The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from November 2003

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from November 2003

All PM great and small.
November 1, 2003... We all know about preventive maintenance--performing checks and services on equipment, finding, fixing or reporting small problems before they become major headaches. Every time you replace a dirty air filter, or clean a rifle bolt and bore, or...

M66 mount yes--M36 mount no.(Trucks)
November 1, 2003... If any of your trucks have the M36 machine gun ring mount, they shouldn't have. The M36 is history--it's discontinued and should be turned in to your local demil facilities or reclassified as an M66 ring mount, depending on which version of the...

Shield fins from damage.(HMMWV ...)
November 1, 2003... Nice, straight fins are what your HMMWV needs for the oil cooler to work right. Bent fins stop air flow through the oil cooler and radiator, overheating the engine and transmission. The fins get bent because mechanics lean or crawl onto the...

Them's the brakes!(M1000 Het Semitrailer)
November 1, 2003... If you haven't kept up with the changes to TM 9-2330-381-24P for your M1000, you may hear a loud CRUNCH! when you lower your semitrailer. The original Anchorlok brake chamber, NSN 2530-01-329-2187, used in the M1000 is too big. It can hit...

New BDAR kits available.
November 1, 2003... These new BDAR kits are great! Yeah! Now we'll be able to stay up and running on the battlefield! The old vehicle-specific battlefield damage assessment and repair (BDAR) kits are no more. But there are now two new kits available...

Keep cargo in place.(Styker ...)
November 1, 2003... Fallen cargo scattered on the road or trail is one of a driver's worst nightmares. Two tailor-made nets to keep cargo in place are now available for the Stryker Interim Combat Vehicle. Both nets are easily adjustable for a snug fit. Each...

Don't pound the round!(M1-Series Tanks ...)
November 1, 2003... Depending on how it's handled, the ammunition for your tank's main gun can be deadly to you as well as the enemy, crewmen. Ammunition that is improperly stored in the ammo ready racks can be damaged, resulting in an explosion or fire. So...

Tried and true TMs.
November 1, 2003... If you've got an '83 Escort with engine problems, the repair manual for a 2003 Escort won't do you much good. The same is true for M1-series tank TMs. There are several different tank configurations and each one uses a different series TM....

Air cleaner ups & downs.(M109-Series SP Howitzers ...)
November 1, 2003... When the bottom drops out on the thermometer this winter, make sure your howitzer's air cleaners are set for the season. The air cleaner locking handles need to be pulled up and hooked in place when the temperature is below 25[degrees]F. If...

RDD saves the day.(Personnel Heaters ...)
November 1, 2003... In some combat vehicles, the digital readout located on top of the new A-20 personnel heater's doghouse is blocked from view. If you can't see the readout, you won't know when the heater has a component failure, error or fault. The...

Plugging leaks in your avenger.(Avenger ...)
November 1, 2003... FUEL: The hose that runs from the injector pump to the injector assembly and the bypass hose that runs from one injector to the other are often leakers. These hoses often crack from age and high temperature. If either hose leaks on...

A bit of tape protects battery.(Improved Target Acquisition System ...)
November 1, 2003... Dear Editor, This suggestion will help missilemen keep their ITAS systems empowered. The battery power source (BPS) bumpers get knocked off frequently and then the BPS has less shock protection. The BPS has to go to direct support for...

Where to go for painting info.(Sentinel Radar System ...)
November 1, 2003... Dear Half-Mast, Our Sentinels have developed shiny spots where the paint has worn off. The shiny spots make it easier for the enemy to spot us at night. But we can't; figure out where to go for info on painting our Sentinels. Can you help?...

Your trip to support.(TOW 2 Missile System ...)
November 1, 2003... * Never, ever, put loose sights in the back of a truck. If sights are left to bounce around on their journey to support, they quickly suffer the kind of damage that costs thousands to repair. That won't make your CO happy. The best way to...

Better ways to clean and lube? No way!(M240 Machine Guns ...)
November 1, 2003... Fact--Graphite will eat up and destroy aluminum and other alloys. Motor oil is for your car, not your gun. It hardens and makes a mess of your gun. CLP, LSA-T, or LAW are what TM 9-1005-313-10 says to use for lubing and that's what you should...

Don't go cold turkey in the cold.(M157A2, M56/M58 Smoke Generators ...)
November 1, 2003... Cold weather can cause the M157A2 and M56/M58 smoke generators to go cold turkey on smoking. Ice can form in the fog oil tank and block the fog oil lines unless you fortify your smoke generator with cold weather PM. Here are the cold facts: ...

Smoking just got better.(M157A@ Smoke Generator ...)
November 1, 2003... Dear editor, Through years of working with the M157A2 smoke generator we've come up with some sure fire for better smoking. Believe me, we've found these suggestions will save operators and repairmen lots of trouble. * If the smoke...

The first thanksgiving or "what a bunch of turkeys!".
November 1, 2003... THE FIRST THANSGIVING IN AMERICA IS SHROUDED IN THE FOG OF LEGEND AND THE MIST OF MYTH. WE BELIEVED IT TOOK PLACE IN THE AUTUMN OF 1621... AND WAS CELEBRATED IN HARMONY WITH A FEAST ENJOYED BY THE PILGRIMS AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN...

Keepin' it clean the right way.(OH-58D ...)
November 1, 2003... Crews, using the incorrect cleaning materials on your Kiowa Warrior's M296 .50-cal machine gun after firing makes smooth firing rough. After firing, clean the gun with the cleaning materials in the PMCS chart and Paragraph 4-3 of TM...

A new angle on blade booting.(UH-60A/L ...)
November 1, 2003... Squeezing your foot into an old boot can be a tough job. Removing or installing a tail rotor boot on a Black Hawk tail rotor can be a tough job, too, with the current boot tool. The current tool scrapes and scars the blade as you slide the...

Close cockpit doors correctly.
November 1, 2003... Pilots, crew chiefs, maintenance personnel, and flight crews, listen up! Closing Black Hawk cockpit doors wrong causes cracks around the door and handle mechanism. The proper way to close cockpit doors is to grasp the handle and slightly...

Rubbed the wrong way.(AH-64A/D ...)
November 1, 2003... When a situation rubs you the wrong way, you take action. Armament crews, when your Apache's 30mm gun's braided hydraulic lines and hoses rub the wrong way against each other of against the wire strike, take action to prevent chafing. ...

Clear oil drain hole.
November 1, 2003... Who you gonna call when your Apache main transmission oil filler cup drain hole plugs up? Clog Busters! Mechanics, you're the drain clog busters to eyeball the bird's oil filler cup drain hole when you perform your 10-hour/14-day...

Hopping from fiction to fact.(FHMUX TD-1456/VRC ...)
November 1, 2003... There's a love/hate relationship going on with the frequency hopping multiplexer (FHMUX). Some units won't deploy without the FHMUX. Others don't want a thing to do with it! The reason for the two views is the garbage being churned out by...

Is it time for a commercial break?
November 1, 2003... Dear Half-Mast, When we we're in the big Sandbox, we used some commercial GPS receivers and they seem to have several advantages over the PLGR--smaller, lighter, easier to operate, included maps and used AA batteries. Now that we're...

A mounting repair.(Night Vision Goggles ...)
November 1, 2003... Dear MSG Half-Mast, The universal mount, NSN 5855-01-457-2953, that holds the night vision goggles in place on the Kevlar helmet cost more than $100. If anything breaks on the mount, you have to order an entire mount. "There are no...

Update your version.(AC/CYZ-10 ...)
November 1, 2003... "THERE ARE STILL V2S OUT THERE..." "IF YOU'VE GOT A V2, THE FOLKS AT CSLA WILL EXCHANGE IT FOR YOU AND GIVE YOU A V3." Just call DSN 879-6408 or 520-538-6408; fax: DSN 879-6143 or 520-538-6143; or email gerald.zelazny@us.army.mil ...

Tips for drivers.(M-GATOR ...)
November 1, 2003... Like any workhorse, the M-GATOR is very stable, but accidents can happen... most often because the driver was in too much of a hurry or not paying attention. Before heading out, take time to read these driver tips. They can mean the...

Oil level reading.(HYEX ...)
November 1, 2003... Read and heed the placard next to the hydraulic oil tank's sight gauge on your HYEX excavator. You'll find it inside the curbside engine access door. In other words, do the cold oil check with the arm cylinder fully retracted and the bucket...

Weather changes.
November 1, 2003... Warm days and cool nights cause condensation to form in the hydraulic excavator's fuel tank. That means you operators may have to drain the fuel/water separator before each day's operation. Not draining the separator will leave water and...

Stop rusty collar.(SEE ...)
November 1, 2003... Packaging Info The excavator's engine and transmission suffer unnecessary damage when they're not packaged right. With the engine removed, do not leave the transmission exposed to the elements. That's because water collects in the...

Don't throw a truck!(M9 ACE ...)
November 1, 2003... Some have found out the hard way, the importance of the words on Page 2-69 of TM 5-2350-262-10. Never steer the ACE during dozing operations! Turning the wheel while dozing puts so much stress on the track that it can be thrown. Thrown...

Basics of binoc care.(M24 Binoculars ...)
November 1, 2003... The M24 miniature binoculars are lightweight and small enough to fit in your BDU pocket. But they're every bit the equal of the larger M22 binoculars when it comes to magnification, laser protection and reticle features. NSN...

Resupply for aid bag.(Combat Lifesaver ...)
November 1, 2003... When you're issued your bag, make sure: * It's stocked according to the prescribed packing list. * All stocked items are serviceable. * Items have not passed their expiration dates. If items are missing or have passed their...

Preparing PBUSE conversations.(ULLS-S4 ...)
November 1, 2003... ULLS-S4 is now included in the property book unit supply enhancement (PBUSE) program. PBUSE provides close to real time, accurate visibility of your property book account. The old program only provided snapshots of the account when it was last...

Correcting supply discrepancies.(Supply ...)
November 1, 2003... Dear Editor: Since the implementation of Milestone-3 of the Single Stock Fund (SSF), DLA supply centers have been getting more and more Supply Discrepancy Reports (SDRs)--formerly called Reports of Discrepancy (RODS)--on non-Army managed...

HMMWV weapon shield.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... NSN 2510-01-498-4996 gets a gunner's weapon shield kit for the M1114 uparmor HMMWV. It can also be used on the: M966/A1, M1025/A1/A2, M1026/A1, M1036, M1043/A1/A2, M1044/A1, M1045/A1/A2 and M1046/A1. The kit includes a shield, bracket, adapter,...

Convective space heater cycling.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... Does your convective space heater, NSN 4520-01-431-8927, cycle on and off a lot when outside temps change a lot? Here are two ways to reduce cycling: * Open the tent door and cool the inside. * Disconnect the air supply duct from the...

Space heater cleaning bulletin.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... JP-8 is the preferred fuel to use in the convective space heater, NSN 4520-01-431-8927. You're allowed to use diesel fuel. Just remember, diesel promotes carbon build-up, shortens burner service life and leads to frequent burner cleaning. If...

Tent mod kit.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... The convective space heater, NSN 4520-01-431-8927, efficiently heats your modular command post shelter (MCPS) as long as there's a free flow of air into and out of the shelter. Problem is, the earliest versions of the MCPS were fielded without...

Make desert ideas SMART!(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... Soldiers returning from the deserts of Iraq can profit from their experience. The Army's Supply and Maintenance Assessment and Review Team (SMART) is looking for suggestions on how to improve the wide range of logistics activities. Approved...

New AR 750-1 published.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... The Army has formally published AR 750-1, Army Materiel Maintenance Policy. It is available in PDF format at the U.S. Army Publishing Directorate's new website at: http://www.apd.army.mil The regulation was published Aug 18, 2003 with...

Batteries for Savi RF ID tags.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2003... To order new batteries for your Savi 410 or 412 radio frequency (RF) tags use NSN 6135-01-301-8776. The nomenclature is battery non-rechargeable lithium, sealed size AA. For information on other Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) parts...