The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from May 2004

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from May 2004

Second-rate effort?
May 1, 2004... You can look at it two ways the next time your NCO or maintenance supervisor repeats words you already should have heeded. Words like, "You shoulda read the TM" or "It's in the TM!" You can listen and learn.... Or you can listen...

Stay on track in the desert.
May 1, 2004... In PS 614, we told you how to take care of Bradley track in the desert. But Bradleys aren't the only vehicles whose track takes a beating. Heavy loads, non-stop missions, severe temperatures and abrasive sand also take their loll on track...

Give GPS a tight seal.
May 1, 2004... Mistakes you make when installing the gunner's primary sight GPS body will come back to haunt you as leaks, mechanics. Two mistakes you can avoid are sloppy cleanup before installing the GPS body and using the wrong sealant. You must...

Keep the fire in your hellfire.
May 1, 2004... In order for your Hellfires to be fired up for firing, you must pay attention to PM for the launcher and the missiles. Otherwise, things just go to... well, you know. The launcher is not a ladder. If you use it to climb up and down on the...

Keep EU and EB OK.(MLRS ...)(electronics unit)(electronics box)
May 1, 2004... The electronics unit (EU) and electronics box (EB) are the electrical nerve center for the MLRS. If water gets in them, they can short out and suffer expensive damage. Your MLRS fizzles out for firing. How can you keep the EU and EB...

Staying out of magazine jams.(M9 Pistol ...)
May 1, 2004... Dear Half-Mast, We have had lots of trouble with our M9 pistol magazines Jamming In Iraq. It looks like either the spring is not; strong enough or the plastic follower is catching the inside of the magazine well. Can the spring or follower...

Handy-dandy cargo cover list.(1/2- and 5-Ton Trucks ...)
May 1, 2004... Handy-Dandy Cargo Cover List Cab Covers Vehicle NSN 2540- Color M939-series 01-417-6379 Camouflage 01-435-4924 Tan 01-435-4931 White M44, M39 ...

Tied up in knots?(Cargo Covers ...)
May 1, 2004... Drivers, a cargo cover that flaps in the wind is a quick way to waste your unit's money. Save money and the truck's cargo cover with this easy, no-knot tiedown that keeps the cover snug, but not so tight the lashing ropes tear the cover:

Know the air flow.(815F Compactor ...)
May 1, 2004... Every good operator knows that good air flow keeps the compactor running like a race horse. Here's a PM reminder to keep in mind while you brush up on TM 5-3805-380-10. A clean air filter element is crucial, especially in dusty areas....

Getting an oil sample.
May 1, 2004... Getting an oil sample from the 815F compactor's transmission AOAP valve is a messy job. Getting the oil to flow evenly into the sample bottle is next to impossible. Make the job easier by attaching -in plastic tubing, NSN...

Stay on the level.(815F Compactor ...)
May 1, 2004... Here are two fluid checks that are easy and important to look at before the day's run. Coolant Level Check Eyeball the engine coolant level before start-up. That's easy because the coolant's sight gauge is in open view on the curb side...

Fan pulley bearing.(815F Compactor ...)
May 1, 2004... Operators, you're being too clever by half if you think all the grease fittings on the 815F compactor are out in the open. The fan pulley bearing is snubbed often because it's out of sight or covered with mud. The grease fitting for...

Tandem PM tales.(130G Grader ...)
May 1, 2004... Air Line Bind Eyeball the air line that's mounted along the grader's tandems. This air line is part of the vehicle's air brake system. Look for dents and holes in the air line caused by rocks and gravel. During construction operations,...

Scrape up some good PM.(621B Scraper ...)
May 1, 2004... Brake Chamber Boot The rubber boot that protects the air brake chamber's spring gets worn and torn from rough terrain, heavy use, and the elements. A torn boot lets dust, water and dirt into the chamber, causing brake failure. So...

Mogmart's school of magical pm.
May 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THIS TRIP TO ENGLAND IS GREAT, SERGEANT HALF-MAST! I ENJOY VISITING THESE CASTLES, BONNIE. BUT, YOU SAID WE'D SEE SOME PRACTICAL USES OF PM. AND SO YOU SHALL, CONNIE. THAT LOOKS LIKE...

A sticky situation.(AN/ALQ-144A ...)
May 1, 2004... It's easy to forget about removing the AN/ALQ-144A countermeasure set cover, NSN 5865-01-109-1800, when pre-flighting your Black Hawk, Kiowa Warrior of Apache. Then when power's applied to the aircraft while the cover's on, extreme heat...

Grab the right type of hydraulic fluid.(UH-60A/L/Q ...)
May 1, 2004... Mechanics, good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, experience usually comes from bad judgment. When it's time to service your bird's hydraulic pump modules with fluid, like it says in Para 1-3-8 of TM 1-1520-237-23-1, use good,...

Look for the bubble.(UH-60A/L/Q ...)
May 1, 2004... For example, don't forget to inspect the viscous damper like it says in Para 4.1 of TM 1-1520-237-PMS-1. When it's time to service the tail rotor drive shaft viscous dampers, like it says in Para 1-3-16 of TM 1-1520-237-23-1, check for...

Clean contacts, clear signals.(SINCGARS Vehicular Antenna ...)
May 1, 2004... Dirty and corroded contacts on the SINCGARS vehicular antenna mean intermittent or broken traffic. Worse yet, dirt and corrosion can lead to high reflected RF power, which can damage the receiver-transmitter. Here are a few tips for clean...

BA-5390/U gives you a choice.(Singgars Asip ...)
May 1, 2004... You now have a choice between the BA-5590/U, NSN 6135-01-438-9450, and the BA-5390/U, NSN 6135-01-501-0833, for non-vehicle power to your SINCGARS ASIP radio and other applications that use the BA-5590/U. The new BA-5390/U has some...

A new and "handy" radio.(AN/PRC-127EF ...)
May 1, 2004... What do you do when you're eyeballing the maintenance done on a HMWWV and the mech you need to "instruct" is at the other end of the motor pool? Well, an old-Army sergeant could just yell, "Smith, get over here!" and be heard a mile away....

AB-1373/TRC Antenna ...
May 1, 2004... If you need the flat belt, (NSN 3030-01-349-9231, Item 2, Fig 6 of TM 11-5985-394-23P), that is part of the winch assembly of the AB-1373/TRC antenna, order it and you'll get it. What's odd about that? Well, you may have ordered it...

AN/PRC-112 attention needed.(AB-1373/TRC Antenna ...)
May 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: AN/PRC-112 RADIOS, NSN 5820-01-458-6018, WITH THESE SERIAL NUMBERS MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM AT THE LOWER UHF FREQUENCIES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 113[degrees]F... IF YOUR UNIT HAS ONE OF THESE RADIOS,...

TGMD fuse holder NSN.(AN/TRC-190(V)3 ...)(transmission group multiplexer/demultiplexer)
May 1, 2004... Dear Editor, We've had a problem getting the fuse holder, NSN 5920-00-926-7517, For the transmission group multiplexer/demultiplexer (TGMD) In our AN/TRC-190(V)3 line of sight (LOS) shelter. The Fuse holder has an acquisition advice...

Don't screw up lens carrier.(M40/M42-Series Masks ...)
May 1, 2004... NBC NCOs try to install the carrier without first loosening the set screws so they don't stick out. Then when the carrier is slid into place, the screws cut a divot in the black plastic mount and eventually the mount breaks. To install the...

Inside-out puts mask out.(M40/M42-Series Masks ...)
May 1, 2004... Some soldiers think they can get their masks really clean by turning them inside-out to clean the insides. That does make for easier cleaning, but it also damages the mask. So you end up with a very clean mask that may be worthless. ...

Prescription for a healthy fox.(Fox NBC Vehicle ...)
May 1, 2004... Dear Editor, Through our work keeping the Foxes running For the Chemical School at Ft Leonard Wood, we've developed three ways to keep your Fox healthy: * When you remove the engine, it's hard to pull it out without bumping the air...

Electronic transfer of ULLS-A DA form 2410.
May 1, 2004... Forwarding DA Form 2410 info to the Aviation and Missile Command is now easier for Army aviation ULLS-A users. The mandatory weekly report is now emailed to: automatedtammsa@redstone.army.mil The process of preparing the 2410 as an...

PS magazine more accessible.
May 1, 2004... A few years ago the PS Magazine staff made the magazine more accessible by opening an Internet web page at: http://www.logsa.army.mil/psmag/psonline.htm Recently it became clear that users found it difficult to save or email an...

Neatness counts.(Forms ...)
May 1, 2004... Dear Half-Mast: What directive specifically states that all entries on the DA Form 2407 will be legible? As a quality assurance evaluator, I'm finding forms each day that are not legible. The people filling out the forms keep saying that...

NSNs for your protection.(Body Armor Vest ...)
May 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "NO WELL-DRESSED SOLDIER WOULD DREAM OF ON PATROL WITHOUT HIS FRAGMENTATION PROTECTIVE VEST BODY ARMOR." "ZEY COME IN A VARIETY OF SIZES. AND YOU CAN GET ANY COLOR YOU WANT-AS LONG AS IT'S ZIS LOVELY...

Walking with Alice.(Alice ...)
May 1, 2004... Field Pack Frame The frame is used to carry a field pack, or, when used with a cargo support shelf, to carry water cans, medical supplies, ammunition cases or other large items. Belt, Suspenders, Carriers The belt and suspenders...

Hearing Protection ...
May 1, 2004... Listen Carefully Now, listen carefully, because your hearing depends on it. Everyday noise from engines, compressors, jackhammers, shop equipment, power generators and artillery fire injures your hearing over time. Even if the noise...

Connie's post scripts.
May 1, 2004... TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLES IN SWA Tank-automotive and Armaments Command has expanded stockage of mounted tire and wheel assemblies, assigning 39 NSNs for those assemblies used on light, medium and heavy tactical vehicles. Additionally, TACOM has...