The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from November 2007

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from November 2007

Slave starting by the book.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Your tank already has trouble if you need a slave start, crewmen. Don't compound the problem by slaving it the wrong way. You'll find instructions for slaving your M1A1 tank starting on Page 2-623 of TM...

Cover the dogbone.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crewmen, when you get the improved dogbone assembly (IDA), NSN 3815-01-369-7497, for your tank's mine clearing blade or IDA roller, NSN 2590-01-380-4852, do not throw away the steel casing it comes in! The IDA...

Get the right tire chains.(Stryker ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Tire chains can come in handy for your Stryker when winter weather arrives. But the chains were left out of some of the -10 TM additional authorized lists (AAL), while one other lists the wrong chain. The...

New kit shields heat damage.(M577A3, M1068A3 Command Post Carriers ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanics, there are a lot of electrical cables and harnesses routed through the hulls of command post carriers. And some of them come pretty close to the personnel heater exhaust. The high temperatures generated...

Exhaust those fumes!(Combat and Tactical Vehicles ...)(Table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Running vehicles indoors without proper ventilation is a death wish. But that's what's happening in a lot of motor pool bays. Some mechanics think raising the bay doors is all that's needed to let out vehicle...

Keep it under wraps.(MLRS Carrier ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When rainwater collects in the hull of your MLRS, it shorts out cables, corrodes connectors and gets inside line replaceable units (LRUs). Leaving the hull drain plugs open will let out excess water, but it...

Driving in winter.(Wheeled Vehicles ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Adjust Speed to Conditions Adjust your speed to road conditions. Steep hills, sharp curves and ice- or snow-covered roads mean trouble if you don't! And on a slick road, don't count on your brakes to stop...

Winter tips for operators and mechanics.(Trailers ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Parking Practices * If your trailer's not parked on hard stand, put dunnage under the tires to keep them from sinking and freezing into the ground. * Make sure ground boards are placed underneath the landing...

Windshield warm up.(HMMWV ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A cold and frosty HHWMV windshield can become a cracked windshield in a heartbeat! How so? A blast of hot air from the vehicle's defroster will send your windshield to an early grave. One solution is to let...

Use clearing-not cleaning-rod.(Small Arms ...)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Editor, I was surprised to see on Page 21 in PG 642 (May 06) the suggestion that; gunners run a cleaning rod down the muzzle to check for a stuck round. Here at Ft Leonard Wood we do everything we can...

Slings for left-handers?(M16-Series Rifle, M4/M4A1 Carbine ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, Is there an M16 rifle three-point sling for left-handers? I can't find anything in the TM. SGT T.H. Dear Sergeant T.H., The only three-point sling for the M16 and the M4/M4A1 carbine...

Safe shipping for your weapons.(Small Arms ...)(Table)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] All the care you give your rifle, machine gun, or pistol in the field can go to waste if you don't show the same care when you ship it to or from SWA. If you just toss your weapon in a box for shipment, moisture...

Connecting to easier connecting.(ITAS ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Editor, Dirt and sand can make hooking up the ITAS (improved target; acquisition system) a real grind. Dirt and sand get; inside the connectors' pins and holes and prevent a good electrical connection....

Zip tie doo dah.(M40/M42-Series Masks ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Retaining clamp (zip ties)--Every one of your masks should have retaining clamps put on the outlet valve housing. The clamps are part of MWO 3-4240-347- 20-1 and they prevent the silicone robber of the outlet valve...

Filter help for CBRN fan.(Shelters ...)( Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The CBRN centrifugal fan, NSN 4140-01-234-8170, needs all the help you can give it in the desert. Sand can quickly clog it up and shut it down. Then your shelter loses the positive pressure that shuts out chemical...

How do I get radioactive material warning signs?(CBRN ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, CBRN specialists are supposed to post radioactive material warning signs in the CBRN rooms because items like the ACADA have small amounts of radioactive material. But where do you get these...

Changing filter element.(M7 Forward Repair System ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The air regulator/water separator filter elements for the M7 forward repair system should be replaced at least annually. Unfortunately, the M7's TM doesn't give the NSN for the element. Order the elements with NSN 2940-01-519-9304. To...

Toolbox liners?(Tools ...)
November 1, 2007... Dear Half-Mast, I Know the new tool Kits come with liners that; have cutouts where the tools fit in the drawers. But I still have some of the older kits that don't have liners. I would like to make liners for these kits, but I don't know...

The legend of Dan McGee with apologies to Robert W. Service.(Cartoon)
November 1, 2007... A BUNCH OF SOLDIERS WERE WHOOPING IT UP IN THE ARCTIC MOTOR POOL [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE SOLDIER THAT HANDLESS THE MUSIC BOX WAS PLAYING SOME TUNES, OLD SCHOOL; [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BUT BACK OF THE BAY, IN A PONDERING...

The word is watch your step.(All Aircraft ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When you're driving down the road, the word STOP means apply the brakes, not accelerate. If you decide to ignore the stop sign and put the pedal to the metal, you could wreck your car or worse. Aviator...

Cold weather fuel sampling.(AH-64A/D ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanics, when you need to get a fuel sample from your AH-64 during the cold season, be prepared! [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Cold weather affects aircraft in many different ways. Sometimes. when you depress...

New cleaning compound.(AH-64A/D ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Mechanics, don't waste time ordering the corrosion cleaning compound, NSN 6850-01-339-5227, listed on EM 0126, TM 1-1520-Longbow/Apache. It's been discontinued. Instead, order the replacement cleaning compound...

New resistors for AH-64 simulator.(AH-64A/D ...)
November 1, 2007... To improve performance, the resistors for the AH-64 A/D's rocket launcher simulator have been upgraded from 1-ohm, 1/2 watt to 100-ohm, 1/2 watt. Order the new resistors with NSN 5905-00-106-9344. You'll need 19 of them. Update Appendix D...

It is up to you.(All Aircraft ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The AVIM shops are responsible for many aircraft repairs. And units want to get their equipment back in a reasonable amount of time. How well the process works is up to you. If you want your equipment back and...

To do, or not to do?(All Aircraft...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many of you ask the question above concerning maintenance procedures. Can AVUM mechanics do AVIM tasks on aircraft when they feel like it? No--and yes! Until the Army aviation headshed fully implements two-level...

Take a stand against winter!(Mast-Type Antennas...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Frozen ground makes it tough to drive in a guy stake. So cold-weather stakes may be just what you need to make the going a little easier. Get the GP-101 cold-weather stake with NSN 4030-00-187-5265. But you have...

A good ground in the cold ground.
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1. Try to ground to a buried metal object like an underground pipe. That will save you a lot of digging or driving in frozen ground. However, the metal object has to be buried at least 2 1/2 feet below the surface;...

The fine points of fueling.(Family of Space Heaters ...)(Table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] * Inspect fuel hoses for dry rot, cracks, cuts, wear and leaks. Replace them if necessary. * Keep hoses' quick disconnect fittings clean and unblocked. Brush off snow and ice. They block fuel flow. Wipe off...

It's no crock.(Water and Ration Heater ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] * The heater operates off 24 VDC and connects to your vehicle's auxiliary power supply with a single 2-wire power cable. When you use the heater, make sure the vehicle's engine is running so you won't drain the...

Match the food to the mission.(Operational Rations ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] On Long Patrol The long range patrol (LRP) food packet, NSN 8970-01-467-1749, is a restricted calorie ration meant for special operations. You take the LRP packets on missions where there's no resupply, or when...

Save your skin.(Gloves ...)(Table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] But now that you're older, you just might be foolish or careless enough to reach out and grab some ice-cold metal barehanded. The outcome is just as harmful. Your skin can freeze to cold metal the moment you touch...

Not necessarily the outdoor type.(Steam Cleaners ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Outdoors in cold weather is no place for an unprotected steam cleaner. Because you can't drain all the water, it'll freeze, bursting coils, pipes and fittings. This winter, follow these steps to defend your...

Overworked? Relief is up to you!(Maintenance Management ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Commanders, do you think your mechanics are overworked? If so, relief is up to you. The Army determines maintenance manpower requirements for aviation and ground systems based on the maintenance man-hours...

What goes and what stays.(Maintenance Management ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Components of End Item (COEI) are part of the end item, but are removed and packed separately for transportation or shipment. These items must be with the end item whenever it is transferred or turned in. An example...

Maintaining the most important system of all.(Personal Maintenance ...)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Army information technology gurus often talk about developing the system of systems. Mostly they forget to talk about an Army system of systems that has existed since George Washington became a general. It's a...

M984 wrecker cable assembly.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2007... Use NSN 6150-01-282-1182 to get the remote-control cable assembly for the wrecker's HIAB crane (right side under cargo body). This NSN replaces the one shown as Item 3, Page B-3 of TM 9-2320-354-10.

M915 armored doors NSN corrections.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2007... If you've ordered armored doors for your unit's M915A3P1, M915A2P1, M916A3P1, M917A2P1, M915A4P1, M917A1P1, Mg16A1P1, and M916A2P1 trucks with a Simula armor kit, you probably already know that the NSNs and part numbers listed for Item 17 of...

AN/PSC-5 Spitfire enhanced controller receiver-transmitter.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2007... The AN/PSC-5 Spitfire enhanced controller receiver-transmitter, NSN 5895-01-498-2524, has been upgraded and given a new NSN. Order this upgraded receiver-transmitter with NSN 5895-01-541-6805. If you have an unserviceable receiver-transmitter...

Solar shields are coming.(Connie's Post Scripts)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Shadow units, keep your eyes peeled. The AMCOM PEOAVN is working a plan to field solar shields to protect the wings of your Shadow 200 RQ-78 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) from the blazing sun. If you've been using sleeping mats...

M939/A1/A2 valve stem.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2007... You can get the 5-ton truck wheel assembly's valve stem shown as Item c in Fig 292 of TM 9-2320-272-24P-1 by ordering NSN 4820-00-203-3260. Now you won't have to order Item 11 (that includes parts 12 thru 15) just to get the valve stem.

PLS air filter and air drier parts kits.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2007... If your M1074 or M1075 PLS has a 4500 SP transmission, use air filter parts kit, NSN 4330-01-541-5349, and air drier parts kit, NSN 444001-493-3498, to maintain your truck. You can find both kits in TB 9-2320-364-13&P-3. Keep this in mind when...

AN/PYQ-10(C) simple key loader battery charger components.(Connie's Post Scripts)
November 1, 2007... The battery charger assembly, NSN 6130-01-548-1505, for the AN/PYQ-10(C) simple key loader, NSN 5810-01-517-3587, has three components that can be ordered separately. If you need just the charger, order it with NSN 6130-01-525-1640; the power...

In doubt about road surface conditions?
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * GO SLOW * USE BRAKES WITH CAUTION * BE ALERT * INCREASE FOLLOWING DISTANCE