The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from November 2008

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from November 2008

No laughing matter.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Foreign Object Damage is a preventable problem if you pay attention and look for the things that cause it. You're playing a game of Russian roulette if you assume someone else has already looked for foreign objects...

Spare the rod, spoil the steering.(Stryker ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The dampers are like mini shock absorbers that act as a stabilizer for the steering system. Without 'em, the steering column can give you a good shake down. Rough terrain, rocks, and heavy brush can take a toll...

A hot start on a cold day.(M109A6 Paladin ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Before You Start 1. If you've been using the winterization kit, you must stop the heater before trying to start the engine. 2. Remove and secure all tarps. 3. Install the exhaust outlet plug. 4....

Set air cleaner for 'winter'.(M109-Series SP Howitzers ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When the bottom drops out of the thermometer this winter, make sure your howitzer's air cleaners are set for the season. The air cleaner locking handles need to be down and locked in their holders when the...

Keep pads in place.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The adhesive that holds the two cushioning pads, NSN 5340-01-079-3031, on each side of your tank's knee switch actuator sometimes wears out. When that happens, the pads fall off. Not a big deal, you think? Well,...

All heaters aren't alike.(Personnel Heaters ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Stewart-Warner and Hupp personnel heaters have been around so long that most combat vehicle crewmen have the start-up procedures memorized. You can hold the RUN-OFF-START switch to START for up to two...

Choose the settings wisely.(A-20 Personnel Heater ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The heater has two settings, HIGH (60,000 BTUs) and LOW (30,000 BTUs). But too many crewmen seem fixated on the HIGH setting. Whether it's mildly cool or bone-chilling cold, the HIGH setting is what they go for. ...

Ice in full freezes movement.(Wheeled Vehicles ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In freezing temperatures, ice on the road can make you go when you want to stop. And ice that forms in fuel tanks and fuel lines can make you stop when you want to go! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Drain fuel...

Inflate deflated air springs.(FMTV ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some operators think they have to deflate both air springs before tilting the cab. Then they forget to re-inflate them when they finish their work. With no air, the cab isn't level. Bumps and jars during...

Air filter NSN.(HMMWVs ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, My HMMWV's air cleaner filter element, NSN 2940-01-188-3776, shows up in FED LOG as a terminal item. What's the replacement? SSG A.R. Dear Sergeant A.R., Breathe easy. The old,...

Get snow plow kits.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... If snow is in your way, using your HMMWV and a snow plow kit can make your path smooth. The Army's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) developed snow plow kits for use on HWWMVs, except those with a winch. The...

Don't forget my battery analyzer!(Hawker Batteries ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Editor, You published a very good article on the Hawker battery and related chargers in PS 664 (Mar 08). However, one important item was left out-the analyzer. I was at Camp Casey, ROK, when the 2nd ID...

More Hawker battery business.(Lead-Acid Batteries ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Editor, You ran a great article on using the Hawker battery in PS 664 (Mar 08). But there are three points you might want to clarify: 1. There is ONE exception to the prohibition on "mixing Hawker and...

Tire mounting tips.(Wheeled Vehicles ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] * Remove tires from the manufacturer's wrapping as soon as you can after they get to the motor pool. That way they loosen up a little before you work with them. * Tires that sit in cold weather should come...

Hydraulic oil info.(M1000 HET Semitrailer ...)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, We service the M1000 heavy equipment transporter (HET) in our units. Is there a directive or message to put fire resistant hydraulic (red) oil in the semitrailer's hydraulic system? I can't find...

New AAL items.(M105A2 and M149A2 Trailers ...)(Ambient Assisted Living)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Swivel Lunette Get your CO's approval to replace the trailer's original lunette with a swivel lunette that comes with NSN 2540-01-557-0056. The swivel lunette makes lining up the trailer with the truck's towing...

Advice to armorers from COMET.(Small Arms ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Editor, In my work as part of the Ft Lewis COMET (Command Maintenance Evaluation and Training Team), I run into several misconceptions about small arms that are causing problems, sometimes serious problems....

Help with what goes where.(Small Arms ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Armorers, if you need help teaching soldiers what parts go where on their ri.es or machine guns, the Army's TASC can help. They have layout sheets that show the parts breakdown of several different weapons. Your...

Do gages need gaging?(M2, M3, M296 Machine Guns ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Dear Half-Mast, We've been using our headspacing and timing gages for our M2, M3, and M296 machine guns for years. After all this time, we're wondering how accurate these gages are. But we can't find anything...

War changes finish standard.(M2 Machine Gun ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How much of the M2 machine gun's finish can be missing before the weapon must be turned in to depot? If you look that up in the M2's TM 9-1005-213-23&P, the answer is more than one-third of the M2's surface. But...

PM with avengence.(Avenger Missile System ...)(preventive maintenance)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Be patient with the FLIR. The FLIR needs time to cool down when you turn it on. If you rush the FLIR, you risk damaging the monitor, which is expensive to repair. When you turn on the FLIR, put it in STANDBY until...

Are my CBRN items still good?(Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] CBRN specialists need to know for sure if items like mask canisters or M291 decon kits are still good. You don't want to give a soldier a mask canister whose shelf life-and effectiveness--has expired. Shelf life...

PM-SKOT first source for tools.(Program Manager-Sets, Kits, Outfits and Tools )(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In Jan 08, the Army directed that all units make Program Manager-Sets, Kits, Outfits and Tools (PM-SKOT) the first source for the tools they need to do their jobs. Before this, commanders often purchased tools...

Winter driving tips.(Statistical table)
November 1, 2008... THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL. AND SLIPPING AND SLIDING ON SNOW AND ICE IS NOT DELIGHTFUL. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DRIVE SAFELY BY USING THE GUIDANCE FOUND IN YOUR VEHICLE'S -10 TM. PLUS, HEED THE FOLLOWING TIPS TO PREVENT A...

Got gun problems?(OH-58D ...)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Dear Sergeant Blade, As armorers, our Kiowa Warrior's M296 .50-cal machine gun has had some feeding and jamming problems since the installation of the new gun jettison rack, NSN 1095-14-553-8310. Because...

Lubrication options for your gun.(30 MM Gun ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To prevent sand buildup and extend gun use, the TACOM head shed says it's OK to use TW-25B as an alternate lubricant on the flex-chute, the rails of the ammo handling system, and components in the gun's receiver...

Tail rotor blades cracking up?(UH-60 ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When the leading edge cracks, eyeball the pitch horn area. That's because the culprit causing the cracks could be a worn out and loose structural fitting, NSN 1560-01-100-1701, and retainer assembly, NSN...

Pressure refueling ERFS II tanks.(CH-47D ...)(extended range fuel system II)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crews, you can't afford to miss a beat when it comes to your Chinook extended range fuel system II (ERFS II). When the ERFS II tanks are pressure refueled, make sure you follow the procedures like it says in...

All aboard the rechargeable train!(Communication Batteries ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [IF WE DIDN'T USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES] WE WOULD PROBABLY BE BROKE SIX MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR. --MAJOR JEFF SCHILLING THE BB-2590'S SAVED US. THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN WE COULDN'T GET AIRCRAFT DUE TO...

Wanted common commo killers: considered dangerous but preventable!
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1. Missing parts. Every time a part is missing--even one that may not be essential to operation--a hole is created where sand, dust, dirt and debris can find its way into your equipment. Make sure all your equipment...

Rod saver info.(HYEX ...)(cylinder rods)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... TEMPERATURES DROP AND ICE FORMS ON THE HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR'S CYLINDER RODS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PROBLEM IS, ANY ICE BUILD-UP ON THE RODS WILL SCRAPE OR CUT SEALS WHEN THE ROD MOVES. DAMAGED SEALS LEAD TO FLUID LEAKS, WHICH LEAD...

Cold weather jitters.(HYEX ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stuck Starter Reminder Too many starters end up at support for service or repair. All it takes is one finger stuck too long on the start switch to burn out a good starter. Follow the word on Page 5-2 of TM...

The feet are the foundation.(Cold Weather Boots ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Cold, Brutal Facts Frostbite is defined as the freezing of your tissues. It can range from surface freezing of the skin all the way to freezing of muscle and bone. The longer you're exposed to cold below...

What are military air waivers and when must you use them?(HAZMAT ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] * A detailed description of the package, including pertinent test data. * A proper shipping name including its: --hazard class --identification number --packaging group --the net quantity of...

Don't order ISO containers without authorization.(Logistics Management ...)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The Army has released interim guidance for procuring general cargo containers. Army message #102/2008 (dated 041750Z Apr 08) requires Army organizations to obtain authorization from their Army command, Army service...

Connie's post scripts.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEMTT LHS Switch Knob Your HEMTT's load handling system rotary switch knob is shown as Item 13 in Fig 2001 of EM 0232, TM 9-2320-315-14&P. But the NSN listed is obsolete now because the knob is no longer...