headaches.(M40/M42-Series Masks ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] * Check the head harness' elasticity every time you do PMCS. Gently stretch all the harness straps to make sure they still have spring. If they don't easily snap back, get your CBRN specialist to replace the harness...

Avoid swing shaft arm meltdown.(DEUCE ...)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One grease fitting can make the difference between productive construction operations and an earthmover broken down at the work site. Without lube, the swing arm seizes, causing the suspension to break apart. In...

Seatbelt check.(M9 ACE ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Check the seatbelt to make sure its buckle and clasp work. If the seatbelt is frayed, damaged or does not fasten, adjust, retract or operate, the vehicle is non-mission capable. So, while sitting in the driver's...

Cab air flow.(621B Scraper ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A good cleaning seems to go by the wayside when it comes to the filter element for the 621B scraper cab's air system. That's because it's located on top of the cab roof. The filter element is important because it...

New survival guides for PBUSE.(Property Book and Unit Supply Enhanced)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Three new survival guides will help new unit commanders, supply sergeants, and property book officers get started. The members of the QM Warrant Officer Advanced Course 003-2007 wrote the guides, which target the...

Supply discipline and operational success.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Having the right supplies--at the right place-at the right time--can mean the difference between success and defeat. A lack of supply discipline is disrupting the supply chain in Iraq. Before you shrug your...

Decide on life.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Too many soldiers are dying needlessly from preventable accidents. The Army provides two pocket-sized tools to help reduce accident injuries and death. The Accident Risk Assessment for Individuals helps soldiers assess their personal risk. The...

M249 short barrel BFA.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2008... Gunners can now order a blank firing attachment (BFA) for their M249 machine gun's short barrel with NSN 1005-01-537-0491.

M3 tripod T&E pin NSN change.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2008... The NSN for the quick-release pin used on the M3 tripod traverse and elevation mechanism has changed to NSN 5315-01-529-9820. Make a note of this on WP 0145 00-3/4, Item 12, in TM 9-1005-245-13&P until the TM is updated.

Non-chromate aircraft primer NSNs.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2008... GSA has just assigned NSNs to some newly-developed non-chromate primers for military aircraft. These two-component primer coatings are corrosion-inhibiting and chemical resistant, but do not include potentially toxic chromium. NSN...

M1117 ASV parts and help.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Use NSN 2520-01-533-1518 to get the universal joint parts kit for the armored security vehicle (ASV). This NSN replaces the one shown as Item 18 in Fig 9-1 of TM 9-2320-307-24P. Use NSN 5305-01-437-4384 to order the turret mounting bolt,...

M939-series truck ABS troubleshooting.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2008... Need a troubleshooting tool for the anti-lock brake system (ABS) on your M939-series trucks? Order the infocentre diagnostic box using NSN 5895-01-515-9443. Check out Page 14 of PS 646 (Sep 06) for more information:...

Tank tool kit T57366 obsolete.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Because tool kit T24523 (Shop Equipment, Artillery Maintenance, Set N, Less Power, NSN 4933-00-754-0704) is almost identical to tool kit T57366 Tank Turret and Artillery Mechanics Supplemental, NSN 4931-01-155-5307), the Army is making T57366...

New NSN for M1089's pressure switch.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Stop using NSN 5930-01-384-1534 to order a new pressure switch for your M1089 FMTV wrecker. Use NSN 5930-01-529-6304 instead. The new NSN also brings a CD with instructions for calibrating the crane in the field. And you won't have to supply...

HEMTT tow bar light harness.(Connie's Post Scripts)
March 1, 2008... Need the tow bar light harness for your M984 wrecker? It's shown as Item 1 in Fig 139 of the HEMTT IETM (EM 0232), but you can't get the right part using the NSN and part number that are listed. So until this problem is fixed, order it directly...

SATS generator RESET POCs.(Connie's Post Scripts)(standard automotive tool set )(Directory)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Generators that are part of the standard automotive tool set (SATS) can be turned in for overhaul through the RESET program in either SWA or your home station through these POCS: * Kuwait, Eric Lee, eric.v.lee@kuwait.swa.army.mil, DSN...