The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly articles from October 2005

The PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly archives from October 2005

It can cost you.(Hazardous Waste ...)
October 1, 2005... In every nook and cranny of the motor pool you'll find supplies and materials that are considered hazardous waste when it's time to dispose of them: fuel, lubricant, oil, cleaning solvent, degreaser, antifreeze, brake fluid and the like. ...

Do away with dangling disasters.(Stryker ...)
October 1, 2005... Ever notice that when you're in a big hurry, something always happens to slow you down? That's because being in a hurry leads to shortcuts and shortcuts mean trouble. Take the cargo straps on your Stryker's bustle rack, for instance....

Training option added to IPADS.
October 1, 2005... Now when you boot up the system you will be given three operating mode choices: * OPERATIONAL * TRAINING * EMULATOR Use OPERATIONAL for normal operations. Use TRAINING to practice operating IPADS with the navigational...

Out with the old.(M1-Series Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... The old way of doing things isn't always the best way, mechanics. That's why TACOM made some changes to how and when you service the NBC sponson box on M1-series tanks. The old annual service wasn't complete enough. Nor was it able to keep...

Which check checks out?(M1A1 Tank ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Mechanics, when it's time to run the semiannual PMCS stabilization system check that's on Page 2-14 of TM 9-235-0264-20-2-1, the right check can make all the difference. There are several different turret networks boxes (TNB) in use and...

Broken STE-M1/FVS is a dead end.(M1A1/M1A1 AIM Tanks ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Mechanics, when it's time to perform the semiannual check of the M1A1 or M1A1 AIM tank's stabilization system (Item 8 on Page 2-14 of TM 9-2350-264-202-1), don't hit a dead end. You're going to need an operational STE-M1/FVS test set to do the...

Store your gear here!(M1-Series Tanks ...)
October 1, 2005... Got more gear than your tank can hold? Then you probably need to have a bustle rack extension installed. The extension will fit on the bustle rack of all M1-series tanks, including those equipped with an external auxiliary power unit. ...

Semiannual exercise a must.(M1-Series Tanks ...)
October 1, 2005... Exercise only twice a year and chances are you'll be a flabby mess. Fortunately that's all it takes to keep the M256 main gun's recoil mechanism ship-shape, though. So, mechanics, don't forget to take a look at the tank's DA Form 2408-4,...

Mix 'n' match roadwheels.(M113-Series FOV ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... MSG Half-Mast writes: Dear Sergeant A. W., Your inspectors are right. Mixing steel and aluminum roadwheels on the same road arm causes uneven wear that wears out the roadwheels before their time. You can mix steel and aluminum...

Cleaning ballistic windows.(HMMWVs ...)
October 1, 2005... M1114 Up-Armored HMMWVs Cleaning the windows on the M1114 Up-Armor HMMWV is a whole new can of worms. That's because the interior surface of the M1114's ballistic glass has a self-healing layer. The only way to clean the glass is like...

HMMWV suspension/steering upgrade kits.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Having problems with suspension and steering components on older HMMWVs? You no longer need to order each and every part individually. TACOM and the PM for Light Tactical Vehicles developed a kit to improve the suspension and steering...

Safe bet with cargo net.(M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV ...)
October 1, 2005... USE NSN 3940-01-509-9096 TO GET AN ADJUSTABLE CARGO NET THAT FITS OVER THE REAR CARGO DOOR OF THE M1114 UP-ARMORED HMMWV. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A THREE-POSITION MOLDED NYLON CLAMP LOCKS A CLINCHING ROPE, WHICH GOES AROUND THE ENTIRE...

Armor means a tougher lift.(FMTV...)
October 1, 2005... 1. Make sure all loose objects inside the cab are either properly fastened down or removed. Unsecured items will fly around when the cab is raised, damaging the inside of your truck. 2. Lock the machine gun ring mount in position. An...

Protect tow cylinder lines.(M984A1 HEMTT Wrecker ...)(Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... THESE RETRACT SUPPLY LINES ON THE WRECKER'S TOW CYLINDERS TAKE A REAL BEATING DURING WRECKER OPERATIONS. THE LINES ARE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CYLINDERS, WHERE THEY GET MASHED WHEN A TOWED TRUCK'S BUMPER OR HOOD BUMPS THEM. [ILLUSTRATION...

The short and the long of the short barrel.(M249 Machine Gun ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Dear Master Sergeant T.A., When you switch to a short barrel, you must re-zero your M249 by adjusting the front sight only. That allows you to use the standard and short barrel from then on without re-zeroing. The Army doesn't want you...

Leave trigger assembly alone.(M16-Series Rifle, M4/M4A1 Carbine ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Recently during training, a unit had an Ml6 rifle that wouldn't stop firing. A runaway M16 is bad in training, but in actual combat it could be a disaster since you've lost control of your rifle. How do you prevent your M 16 or M4/M4A 1 from...

Turn in M1200 shotguns.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Dear Half-Mast, We have been told we can't; deploy to Iraq with our M1200 shotguns. What gives? CW2 J.S. Dear Chief J.S., The M1200 shotgun is obsolete and has been replaced by the 34500 Mossberg shotgun, NSN...

Do pits matter?(M120/M121 Mortar ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Dear Half-Mast, On our M120/M121 mortars, we have noticed pitting in the bottom of the breech cap where the firing pin goes. Is this something to be concerned about? We were wondering if that could mean the breech cap is unsafe. SGT...

Canopy care gives 20-20 vision.(Avenger Missile System ...)
October 1, 2005... It's tough to hit enemy aircraft if you can't see. That's the situation Avenger gunners will be in if they don't pay attention to canopy care. The biggest reason canopies turn from clear to cloudy is that operators grab just anything to...

Rotate in extreme heat.(ICAM ...)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Dear Editor, We found that in the worst of the heat in Iraq-around 130[degrees]F-that it was a good idea to rotate our ICAMs (improved chemical agent monitors). If we used the same ICAMs day after day in extreme heat, it would take...

Take out those batteries!(AN/UDR-13 Radiac Set ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Remembering one simple rule for the AN/UDR-13 radiac set can save units money and downtime: Remove batteries for storage. If you leave the AN/UDR-13's four AAA batteries in the set when it's just going to sit for more than a week, it's...

PMCS is in the cards.(M40-, M42-Series Masks ...)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Dear Editor, Too many soldiers don't know how to do a thorough PMCS on their M40 or M42 mask. The consequences of not knowing when your mask can't protect you can be fatal. A good PMCS teaching tool is five laminated cards held...

Keep 'em running.(DEUCE)
October 1, 2005... Water in Fuel Water in your DEUCE's fuel will leave its engine running rough, or not at all. Water gets there when warm days and cool nights cause condensation to form in the fuel tank. You get rid of it by draining the fuel/water...

The voyage without PM.(Cartoon)
October 1, 2005... IT'S THE START OF A NEW SEASON, JASPER... ... AND WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST CHARTER TODAY. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE GUPPY HAS BEEN SITTING FOR THREE MONTHS. NOW WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE SHE'S SEA-WORTHY. AYE AYE, CAP'N MOE! ...

Prep for shipping helicopters.(UH-60 ...)
October 1, 2005... Preparing for a deployment, desert or otherwise? Protect your Black Hawk's AN/APR-39 antennas before you shrink wrap them. Shrink wrapping a Black Hawk is very heat intensive. Shrink wrap melts the antenna material as it seals. You won't...

The simple ATAS facts.
October 1, 2005... Check locking pins for missile holding arms The launcher has three locking pins for each of the two missiles and if even one pin is missing the missile won't be securely locked on the launcher. Unfortunately, the pins often disappear during...

What to carry or not carry?(aircraft maintenance kit)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... ALSE techs, that is a question in some minds when it comes to packing for a mission. But never leave home without the Aircraft Modular Survival System (AMSS). If you think that the AMSS kit is simply a "nice to have item," you're dead...

Watch the hands!(UH-60 ...)
October 1, 2005... Mechanics, not everything on your Black Hawk is a handhold. For example, the FM homing antenna should not be used for pulling yourself up on the bird. Don't grab it--it can't handle the weight. A broken antenna means you won't home in on...

Paper or plastic?(laptop and computers maintenance in hot weather)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Mechanics, the answer is simple. Desert conditions are hot and sand is everywhere. IETMs, ETMs and laptops can't take a beating from sand and heat. It's in your best interest not to deploy without your paper TMs. That's a chance you don't...

Return to sender (... condition unknown).(All Aircraft ...)
October 1, 2005... Mechanics, you don't want your AVIM shop singing that song to you. But they will if you turn in an aircraft component without the correct condition code tag. So pay attention! To prevent delays in repair or replacement of turned in...

Installation kit for M1114 up-armored.(AN/VRC-97 MSRT ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Pear Half-Mast, Is there an installation kit to put the AN/VRC-97 mobile subscriber radio-telephone terminal (MSRT) into art up-armored M114HMMWV? SGT L.C.N. Dear Sergeant L.C.N., Good question and one I thought I'd better go...

Who you gonna call?(PLGR, DAGR ...)
October 1, 2005... The legacy global positioning system (GPS) receivers--the standard and enhanced PLGR--and the new GPS receiver--the DAGR--are in the field and being used. When one system replaces another, questions often are asked about maintaining the...

Pinning down the parts.(AN/VIC-1(V), AN/VIC-3(V) ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Using parts of the AN/VIC-3(V) vehicle intercommunications system to get the AN/VIC-I(V) system up and running is like trying to cram a dozen professional wrestlers into a Volkswagen Beetle. The Bug will burst before all those wrestlers will...

New amazing, long lasting miracle 2590/u battery.(BB-2590/U Rechargeable Battery ...)
October 1, 2005... STEP UP TO THE BEST! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE LATEST AND GREATEST RE-CHARGEABLE REPLACEMENT FOR THE BA-5590 AND BA-2590/U, NSN 6140-01-490-4316. THIS NEW LITHIUM-ION RE-CHARGEABLE WEIGHS ONLY ABOUT THREE POUNDS AND HAS AN...

Heed this heads-up advice.(AN/AVS-7(V)1-8 HUD ...)
October 1, 2005... THE AN/AVS-7(V) HEADS UP DISPLAYS HAS SOME "UNSERVICEABLE" COMPONENTS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T BE REPAIRED. IT ONLY MEANS YOU CAN'T REPAIR THEM! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you have questions about the turn-in process,...

The tower could fall!(AB-216/U, AB-216A/U ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... When erecting or taking down antenna towers, AB-216/U, NSN 5445-00-5506062, or AB-216A/U, NSN 5445-00-542-4561, an extra precaution of adding two guy lines attached to the corners of the first tower section and then anchored on each of the...

Many tools covered by lifetime warranty.
October 1, 2005... Many of the tools in the Army's modernized sets, kits and outfits (SKO) have lifetime warranties. That means it a tool breaks through normal use you get a replacement free. Of course, the warranty does not cover abuse, improper use of tools or...

Food container parts.
October 1, 2005... If you are, then you know they have clear advantages over the old containers. The new ones serve the same number of soldiers, clean up easily, and never need painting. They're also more durable, and you can stack them. One other thing in their...

Civilized behavior.(Field Washstand ...)
October 1, 2005... Just because you're roughing it in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean you should ignore good hygiene. After all, you're not a barbarian. So get civilized. Take along a field washstand so you can clean up. Using a washstand regularly not...

Take the time to defeat those drips.(water leakage repairing )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Leaky seams on tents and tarps can turn a field exercise into a soggy nightmare. The constant drip, drip is more than just an uncomfortable nuisance. It's a menace to your equipment. You've got to seal those leaks before you drown. One...

Mildew pee-u!(Tents ...)
October 1, 2005... Scrub dirt and grime off your tent with a soft bristle brush and a mixture of mild soap and water. Rinse it with clean water. Set up the tent or hang it in the sun to air dry. Never spread it on the ground, where moisture will keep it from...

Find substitution LINs in SB 700-20.(Logistics Management ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Dear Bonnie, I would appreciate any info you can provide on where to find SUBLINs. Thanks, SFC T.B. Dear SFC T.B., SUBLINs are found in SB 700-20, which is available on the Logistics Support Activity's WEB LOG web site at:...

Army honors unit with logistics excellence awards.
October 1, 2005... THE FIRST CHIEF OF STAFF, ARMY (CSA) COMBINED LOGISTICS EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY COMBINED THREE EARLIER AWARDS PROGRAMS... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ... THE ARMY AWARDS FOR MAINTENANCE EXCELLENCE... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ... ...

BA-5590A/D with SOCI coming soon 1.(battery state-of-charge indicator)
October 1, 2005... For all standard BA-5590 applications (like SINCGARS, Javelin, AN/PRC-104, ACADA, etc.), the Army and DLA will soon introduce a version of the battery with a state-of-charge indicator (SOCI). The SOCI allows users to determine how much life...