The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from May 2008

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from May 2008

Modifications no! PM yes!
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's natural for soldiers to want their equipment to work the best it possibly can. After all, your life depends on how well your weapon, or helicopter, or radio performs. Some soldiers try to help their...

Not so quick on the disconnect.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Reconnecting the main hydraulic pump's pretty easy, right mechanics? After all, the supply and return lines have bolt-down couplers and the case drain line has a quick-disconnect (QD) that makes the job pretty...

Check for cracked caps.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crewmen, the tracks on your M1-series tank throw up a lot of rocks and debris during cross-country operation. It only takes one thrown at the right angle and speed to put a crack in one of the plastic road wheel hub...

Fuel tank component corrections.(M2A2/M3A2, M2A2/M3A2 ODS, M2A3/M3A3 Bradleys ...)(Table)
May 1, 2008... BRADLEY MECHANICS, IT'S TIME TO GET OUT THOSE STUBBY PENCILS AND MAKE A FEW TM CHANGES! [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IF YOU'RE ORDERING NEW COMPONENTS FOR THE BRADLEY'S FUEL SYSTEM, NOTE THESE CORRECTIONS TO TMS 9-2350-284-24P-1 AND...

It's not a race!(M2/M3-Series Bradleys ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Drivers, dropping the ramp on your Bradley isn't a race--especially in the motor pool! If there's someone in the way or walking by, lowering the ramp without clear warning is an invitation to disaster. Use a ground guide if you can,...

Keep ramp door from tensing up.(Stryker ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] If it's too loose, the door won't stay open. But if it's too tight, you'll have a hard time using either the internal or external release to close the door. Over time, and with the constant vibration generated...

Winch not, want not.(M88A2 Recovery Vehicle ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Operators who are used to the M88A1 recovery vehicle may have a harder time using the main winch on the M88A2. On the M88A1, you could use the winch from just about any angle. Not so with the A2. It comes with...

Who ya gonna call?(AVLB ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The ghost seems interested only in vehicles that are parked without their bridges and with the launch mechanism in the stowed position. This strange phenomenon has come to be known as "ghost launching". ...

Get your tires from DLA.(Wheeled Vehicles ...)(DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY)(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... I'M WAITING FOR AN ARMY ROTC CADET FROM THE BISON BATTALION TO SHOW UP. HE'S VISITING US TO LEARN ABOUT TIRE SUPPLY. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AHH... HERE HE COMES NOW. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GLAD YOU MADE IT, CADET. C'MON......

Common sense for the boom winch.(HEMTTs ...)(Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Don't wanna hear a loud boom when using your HEMTT's boom winch? Then keep all loads secure by using a good wedge socket to attach the wire rope to the hook. Whenever your M977, M984A1, and M985 HEMMTs are...

CTIS NMC criteria and tire pressure info.(M939-Series 5-Ton Trucks ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, Our unit mechanics disconnected the CTIS system on the up-armored M939-series 5-ton trucks and increased the tire pressure to 70 PSI manually. Several mechanics removed and discarded the...

PM keeps radar radiating.(Patriot Missile System ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Cables If those big power cables you hook up to the AN/MPQ-53 are in bad shape, the radar is in bad shape. It has no power. Look over the cables and connectors' threads for burrs and corrosion. They make it...

Don't leave home without them.(MLRS ...)(Multiple Launcher Rocket System)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You don't have to be a math genius to realize it makes good money sense to use the adapters for the MLRS W19 and W20 cables. With the adapters screwed on the W19 and W20, the cable pins can't be broken when the...

Keep the big guy going.(M2 Machine Gun ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Never drop an M2 on the ground. Lay it down. Never toss it in a truck. Lay it in a truck. Whenever possible, get help carrying an M2. Help makes it less likely the gun takes a sudden fall. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Time to change timing procedure.(M2 Machine Gun ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Never charge the gun with the back plate off. Do not stand directly behind the gun while removing the backplate. The gun must be in single shot mode before removing the backplate. 1. Raise the cover all the way...

Enhanced vs. standard M242: there is a difference.(M2/M3-Series Bradley ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] If you force the enhanced breech into the standard receiver, it is a major chore to get it back out because the enhanced breech is 5 millimeters larger. And you've probably damaged the receiver. How do you tell...

PM at Niagara.(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... SOME PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE STORIES ABOUT DAREDEVILS WHO TRIED TO CONQUER NIAGARA FALLS. SOME MADE IT... AND SOME DIDN'T. OUR STORY TAKES PLACE IN 1901. A RETIRED 63-YEAR OLD SCHOOL TEACHER, ANNIE TAYLOR, DECIDED SHE WOULD 'GIVE IT A GO'....

Too tight is too much.(UH-60 Series ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] New mechanics and not-so-new mechanics, one extra twist to the wing nuts on the holddowns for the sealed lead-acid battery (SLAB), NSN 6140-01-286-6294, and you might hear a crack. That's the sound of the battery...

Don't lean on the tube.(UH-60 Series ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The work platform provides plenty of work space for engine maintenance, but some mechanics have a bad habit of leaning on the engine's bleed air tube when filling the engine with oil. That's not good because the...

Think before sliding pylon door.(UH-60 Series ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sliding the hydraulic deck pylon door forward on your Black Hawk was a no-brainer for a long time. Things have changed. Now you must think before you slide. Since the installation of the SATCOM antenna on the...

All is not well until you inspect.(AH-64D ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crew, the required inspections of your AH-64 are not afterthoughts. Saying, "Oh, I'll get to it next time" won't cut the mustard. Here's the problem. Pitch change (PC) link inspections must be done closely to...

No helmet painting!(AH-64A/D ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Pilots and crews, the question about whether you can or cannot paint your integrated helmet and display sight system (IHADSS) is settled. No matter how badly you desire to paint your helmet like Picasso, you're...

A GRM test that needs a check.(RT-1523A SINCGARS ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1. Remove the radio cover and check the part number of the CCA in the A10 slot. If the part number is A3131457, a real failure has happened. Replace the CCA. If the part number is A3137670, reinstall the cover and...

Save the screens!(SINCGARS ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since the arrival of the E-model ASIP SINCGARS, plunges, big feet, and shoved equipment have cracked about a billion keyboard displays. We could write it off as normal wear and tear if a solution had not been around...

An aiming light bag?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear MSG Half-Mast, I ordered textile bag, NSN 8105-01-368-6253, Item 6 of Fig D5, in TM 11-5855-301-12&P on EM0163, for my aiming light. Unfortunately, a bag a lot different than the one I had came. The bag...

We need technical manuals!(AN/TAS-8A(V)1 & (V)2 LRAS3 ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear MSG Half-Mast, The LRAS3 infrared night vision sight is vital to our mission, yet we can't find pubs for it. Are there any? If so, how can we get them? Sergeant P. L. T. Dear Sergeant P. L. T., ...

Return that power distribution box.(PP-8440/ASM ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The PP-8440/ASM power distribution box, NSN 6110-01-423-8822, can reduce the number of generators needed to power your AN/ASM-146, AN/ASM-189 or AN/ASM-190 vans and shelters and help eliminate damage caused by...

Make sure your M40 mask is ready for action with these checks!(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... PROBLEMS? TELL YOUR CBRN SPECIALIST! Face Piece * deformed enough to prevent easy donning? Lens * broken? * cracked? * scratched? * discolored? Side Voicemitter * loose retaining ring? * missing...

Creepers great for tight spaces.(Tools ...)(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... DARN IT! THERE'S GOT TO BE AN EASIER WAY TO DO PMCS UNDER MY STRYKER! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THERE IS! YOU NEED A MECHANIC'S CREEPER! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THIS ONE'S THE TOP-OF-THE-LINE, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS, TOO! ...

Tracking calibration 1,2,3.(TMDE ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some of your equipment must be calibrated on a regular basis or it's not considered mission capable. So it's critical that you keep records of when TMDE calibrated these items and when they are due their next...

Handling instructions.(Tools ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Paint If a tool is stored outside, paint the handle to protect it against the weather. Follow local SOP for paint color. Usually it's the same as the vehicle's basic color but not in a camouflage pattern....

Freeze ballistic plates? Not!(Interceptor Body Armor ...)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's hot. It's muggy, and the heat is unforgiving for personnel wearing full combat gear. Keeping cool in the desert is a must for those wearing the interceptor body armor (IBA) with ballistic plates. To...

Mark this down!(M133 Minefield Marking Set ...)(Table)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TM 5-9905-200-10 lists some wrong NSNs for components of the M133 minefield marking set, NSN 9905-01-019-0140. And the set's supply catalog, SC 9905-97-CL-E02, was rescinded without replacement in April 1995. ...

Hydraulic pump driveshaft lube.(130G Road Grader ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] A little lube goes a long way when it comes to the three grease fittings on the hydraulic pump's driveshaft. These fittings are often overlooked during scheduled services. Without lube, the U-joints on the...

Hydraulic system PM.(HYEX ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Operators, it takes the right amount of hydraulic fluid to lubricate the excavator's boom and keep it operating smoothly. That is, as long as the hoses are in good shape. The excavator's hydraulic hoses get...

Corrosion prevention pub revised.(Trucks and Trailers ...)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Army tactical wheeled vehicle and trailer operators and mechanics now have an up-to-date publication to help them prevent and control corrosion on their equipment. TB 43-0213, Corrosion Prevention and Control...

Safety message announcements.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] You can get email announcements about new safety messages. The Army Electronic Product Support (AEPS) restricted website lists all of them. You'll need to register an AKO logon and password or CAC to get access...

PS ... PM ... what gives?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, This may seem trivial, but I want to know. If PS Magazine is about preventive maintenance, why isn't it called PM Magazine? SGT W.R.L. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PS, The Preventive...

Safety-make no bones about it!(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] After completing PMCS on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a staff sergeant failed to stand clear as the engine cover was being lowered. It struck his arm, fracturing his wrist. A private used his bare fingers to lift...

M1114 HMMWV underbody screw.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... The hex screw for your M1114's front passenger side underbody shown as Item 11 in Fig 194 of TM 9-2320-387-24P has the correct part number. The NSN is wrong, however. Replace it with NSN 5305-01-436-6377.

Helmet harness tester.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... ALSE folks, here's some good news! Your integrated helmet and display system (IHADSS) has a new tester for the helmet's new IR harness. NSN 4931-01-534-1228 brings you the tester. You can use the tester on the old harness as well.

Fiber optic cable NSNS.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... Order 300 meters of CX-13295/G fiber optic cable with NSN 6020-01-220-5435. Order 1,000 meters with NSN 6020-01-208-1147.

Upgrading M7 FRS.(Connie's Post Scripts)(forward repair system)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... If your M7 forward repair system (FRS) has a serial number from 0001 to 0743, you need to upgrade its tool load and/or data plate. M7's with tool load P/N SC4940-95-E41 (formerly P/N RIA149000), which is Granger, need to get tool load...

Communication earplug kit.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... All new HGU-56/P helmets now come with the communication earplug (CEP) already installed. If you have a helmet that doesn't have a CEP installed, you can order the communication earplug kit with NSN 5965-01-474-5654.

Out with the old BB-390B/U, in with the new BB-2590/U.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... There are two rechargeable batteries that can be used in your BA-5590 powered equipment like the ASIP SINCGARS. One is the BB-390B/U, NSN 6140-01490-4317. The other is the BB-2590/U, NSN 6140-01490-4316. Order the BB-2590 and not the BB-390....

RTCH central lube system.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... The project manager's office PMO) at TACOM LCMC is looking for Kalmar RT 240 rough terrain container handlers that need a central lubrication system installed on the vehicle for FREE. Contact the PMO by writing to Ms. Sonya Stone at this e-mail...

Airsave vest information on the net.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... The Army is a user of the Navy's AIRSAVE vest and other aviation life support equipment. If you need TM information on AIRSAVE, you can access the aircrew systems program office online: https://home.navair.navy.mil/pma202 To access the...

HEMTT engine wiring harness update.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Get the -A2 and -A2R1 model HEMTT's DDEC 4 engine wiring harness (for HEMTTs other than wreckers) with NSN 6150-01-508-2486, PN 3462712, and CAGE 45152. This applies to the M1120A2 and M1120A2R1 HEMTT LHS trucks, too, but they aren't listed in...

Up-armored HMMWV fuel strainer element.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... Need the strainer element that's part of the filler neck in the fuel filler pipe assembly of your up-armored HMMWV? You can't get it using the NSN listed for Item 23 in Fig 29 of TM 9-2320-387-24P. Make a note to get it with NSN...

EMI filter for IMG MRAP fire suppression system prevents accidental discharge.(Connie's Post Scripts)
May 1, 2008... TACOM MAM 08-012 told you that users of International Military and Government (IMG-Maxx-Pro) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP), NSN 2355-01-553-4634, were having accidental discharges of the cabin fire suppression system (FSS)...