December1999

TB 43-PS-565Issue 565

THANK�GOODNESS�

PM IS NEVER THIS�COMPLICATED!

gimme�a tm any�

day!

December1999

TB 43-PS-565Issue 565

THANK�GOODNESS�

PM IS NEVER THIS�COMPLICATED!

gimme�a tm any�

day!

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ISSUE 565 DECEMBER 1999

PS, The Preventive Maintenance Monthly (ISSN 0475-2953) is published monthly by the Department of the Army, Redstone Arsenal,AL 35898-7466. Periodical Postage is paid at the Huntsville, AL post office and at additional mailing offices.Postmaster: Send address changes to PS, The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, LOGSA, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-7466.

HMMWV Running Gear 2-4HMMWV Air Cleaner Weather Cap 5Slave Receptacle Cap 5F5070 Dump Truck Starting 6-7Radiator Testing Kit Adapters 7M939A2-Series Truck Wheel Air Seals 8350-GPM Fuel Pump Filter 9M978 HEMTT Tanker Fuel Hose 10HEMTT Tie Rod Parts 11M915A1 Truck Transmission Shifting 11

WHEELED VEHICLES 2

PS 565 1 DEC 99

LC-305S Optical Reader Shipping Lock 42-43AN/PSN-11 GPS Reprogramming 44-45AN/GRC-103 Radio Base Plate 46

COMMUNICATIONS 42

Night Sights for Missile Systems 35IFTE Troubleshooting Log 35Army Tactical Missile System 36-37

MISSILES 35

You are invited to send PS your ideas for improving maintenanceprocedures, questions on maintenance and supply problems,and questions or comments on material published in PS. Justwrite to:

MSG Half-MastThe Preventive Maintenance MonthlyLOGSA, Bldg. 5307Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-7466

Or E-mail to:psmag@logsa.army.mil

Internet Address:http://www.logsa.army.mil/psmag/pshome.html

BDU Washing, Drying, Starching 48-49Intermediate Cold Weather Boot Wear 50-51Latex Paint for Motor Pool Lines 51Tent Leak Prevention 52-53Computer Power Supply 54-55Office Copy Machines 56-57

SOLDIER SUPPORT 48

M1-Series Tank Track Tension 12-13M1-Series Tank Exhaust Grille Seal 13M1A1 Tank Race Ring Seal Check 14M113A3 FOV Transmission Oil Sending Unit 15M113A2 FOV Engine Wiring Harness 15M2A2, ODS Bradley Cargo Hatch Latch 16-17M2/M3-Series Bradley M242 Gun Rails 17SUSV Grill Covers 18SUSV Engine Fire System Checks 19M109A6 Paladin Generator Containers 20M239, M250 Smoke Grenade Launcher Cover 21

COMBAT VEHICLES 12

TB 43-PS-565, The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is anofficial publication of the Department of the Army, providinginformation for all soldiers assigned to combat and combatsupport units and all soldiers with unit maintenance and supplyduties. All information published has been reviewed and ap-proved by the agency responsible for the equipment, publicationor policy discussed. Application of the information is optionalwith the user. Masculine pronouns may refer to both genders.

Aviation Vibration Analyzer Y2K Bug 47

AVIATION 47

AN/PSS-12 Mine Detecting Set 22-23MK-155 MICLIC Trailer, Launcher 24-26

COMBAT ENGINEERING 22

M16-Series Rifle, M4-Series Carbine Sights 38-39

SMALL ARMS 38

JOEL B. HUDSONAdministrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army

9928502

As we get ready to take our big step forward into the year �2000, I think we can learn a valuable lesson by taking a long �look back at where we’ve been.� Our Army has changed a lot since ’76—that’s 1776 for you �youngsters—when our forefathers took up their weapons to �earn their freedom.� Yes, times have changed, but one mighty important thing they �did--and you still do--has not changed. That’s maintaining your �equipment. In fact, the job is bigger today than it was then. �The soldiers of ’76 had flintlocks, muzzle-loading cannons, �and wooden wagons. �

You have the best that our modern country can produce of �slick-operating weapons, tanks, trucks, commo gear, and all �the other high-tech stuff you could add �to the list.� That’s where you--the modern-day �Minuteman and Minutewoman--come in. �You’ve got to maintain that equipment �so it’s ready to go where and when �it’s needed, and will keep operating �when it gets there.� Like I’ve been telling you since ’51--�that’s 1951 for you smart-alecks--�“You’ve got the world’s best �equipment, take care of it.”�

I&S Supply Codes for Parts 58-60

LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT 58

M157/M157A2 Smoke Generator 40-41

NBC 40

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

ERIC K. SHINSEKIGeneral, United States Army Chief of Staff

Official:

PS 565 3PS 565 2 DEC 99

ill the transmission on a basicmodel M998 work on a M998A2?

Will the front prop shaft on anM998A2 work on an M1114?

Will the engine from an M998A1work in a basic M998? (Answers atthe end of this article.)

Questions like these are commonthese days, since the HMMWV hasso many different models and seriesin the field.

There’s the original M998-seriestrucks; the M998A1-series; theM998A2-series; and the M1113 andM1114 models.

To keep things straight in themaintenance bay, here’s what eachseries of models uses for runninggear:

HMMWV . . .

Basic M998-series(except M1097)

M1097 andM998A1-series

Engine and container:• 6.2L post-1990, NSN 2815-01-314-7940• 6.5L detuned, NSN 2815-01-406-6675 (1996)• 6.5L detuned, NSN 2815-01-439-6664 (1997)

Transmission:3L80E, NSN 2520-01-161-2136Transfer case:242 model (three bolts holding

extension housing), NSN 2520-01-356-9197 or 2520-01-452-8365 (withcontainer)

Front prop shaft (off front axledifferential):

NSN 2520-01-356-9189 (U-jointrepair kit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)

Front prop shaft (off transfer):NSN 2520-01-357-5043 (U-joint

repair kit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)Rear prop shaft:NSN 2520-01-357-5044 (U-joint re-

pair kit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)

Engine and container:• 6.2L pre-1990, NSN 2815-01-231-3672(used on serial numbers 1-99,999)• 6.2L post-1990, NSN 2815-01-314-7940 (used on serial numbers 100,000 andabove)• 6.5L detuned, NSN 2815-01-406-6675(1996)• 6.5L detuned, NSN 2815-01-439-6664(1997)

Transmission:3L80E, NSN 2520-01-161-2136Transfer case:

• 218 model, NSN 2520-01-163-4999 or• 242 model, NSN 2520-01-409-2512(Conversion kit, NSN 2520-01-434-0822,installs the 242 model (slip-type yoke) in

trucks once the 218 model (bolt-typeflange) is no longer available)

Front prop shaft (off front axledifferential):

NSN 2520-01-200-3097 (U-joint re-pair kit, NSN 2520-00-722-7074, con-tains cross assembly, retaining ringsand bearing race caps)

Front prop shaft (off transfer):• with 218 model transfer installed—NSN 2520-01-200-3096 (U-joint repairkit, NSN 2520-00-722-7074)• with 242 model transfer installed—NSN 2520-01-357-5043 (U-joint repairkit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)

Rear prop shaft:• with 218 model transfer installed ontrucks serial numbered 1-44,824 with

out parking brake MWO 9-2320-280-35-1 applied—NSN 2520-01-171-8258• with 218 model transfer installed ontrucks serial numbered 44,825 andabove or with parking brake MWO 9-2320-280-35-1 applied—NSN 2520-01-346-1374• with 242 model transfer installed—NSN 2520-01-459-0050 (U-joint repairkit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135, for all rearshafts)

i need�a transfer�

case. can i use�one like�yours?

i don't�know. you still�

running a�218?

nope!�he's got a�

242.

PS 565 4 PS 565 5 DEC 99

t’s a little thing, drivers and mechanics, but if the air cleaner weather cap onyour HMMWV is pushed down too far, snow and ice that accumulates aroundthe cap will cut off the airflow through the cap to the engine.

Check the weather cap to see how high itsits above the air intake duct. If the cap isright down on the duct, grasp it with bothhands and pull it up.

Leave about two inches between the ductand the bottom of the cap. That’ll keep theair flowing. In heavy snow, of course, you’llneed to remove the stuff as it piles up toprevent ice from forming in the filter.

Tactical and Combat Vehicles . . .

Save Slave CoverWhen temperatures drop, the plastic cover on yourvehicle’s slave receptacle starts to shrink. That shrink-age makes the cover stick like glue to the receptacle.

A screwdriver will pry it off, but that often breaksthe cover.

Make sure it doesn’t stick in the first place by add-ing a thin layer of waterless hand cleaner, NSN 8520-00-965-2109, to the inside of the cover. That’ll keep itslick enough to let the cap come off easily in anyweather.

Smear cleaner inslave receptacle cover

Engine and container:6.5 turbo, NSN 2815-01-420-4180

(1996) or NSN 2815-01-439-8164(1997)

Transmission:4L80E, NSN 2520-01-430-2765

(1996) or NSN 2520-01-439-6831(1997)

Transfer case:242 model, NSN 2520-01-409-2512Front prop shaft (off front axle

differential):NSN 2520-01-423-5120 (U-joint

repair kit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)Front prop shaft (off transfer):NSN 2520-01-413-0080 (U-joint

repair kit NSN 2520-01-189-2135)Rear prop shaft:NSN 2520-01-424-0425 (U-joint

repair kit, NSN 2520-01-359-8444)Now you’ve read this article, you

know the answers are NO, YES andYES using the charts.

M1113 and M1114M998A2-seriesEngine and container:

• 6.5L naturally aspirated, NSN 2815-01-410-9710 (1996)• 6.5L naturally aspirated, NSN 2815-01-439-6665 (1997)

Transmission:4L80E, NSN 2520-01-430-5294

(1996) or NSN 2520-01-439-6830(1997)

Transfer case:242 model (four bolts holding ex-

tension housing), NSN 2520-01-409-2512

Front prop shaft (off front axledifferential):

NSN 2520-01-423-5120 (U-jointrepair kit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)

Front prop shaft (off transfer):NSN 2520-01-413-0080 (U-joint

repair kit, NSN 2520-01-189-2135)Rear prop shaft:NSN 2520-01-424-0425(U-joint

repair kit, NSN 2520-01-359-8444)

THAT�CLEARS THAT�

UP.

SURE�DOES.

WE'RE�ALL SET.

I NEED�BREATHIN'�

ROOM!

HMMWV . . .

Keep weather cap raised two inches

PS 565 7 DEC 996 DEC 99

Radiator Testing Kit . . .

You’ve Got to AdaptThere’s an exception to every rule.

ST255 and SVT262 radiator testing kits are great for testing the coolingsystem on your vehicle—except when your vehicle happens to be a 21/2-ton orlarger truck.

The tester head in the ST255 and SVT262 kits won’t fit on the radiator neck inthose trucks, so use adapter kit, NSN 4910-01-447-5586.

The kit comes with everything you need to test the radiators and radiator capsof those big trucks. Order the kit on a DD Form 1348-6, adding “NSN not onAMDF” in the REMARKS block.

If the plug’s working,try the startingroutine again.

Check for warmth

plug’s working. If the manifold is cold,get your mechanic to check out theplug.

i don't think�i can make it through�another winter of�

cold weather�starts.

don't worry--�i'll make this start�

as painless as�possible.

if you can't�get the engine�

started�after three�

attempts, stop�and call your�

mechanic.

tarting F5070 dump trucks incold weather has never been a snap,but as the trucks get older, the choregets tougher.

You operators can make startingthese 20-ton monsters a little easier.Here’s how:

Flip the glow plug switch to ONand wait 20 seconds as the intake mani-fold warms.

F5070 Dump Trucks . . .

Switch ON, then wait

Have a buddy pull the compressionrelease lever at the front of the engineto allow the engine to turn over easier.

Pump the fuel pressure primarypump until you get 80–100 psi.

Crank the engine. When it’s turningover, have your buddy let go of thecompression lever.

After the engine starts, pump theprimer slowly for a few minutes untilthe engine warms up and runssmoothly.

Then push the primer handle in andlock it. Turn the glow plug off so it’llbe ready for the next time.

Never use ether to help start theF5070. Mix ether with a glow plugand you can cause a fire or anexplosion.

If the engine doesn’t start after 20seconds, stop cranking and stoppumping the primer. Let the startercool for two minutes.

Make sure the glow plug is work-ing by feeling the intake manifoldbelow the plug. If it’s warm, the

❆

❆ ❆

❆

❆

Pull leverto releasecompressionduringstarting

PS 565 7 DEC 996 DEC 99

PS 565 9 DEC 99PS 565 8 DEC 99

No start? Pushin EMERGENCYSTOP button

f you can’t keep air ina CTIS-equipped wheelafter you’ve done hub re-pair or maintenance on yourM939A2-series truck, youprobably installed one or bothair seals backward.

Putting either of the twoseals in backward lets airescape through the wheel.The trouble is that the sealsdon’t look much differentfrom side to side, makingit easy to install them back-ward—if you don’t knowwhat to look for.

One side of the seal hasNON-PRESSURE SIDE im-printed in the rubber. That’sthe key to correct installation.

Eyeball Para 3-460 andPara 3-461 of TM 9-2320-272-24-2. These installation instruc-tions tell you to use the long end of theair seal installer to install an air sealwith the spring facing out.

This spring, which gives the seal itsshape, is often hard to see. Just re-member that the spring side is oppo-site from the imprint non-pressure side.For this first seal, the imprinted sideshould face away from you when it’sseated.

The second air seal is installed withthe short end of the installer. For thisseal, the imprinted side must face to-ward you when it’s seated.

350-GPM Fuel Pumps . . .M939A2-Series Trucks . . .

As long as the button is out, the bat-tery is supplying power. If the button’sout overnight, for example, bye-byepower.

Starting procedures require that youpull out the EMERGENCY STOPbutton, push in the PUSH FOR OILPRESSURE BYPASS button and pushin the PUSH TO START button.

If you don’t get a start, and have tocall in a mechanic, remember to pushin the EMERGENCY STOP button.

Additionally, operators need to checkthe O-ring in the top of the separator

Drainfuel/waterseparatorweekly

Check O-ringfor breaks

hether your 350-gpm fuel pumpis pumping or parked, use these tips tokeep it ready:

The TM’s PMCS calls for drainingthe fuel/water separator weekly. Ifyou don’t, corrosion quickly createscrud in the filter. Most of the crud iscaught by the filter, but some gets tothe fuelpump,causinga pumpfailure.

➤

➤

i need�pm, too!

i'm�feelin'�mighty�

loo� o� o�

o� w!

when they do the draining. A brokenO-ring lets air into the fuel system,preventing starts.

Install seal correct side up

PS 565 9 DEC 99PS 565 8 DEC 99

PS 565 11 DEC 99PS 565 10 DEC 99

Tie rod, rear, NSN 2530-01-210-3623

Tie rod, front, NSN 2530-01-210-3624

M915-Series Trucks . . .

Stop Those Transmission BluesDrivers, remember you can take two steps forward in your M915A1-seriestruck, but only one back. If you forget, you’ll be taking a lot of steps back tothe motor pool.

TM 9-2320-273-10 says it’s OK to upshift two gears at a time through yourtractor truck’s gear range up to 11th gear. Above that, it’s only one gear at a time.

But, some operators think it’sOK to downshift two gears attime from 11th gear.

No way! Your truck’s transmis-sion was made to be downshiftedonly one gear at a time, with theengine at 1,650 rpm or less. Twogears at a time tears up the trans-mission.

It can also make the engine revat more than 2,050 rpm, whichdisconnects it from the transmission. That’s a deadly situation going downhill.

HEMTT tie rod ends are available, mechanics, so you don’t have to replacethe entire tie rod.

he fuel transferhose assembly thatmost of you need foryour M978 fueltanker is NSN 4210-01-381-2846. That’sItem 1 in Fig 396 ofTM 9-2320-279-24P(Dec 98).

The hose and cou-pling info in Fig 395of the -24P is for anarctic hose. It has ashort service life ifused in other climates.

If you really needthe arctic hose assem-bly (Item 1 in Fig 395),NSN 4720-01-433-3141, bulk hose (Item6), NSN 4720-00-957-2434 or arctic coupling(Item 7), NSN 4730-01-155-5037, youmust contact the itemmanager at S9C, DSN850-2786 or (614) 692-2786. Otherwise, yourrequest for these itemswill be rejected tohead off leaking hoseproblems.

The informationin Fig 254 of TM 9-2320-279-20P (Jun 94),which was supersededby the -24P, is alsofor the arctic hose.

HEMTT . . .

This information is in Fig 219 of TM 9-2320-279-24P-1. It affects Fig 153 ofTM 9-2320-279-20P, which has been replaced by the -24P-1 and -24P-2.

Tie rod end, curbside, NSN 2530-01-411-6237Tie rod end, roadside, NSN 2530-01-411-6236

Tie rod end, curbside, NSN 2530-01-411-6232Tie rod end, roadside, NSN 2530-01-411-6230

Tie Rod Parts Update

yikes!�i've got the�

wrong�hose!

Downshift one gear at a time

PS 565 11 DEC 99PS 565 10 DEC 99

PS 565 13 DEC 9912 DEC 99

The Real Seal DealMechanics, how would you like to extend the life of a tank’s exhaust grilleseal by six months or more?

All you have to do is rotate the seal 180o during semiannual maintenance.Usually, a new seal shows little wear after the first six months, but has to be

replaced during the next service because of excessive wear.That’s because most of the damage is to the bottom of the seal

while the top stays relatively untouched. Why? Becausethe weight of the grille and most ofthe engine heat is directed towardthe bottom of the seal.

Rotating the seal during semi-annual maintenance evensout the wear and results inlonger life. An addedbenefit is that the screwsthat hold the seal in placeget retreated with antiseizecompound. That makes’em easier to remove eachtime and less likely tocorrode and break off.

M1-Series Tanks . . .

rotating�the seal and using�

me on the screws keeps�the seal working�

longer.

is the only thing pressing against the trackwhen you add grease.

With room at a premium in most motorpools, this step gets skipped. But, if youuse the brakes, the weight of the tank isthrown forward when you stop. That leavessome track tight and other track loose. Ad-justing the track then results in overtight-ened track that wears out end connectorsand cups sprockets.

Adjusting track tension by following allthe steps in the TM is the only way tokeep your track on track.

Overtightened trackwears end connectors...

...and cups sprockets

rewmen, if your tank has constantproblems with worn end connectorsand cupped sprocket teeth, the prob-lem could be how you adjust tracktension.

Do you think that adjusting the ten-sion means stopping the tank, whip-ping out your grease gun and pumping

grease into the track adjusting link un-til you see it coming out of the reliefvalve? That’s partly right, but you’reforgetting a small but very importantstep.

The TM says to move the tank for-ward on a level surface and let it coastto a stop before drawing your greasegun. That’s so the track adjusting link

your track�tension should�

be perfect�now.

perfect?�then why does�

it feel so�tight ?!

12 DEC 99

PS 565 15 DEC 99PS 565 14 DEC 99

echanics, when you bend over the engine compartment to make a repair onthat M113A3 vehicle, be careful not to cause any more damage.

The transmission oil pressure sending unit,NSN 5930-00-944-1660, is badly positionedfor engine work. If you press or lean againstit, the pin inside snaps.

Replacement costs for the unit aren’tmuch—about $17. But your carrier is NMCuntil you replace it. So keep your elbows,arms and bellies off the sending unit.

M113A2 FOV . . .

Out of the LoopDrivers, don’t let the engine wiring harness on your M113A2 vehicle get out ofthe loop—the loop clamps, that is.

Vibration loosens the two loop clamps that hold the wiring harness in place.When the clamps loosen enough, the wiring harness flops around until it getscaught in the water pump pulley.

It won’t take long for the pulley to chew up a perfectly good wiring harness,so check the clamps during yourbefore-operation PMCS. Reportloose clamps to your mechanicfor tightening.

He’ll replace damaged clampswith NSN 5340-00-200-3041 forthe larger clamp and NSN 5340-00-200-3045 for the smaller one.

Dear Half-Mast,

Item 38.1 on Page 2-80 of TM 9-2350-264-10-1 says to inspect theM1A1 tank’s race ring wiper seal to make sure it’s not protruding fromthe race ring.

Problem is, no one in our unit knows where to look. Any clues?

PFC J.K.Y.

Dear Private J.K.Y.,The felt wiper seal

is actually located onthe outer edge of therace ring. You won’tbe able to see it frominside the turret. Ifthe seal is damaged,you will be able tosee it protruding around the outside of the turret. If you find a protruding seal,call in your mechanic.

M1A1 Tank . . . M113A3 FOV . . .

Check loop clamps for looseness

Use care working around sending unit

Check race ring between turretand hull for protruding seal

try�looking between�

my turret and�hull.

dang!

i've done all�the after-operation�checks, except the�

race ring wiper�seal.

where�the heck�do i find�

that?

PS 565 14 DEC 99

PS 565 16 DEC 99

Just because the receiver rails on theBradley’s M242 automatic gun are alittle banged up doesn’t mean the re-ceiver needs repair, armorers. A littledamage is OK.

As long as the banged-up area is nolonger than six inches or no deeperthan 1/2 inch, the receiver is good togo. This info is being added to the re-vision of TM 9-1005-200-20&P.

But you can avoid even slight damage by telling your crews to always elevatethe M242 to 200-300 mils before installing the feeder. That protects the rails.

ibration, that old enemy of everycrewman and mechanic, has struckagain. This time the victim is themounting screws on the cargo hatchlatch catch of M2A2 and ODSBradleys.

M2/M3-Series Bradleys . . .

Minor M242 Rail Damage OK

M2A2, ODS Bradleys . . .

! Remove the screw and measure it.The correct screw will be exactly 11/2inches long.

NSN 5305-00-725-2317 brings 100of the right screws. Make sure you usea flat washer, NSN 5310-00-080-6004,with each screw and torque the screwsto 32–34 lb-ft.

The screw and washer NSNs aren’tlisted in the parts TMs, so make a noteuntil they can be added.

Here’s what to look for:! Eyeball the head of the screw. Itshould have six dashes indicating agrade 8 screw. Anything else shouldbe replaced.

Mechanics, before you tighten thescrews, make sure the right ones wereused in the first place. Some vehicleshave screws that are the wrong grade,the wrong size, or both. Either can re-sult in loose screws.

Feel for loose screwson hatch latch catch

Six dashes equals grade 8

Crewmen, try moving the screwswith your fingers. Then look for shinymarks around the head of the screws.Shiny areas indicate movement. Reportloose screws to your mechanic.

Loose screws keep the cargo hatchfrom locking down. If it won’t lockdown, your Bradley is NMC, so makea habit of checking the screws afterevery operation.

hey!�where are�you going?�

i need�you!

woo-�woo! i'm�outta�here!

Damage minor? Rails are OK

PS 565 16 DEC 99

PS 565 19 DEC 99PS 565 18 DEC 99

ow that your SUSVhas an engine compart-ment fire detection andextinguishing system,your worries about firesare over, right? Wrong!

There is no guidancein the unit PMCS onwhen to check or re-charge the high pressureCO2 bottle. If you don’tmake sure the bottle isfull, you could be headedfor trouble.

Here’s what you needto know now. It will beadded to your -20 TM’sPMCS next time it’supdated.

High pressure carbondioxide cylinders used infire extinguisher systemsshould be weighed atleast every six months. That information and thedate of the last hydrostatic test of the cylinder shouldbe posted on the bottle tag.

Weighing and testing is usually done by the postfire department or a contractor hired by the depart-ment. In many cases, the testers come to units for thework. But sometimes you have to take the cylinderto them.

If your cylinders do not have tags or you neednew tags, ask your supervisor or safety officer to getyou some.

Remember, it serves no purpose to have a fireextinguishing system if the system’s cylinders are empty or out of service. It’syour responsibility—and your life.

henever you park a SUSV, be sure to install the front and rear grille covers.The covers keep snow and debris out of the air intake and cooling systems.’Course, before you start and operate the SUSV, remove the covers. If

you don’t, the vehicle may overheat, which can ruin the engine and othercomponents.

The grille covers are part of your basic issue items (BII), stored in the passen-ger side door. But, the NSNs for the covers aren’t in TM 9-2350-285-10.

The front cover is NSN 2540-01-309-1078 and the rear cover is NSN 2540-01-309-1079. If you want to save some money, you can make your own usingscrap canvas.

You’ll need a piece of canvas 62x20 inches for the front and 30x28 inches forthe rear. Use an existing cover as a pattern. Remember to cut holes for thefasteners on the vehicle.

M973A1-Series Small Unit Support Vehicle . . .

...rear cover hereFront grille cover goes here...

Weigh extinguisher regularly

why�so chilled,�

will?

c-cause�my c-crew�

forgot to put�on my g-grille�

covers.�brrr!

your engine�compartment fire�

extinguisher can't�do its job alone.�

it needs you�and pm!

PS 565 20 DEC 99 21

he Paladin’s 650-amp generator con-tainer, NSN 8145-01-442-2752, canhold either the Allied generator, NSN2920-01-306-9406, or the Lucas gen-erator, NSN 2920-01-442-8078.

Once the generator is in its container,though, there’sno way to tellwhich one itis. Since thegeneratorsgo to differentrepairfacilities foroverhaul, thatcould be aproblem.

f you’ve got worn canvas covers onyour combat vehicle’s M239 or M250smoke grenade launcher, don’t botherlooking for replacements in thevehicle’s parts TM. The covers aren’tlisted there.

M109A6 Paladin . . . M239, M250 Smoke Grenade Launchers . . .

Get your generator to the right placeby slapping an ID label on the con-tainer. Two labels come with each sparegenerator and container. Just use thelabel that matches the generator youare returning for repair.

If you have the older model genera-tor container, NSN 8145-01-433-0911,don’t fret. Even though it was made tohold only the Allied generator, youcan still use it to ship the Lucas gen-erator. Just tear loose enough of thepacking to allow a good fit for theLucas generator.

Make sure you mark or paint the con-tainer to show which generator it holds.Once the container arrives at the repairfacility, the packing will be modifiedso that the container can properly holdeither generator.

Label identifies generator

The smoke grenade launchers havetheir own TMs. You’ll find the coversfor the M239 listed in Fig C-1 of TM9-1055-642-20&P. NSN 1040-01-042-3861 gets the left-hand cover; NSN1040-01-043-7896 gets the right-handcover.

The M239 smoke grenade launcheris used on the M88A1 recovery ve-hicle, the M728 CEV and the AVLBwith M60 chassis.

Those same covers are used on theM250 smoke grenade launchers foundon M1-series tanks. The M250’s cov-ers are listed in Fig C-5 of TM 3-1040-268-20&P.

uh-oh!�it looks�

like they sent�us the wrong�

generator�again!

you'll�get 'em...�

if only i can�find them.

i sure�could use some�

new covers for my�smoke grenade�

launchers.

Replace torn canvas covers

PS 565 20 DEC 99 21

a-ha!�busted!

drat!�foiled�again!

you�can't hide�from pm!

AN/PSS-12 Mine Detecting Set . . .

X Marks the SpotWhen you think you’ve found some-

thing, do a slow X-pattern over the spot.If you’ve found a mine, you should getbeeps in all parts of the X.

The longer the pole, the more clampsare needed to keep the head cable offthe pole. If the cable touches the pole,you get mine sightings where thereare no mines. The detector has sevenclamps—use them all if necessary. NSN5340-21-905-5919 brings one clamp.

Rag helps spot trip wires

Slow X pattern identifies mine

Night OpsWhen the light’s bad, you can’t see

mine probes or trip wires. Give yourselfan edge by tying a strip of white clothto the front of the head so it hangsdown about six inches. The cloth willhang up ifyou brushagainstsomething.

telescopic pole, don’t brace the headon the ground. That damages thehead. Instead, push the sections to-gether with both hands.

Pole to PoleThe pole is adjustable, so adjust it

until it’s comfortable for you. A good

test is to hold the detector with yourarm straight and its head parallelwith the ground. If the headis about six inches from theground, you’ve got it right.

Adjust pole to fit you comfortably

few simple precautions can keepyour AN/PSS-12 mine detecting set hoton the trail of mines—and you and yourbuddies out of the morgue.

Head ProtectionThe search head is very sensitive. If

you bang it against rocks, it becomes assensitive as a rock. If you’re workinguneven ground, raise the head to sixinches above the ground instead of thenormal two.And watch outfor rocks.

For bestdetection,keep the headparallel to theground andsweep slowly.

When youcollapse the

PS 565 23 DEC 99PS 565 22 DEC 99

Keep headsix inchesaboveunevenground

Use enough clamps to keep cord off pole

f you expect your MK-155 mineclearance line charge (MICLIC) toclear minefields for you, you need toclear its way with PM.

On the RoadTie air hoses to the trailer frame be-

fore you hit the road. If hoses are leftdangling, they can become crimped ordrag the ground. Then you lose yourtrailer brakes.

MK-155 MICLIC . . .

Because the MICLIC has both tiresand track, a misalignment can wearout both fast. Before travel, check theinsides of all eight tires for gouges orbad wear. Also look at the track teethfor uneven wear.

repairman can align the track with theprocedure beginning on Page 4-33 inTM 9-2330-389-14&P.

Get bad tires replaced. You don’twant a flat tire in the field.

If you’re travelling through mud,clean between the tracks and tires atevery stop. Too much mud betweenthe track and tires will throw the track.It’s no easy job to put track back on inthe field.

Use the truck or APC pioneer toolsto clean out the mud. Scrape out the

PS 565 25

all right!�the miclic has�done its job,�

let's move�out!

it's the�least i could�

do after the good�pm care you�

give me!

mud, move the MICLIC forward, andscrape out the rest.

Any time the MICLIC goes throughheavy mud or deep water, the wheelbearing lube is washed out. So lubeagain ASAP. Without more lube, thebearings seize. The lube chart is inChap 3 of TM 9-2320-389-14&P.

Make gradual turns. Turns that aretoo sharp allow the back of the primemover to shear air lines and inter-vehicular cables. Steep dips in the roadcan cause the same problems.

If you can’t avoid a dip, takeit slow and easy.

Tie offair hosesto frame

Check tracks and tires for unusual wear

Worn tires or teeth usually mean thetrack is aligned or adjusted wrong. Your

Clean it, move it, and clean again

2626

Use control boxJ1 connector cap

If the cap for the W5P3 connectordisappears, dirt can plug the connectorfast. There is no replacement cap.

Solution: Use a cap for the controlbox J1 connector. NSN 5935-01-195-2337 gets thecap for $6.Tape a plasticbag over theconnectoruntil the capcomes.

Check that the rocket release catchis on the front of the launcher arm stop.If it’s on the rear of the stop, the rock-ets fire but stay on the launcher. OneMICLIC crew suffered burns when thathappened.

W3

W5

Releasecatchshouldbe atfrontof stop

remember,�pm is the path�to success!

around and suffer damage. Gently bendthe guides back in place.

Makesurerocketguidesare notpointingoutward

RIGHT WRONG

Store controlbox and cablesinside storage box

W6

When the MICLIC is going to sit fordays, remove the W3,W5,and W6 cables and thecontrol box and put themin the storage box. Leftexposed to heat andcold, the cannon wirescan separate from thecannon plug. Justthe W3 cablealone costsmore than$1,200.

Storage

Greetings.�I am a bug.�

A millennium bug�to be exact.

No, I'm not�the Y2K. He’s that�

bug-eyed cousin that�we don't claim.

27

29 DEC 99PS 565 28 DEC 99

I'm the YPM bug.�At the start of every�

millennium one of my kind�shows up to answer the question,�

“Why Preventive Maintenance?”�Why preventive maintenance,�

Y-P-M, get it?

We answer that�question every�day for a thousand�years, then pass�the torch on.�I mean, let's face�it, by then we're�a little buggy�and ready for�retirement.�a-h-h-h!

It has always�been our mission to�

put the bite on you and�infect you with the�desire to do PM and�do it well. I start�

my mission next�month and I'll be back�then to brief you on�

what lies ahead.

But first, let's�look back at the last�

thousand years at some of�the challenges my father faced. � Why don't we let my Dad tell the�

story? Here he is, the YPM bug�of the last 1,000 years, my�

old invertebrate.

This is my final�chance to preach PM�

and I want the pupa, eh,�pulpit, to myself.

I started my PM�job with a real challenge.�

The king of England in the year�1000 was Aithelred the First,�

but we all called him�Aithelred the Unready--and�

boy, was he ever!

thank you,�sonny. now�bug off!

Would you go into battle�with this guy? I told him,�Aithel, baby, do a little PM.�Victorious warriors win�the pm battle first, then�they go to war. But did he�listen? Have you ever�heard of him?

I've had some success�stories, too. Around 1800, I met up�

with a guy named Napoleon Bonaparte.�He and I were tight. You might say I was�the bug in his ear about PM. He used to�

say, there are some things in war of�which only the commander�

comprehends the�importance.

�

PS 565 31 DEC 99

I told him everyone�needs to comprehend the�importance of PM, but it�

certainly starts with�the commander.

"Around 1500 or so, I tried to help out an explorer named�Ponce de Leon. This guy was looking for the fountain of�youth in Florida. He found it, you know--just a little�southwest of Orlando. But try as he might, he could not�bring back the fountain's water. All his barrels had holes�in them."

"I told him before we left on the trip,�'Ponce, make sure the barrels are water-�tight and coated with preservative. Do�a little PM now and it will save you�heartache later.' Did he listen? Is he�still young? The fountain was finally�tapped by a pioneer named Disney, but�that's a story for another time."

PS 565 33

Napoleon was a�success, but of all the�

centuries in this millennium,�the twentieth was the�

best for me and my�PM message.

in the�frozen trenches�

of France I saw machine�guns let loose the dogs of�

war with a howling that�would echo throughout�

this century.

on a rain-�soaked Belgium countryside�

I saw vehicles roll through mud �that would stop a charging�

rhino in its tracks.

In fact, I saw the�World's Best Equipment�and I saw it being taken�care of by the World's�

Best Soldiers.� So as I leave the�

stage and let my son�take over, I give you this�

advice for the next millennium:�Know the enemy, know�yourself, train and do�

PM--and in a hundred�battles you will never�

be defeated.

32 DEC 99

"on the bleak hills of Korea�I saw rifles fire in cold that�would make polar bears pack�their bags and head south."

"in the tropical jungles of�Vietnam I saw generators�run in heat and humidity�that would make a Florida�gator sweat."

"in the�deserts of�Kuwait I saw�helicopters�fly in�sand-filled�air that�would�choke a�camel."

PS 565

dad, i'd like�to present you�

with a retirement�gift.

you�shouldn't have,�

son... �

. . .but�i'm glad�he did.

I will be�proud to lead you�

into the PM future. Meet�me here next month and�

we'll see what the�future holds.

PS 565 35 DEC 99

he night sights for the TOW and Dragonmissile systems, the G/VLLD and the NODLR(night observation device, long range) containradioactive components. That’s no big deal—unless a sight gets broken. Then it becomes avery big deal.

A broken sight can leak radiation. One sol-dier became seriously ill from handling a bro-ken sight and ingesting radioactive particles.

If your night sights are ever cracked orsmashed, clear the area immediately and no-tify your HAZMAT folks, in that order. Don’ttake chances.

Integrated Family of Test Equipment . . .

Nifty IFTE TipDear Editor,

When we troubleshoot a system as complex as the IFTE, we’ve found it’s agood idea to keep a journal of what we do. So we write down everything wecheck and every component we replace.

That way we KNOW exactly what we have done—and so do the other IFTErepairmen. Time is not wasted repeating steps and defective componentsaren’t accidentally reinstalled.

And, of course, we always follow the troubleshooting steps in the TM.That’s the quickest way to isolate a problem. Guessing at the problemalmost always takes longer.

SFC Felix MorenoSSG K.C. CockrillU.S. Army Ordnance Missile and Munitions Center and SchoolRedstone Arsenal, AL

Writing down troubleshooting steps as you do them is a good idea forany complex system. Thanks for the suggestion.

TOW, Dragon, G/VLLD, NODLR Night Sights . . .

if you�spot a�

crack, call�hazmat.

ATACMS . . .

Lift only one pod at a time with the forklift. If you try to lift more than one, apod could fall off. Be careful not to insert the forklift tines so far that they go allthe way through the forklift guides. That could damage GMLAs on the other

side. A good tip to prevent that is to laytwo 4-in x 8-in x 6-ft blocks of wood acrossthe forklift tines. That will keep the tinesfrom poking through to the other side ofthe forklift guides.

If you store GMLAs in temporary shel-ters in the field, they must be stored in awell-drained area with at least six inchesof dunnage. Water can put GMLAs out ofaction fast. Protect them from direct sun-light by covering them with a tarp, but raisethe tarp off the pods so air can circulate.

During storage, keep an eye on theGMLA’s humidity indicator. If it turns blackor is discolored, the indicator’s detectedmoisture. Your repairman needs to replacethe desiccant and humidity indicator.

your new�atacms won’t be�

ready to fire unless�you handle and�

store them�right.

☛

☛

Reinstall skid feetand forklift guides

PS 565 37 DEC 99PS 565 36 DEC 99

☛

he new Army tactical missile system (ATACMS) requires careful handling.The guided missile launch assembly (GMLA) can withstand slight bumping, butcan easily be damaged by mishandling.

In fact, ATACMS has a zero-inch dropstandard. Any time the GMLA is dropped,you must call in quality assurance specialistammunition surveillance (QASAS) personnelto inspect the missiles before they are issued.

When you download GMLAs, make sureto...

reconnect the shorting plugs to the GMLAbefore putting it on the ground. That preventsstray voltage from damaging the GMLA.

reinstall the four skid feet to the bottomfour corners of the GMLA. The feet cushionthe GMLA and help absorb shock duringmovement.

reinstall forklift guides on the GMLA be-fore moving it with a forklift.

Check humidityindicator for moisture

Reconnectshorting plug

PS 565 39 DEC 99PS 565 38 DEC 99

o matter how well you’ve taken careof the rest of your M16 rifle or M4carbine, you won’t be hitting much ifyou haven’t also taken care of thesights.

One quick check tells you if yourrear sight is out of adjustment. Turnthe elevation knob down (DN) to the8/3 mark (6/3 for the M4). If it turnsdown another full click past 8/3 (or6/3 for the M4), it’s out of adjustment.Tell your armorer.

M16-Series Rifle, M4-Series Carbine . . .

With the receiver still upside down,move the elevation knob back and forthseveral times. Return the elevation knobto its original position.

Wipe off any excess lube from thesights. It will just collect dirt.

If the sights are still hard to adjust,tell your armorer. He needs to havesupport take them apart and clean them.

When you zero the rifle, use boththe front and rear sights. If you useonly the elevation knob, you won’t beable to adjust for ranges longer than300 meters.

Remember, the M16A2 and M4aren’t zeroed the same. The M16A2elevation knob is set one click up from8/3 for zeroing,while the M4 elevationknob is set at 6/3. The 25-meter targetfor M4 zeroing is on the back of theM16 target, NSN 6920-01-395 2949.Make sure you’re using the right targetor your shooting will be way off.

Lube bottom of elevation screw shaft

the elevation knob clockwise as faras it will go to work all the lube in.Return the windage knob to its origi-nal position.

Remove the charging handle and turnthe upper receiver upside down. Put afew drops of lube on the bottom of theelevation screw shaft and detent springhole.

Squirt two drops of lube on the rearsight’s moving parts. Rotate the wind-age knob clockwise five clicks and

Give detent two drops of CLP

Depress the front sight detent andgive it two drops of CLP (or other ap-proved lube like LAW or LSA). Workthe detent up and down until it movessmoothly.

both the rear and front sights. Get intoall the crevices.

Clean sights with toothbrush

now, let's�check your�

sight.

no problem!�i'm in tip-top�

shape! let's see. . .�i-r-e-o-uh-q-�

t-is that�an l?

Rotate elevation knob allthe way to work in lube

When you clean your rifle, clean thesights. Otherwise, dirt and rust causethem to bind. Use a toothbrush to clean

Knob turns past 8/3? Tell your armorer

PS 565 38 DEC 99

PS 565 41 DEC 99PS 565 40 DEC 99

If the AIR indicator goes out and theengine won’t start, release the ENGINE

switch.Wait until

the AIRindicatorcomes onagain and

then try tore-start the

engine.Completely

drain theair tank

after operations. That prevents mois-ture from collecting in the air lines andpressure tank.

Using a wrench on the fog oil strainercap screws tears the strainers’ O-ringsand can even damage the strainers.Then you get leaks and low fog oil

Successful starting and stoppingWait for the AIR light to come on

before you turn on the engine. Other-wise, you’ll have starting or purgingproblems.

Hold the FUEL switch up—you can’tflick it up—until the fuel indicatorlights. But don’t hold it up longer than30 seconds. Holding it longer can dam-age the fuel pump.

Your M157 may need a little extrafuel and air in cold weather after sit-ting all night. So, hold the ENGINEswitch in START for one to two sec-onds and then release it before it starts.Wait three seconds and hold the EN-GINE switch in START again. Afterthe engine is running, release the switchto RUN.

Screw in strainershand-tight

pressure. Screwin the strainers’caps by hand.When a cap feelstight, stop.

Wait for AIR light to comeon before starting engine

Turn off the FOG OIL switch beforeturning off the ENGINE switch to letexcess fog oil burn off. Let the engineheat up to 1,000° F to burn off excess

fog oil.If fog oil

collects inthe enginechamber,the M157

won’t start and the fogoil must be

dumped outmanually.

Line up lugsand tightenhead 1/4 inch

Take it easyHand-tight is tight enough for the

engine head and the fog oil strainercap screws. If you muscle the enginehead tighter, you damage the head gas-ket, head, and combustion chamberflanges. That causes a poor seal withthe combustion chamber and poorsmoking.

Line up the head so that the lugs inthe head fit into the cutouts of the com-bustion chamber. Tighten the head 1/4inch—and stop.

Hold FUEL switch nolonger than 30 seconds

In cold weather, releaseENGINE switch if AIRlight goes out

Hit air pressure drainvalve after operations

Turn offFOG OILswitchbeforeturningoffENGINEswitch

Smoking�can be easy for�

you and your M157�smoke generator�

if you just practice�a little smoking�

etiquette.

M157/M157A2 Smoke Generator . . .

PS 565 43 DEC 99PS 565 42 DEC 99

LC-305S Optical Reader . . .

To set the lock, turn the LC-305Sswitch to OFF and disconnect thereader from its power source. Then turnthe shipping lock switch clockwiseuntil the arrow points straight up.

Shipping lock unlocked

Shipping lock locked

why�won't you�

recognize the�laser card?

because�you moved me�

without locking�down my optical�

head!

ON/OFFswitchto OFF

Powersource

Turn lockswitchstraight up

ust like a squirming toddler, theautomated manifest system’s (AMS)LC-305S optical reader needs to belocked in place to make a trip safely.

The LC-305S processes supplyreceipts by reading a laser card andshowing you the data on your com-puter terminal. It doesn’t take muchvibration to the optical head inside thereader to cause damage. Your readerwon’t be doing any reading if itsinternal glass mirrors are broken or theoptical head is misaligned.

To make sure that doesn’t happen,the shipping set lock on the rear of thereader must be used anytime the readeris moved. That means even from deskto desk.

Pick up the LC-305S and very gen-tly tilt it up and down. Just as gentlytilt it from left to right.

Gently! This is not a shake. Just aslight tilt.

The shipping lock is set if you don’thear a sound from anything movinginside the reader.

If you hear a sound, like a clunk orclicking noise, that’s the unsecured op-tical laser head hitting the optical headretainer. Set the shipping lock again.

If you still hear that sound, turn thereader in for repair or replacement. Theshipping lock is not working.

When the reader’s trip is over, re-lease the lock before connecting thepower and turning on the LC-305S.Just turn the shipping lock switchcounter clockwise until the arrowpoints to the UNLOCK position. The

shipping lock will then be released andyou’re ready to use the reader.

If you do not release the shippinglock before turning on the LC-305S,the Loaded/Busy indicator will showred and you will not be able to processdata.

If you have questions about service,warranty or maintenance of thereader, call the Intermec Hotline at1-800-892-7007. Or e-mail them at:

support@intermec.com

Global Positioning System . . .

When the PLGR doesn’t shut down,a software filter doesn’t reset, and priordata is used to calculate your position.

To kill the glitch, get your PLGRreprogrammed. You can do that your-self if you still have the hardware, thereprogramming cable and the ACpower adapter, provided in the PLGRfield reprogramming kit issued in 1997,and if you have Internet access.

?

you�go that�a-way!

no, that�a-way!

here’s a glitch in the software ofthe AN/PSN-11 precision lightweightglobal positioning system receiver(PLGR) that could lead you way offcourse.

That glitch lets the PLGR display alarge position error with no indicationin thefigureof merit(FOM)that thepositionis wrong.

Theglitchmostly rears its ugly head when aPLGR, using external power, has beenin continuous mode for more than twohours.

The problem is a recycling one. APLGR on battery power usually re-cycles—shuts down—and goes intoSTANDBY mode. This breaks up longperiods of use. This shutdown doesn’thappen when using external power.

Check FOM readout

PLGR AC power adapterNSN 6130-01-396-4211

PLGR reprogramming cableNSN 6150-01-382-1551

If you’re in the National Guard orArmy Reserve and don’t have a LARor MWO coordinator nearby, contactCECOM at DSN 992-6136 or (732)532-6136 or DSN 992-6133 or (732)532-6133.

Some PLGRs already have the newsoftware. Check yours. If the screenreads 613-9854-003 or 613-9544-008when you power up, your PLGR isgood to go.

If your PLGR hasn’t been modifiedand you run it on external power forhours at a time, manually reset thePLGR every two hours until you getthe MWO applied.

the needed software from CECOM andwill help you apply MWO 11-5825-291-30-3.

They may also tell you that your unitis scheduled for a visit from a fieldreprogramming assistance team. Theseteams are making the rounds to areaswith a lot of PLGRs to help with thereprogramming effort.

You can check the reprogrammingschedule for these teams on the Internetat:

http://army-gps.robins.af.mil/rpg

Go to Internet site:http://www.sed.monmouth.army.mil/rditClick on Order or Download Battle-

field Software.

Then click on AN/PSN-11. Down-load the PLGR Reprogramming Soft-ware.

If you didn’t get the reprogrammingkit, or no longer have it, contact yourinstallation MWO coordinator or LAR.They’ll get the reprogramming kit andPS 565 45 DEC 99

Currentyear1999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011

Conversionyear1991199219931994199519961997199819991991199219911992

(AVA) Year Conversion Chart

AN/GRC-103 Radio . . . Aviation Vibration Analyzer . . .

off just a fraction when you try to makethe connection, you’ll damage pins.Then you get arcing and a burned-upconnector.

Mating a transmitter to a floatingbase plate still takes care. When youremove or install the transmitter makesure you go straight and slow!

Line up the guide pins and the caselocating pins. Slide the case ineasy until you feel the pins mate.Then seat the transmitter. Don’tforce it! If it resists, you’re notlined up.

Don't tightendown base plate!

poor�mating�

burns me�up!�

b-but�i have a wife�and larvae�at home!

he AN/GRC-103 radio’s power cablebase plate on the T-983 transmitter issupposed to float.

But some of you mechanics don’tseem to believe it. You’re crankingdown the two attachment screws andmaking the plate stationary.

When that happens, the flexibility tomate the connector is gone. If you’re

our unit’s aviation vibration ana-lyzer (AVA) is infected with the Year2000 (Y2K) bug—meaning the AVAwill shut down on 1 Jan 00 unless youtake action to prevent it. Change 4 toTM 1-6625-724-13&P (Aug 94) tellsyou how to keep it working.

You need to change the current year(99) to the conversion year (91) before1 Jan 00. Here’s what you do:

Turn on the AVA Control and Dis-play Unit (CADU).

Select MANAGER by pressing theF4 function key.

Using the directional arrow buttons,highlight SETUP on the next screenand press the DO button.

Highlight SET TIME & DATE andpress the DO button.

Enter the conversion year (91) inplace of the current year (99) and pressthe DO button to save and exit.

If you don’t change the current yearto the conversion year before 1 Jan 00,you will need to REFORMAT yourCADU. Assistance is available by con-tacting Robert Branhof at (256) 313-4948 or DSN 897-4948 or by e-mailat:

robert.branhof@redstone.army.milThis work-around holds the Y2K bug

at bay until a permanent fix can befielded.

Change 4 also changes the AVA cali-bration requirement from once every360 days to once every three years.

PS 565 47 DEC 99PS 565 46 DEC 99

Clothing . . .

ing clothing that hasn’t been washedsets dirt and stains permanently intothe fabric.

To Starch or NotSome soldiers want a crisp look to

their BDUs, so they starch them. That’sOK, according to DA Msg DAPE-HR-S 2017332 Nov 92, but remember thatstarch shortens the life of your duds.The message says commanders will notrequire starch.

ExceptionWhen it comes to aviation BDUs or

any NOMEX coveralls—don’t starch.They are made to be fire-resistant andheat-resistant, but if you starch them,the protection is defeated. Starch willburn and you’re toast.

In a pinch, you can hand wash BDUs,using warm water and a mild deter-gent. Be sure to rinse all the soap out.Don't wring or twist the uniform to getthe water out—squeeze it out. Wring-ing and twisting adds wrinkles and candamage the fabric. Instead, try wrap-ping the uniform in dry towels. Thengently apply pressure to the bundle,letting the towels pick up the moisturein the BDUs.

DryingSet the dryer on its permanent press

cycle (130°F or less) to machine drythe cap, shirt and trousers. Take themout and hang them up as soon as thecycle stops, to prevent wrinkles.

IroningIf you press your uniform, set the

iron on a permanent press or low set-ting. Never press dirty clothing. Press-

WashingYour BDUs and camouflage cap

are machine-washable, so clean themregularly.

But make sure the machine’s seton permanent press, and you usewarm water and a mild detergent.Never add bleach to the wash wa-ter. It weakens the fabric, shortens

the life and can change the color ofthe clothing.

you spend�a lot of time in your�

bdus. here's how to keep�them looking good.

forget�it! starch is�a no-no on�

nomex!

hung up on�wrinkles? hang�me up right out�

of the dryer.�

don't use�me--i'm a bdu�

killer!

PS 565 49 DEC 9948 DEC 99

Intermediate Cold Weather Boot . . .

Wear and Tear Make sure you get a boot size that

allows for swelling, which means onethat’s a half-size or a full size largerthan your normal shoe size. These bootscome in narrow, regular, wide and ex-tra wide, in whole and half sizes 3through 14.

Before you put on your new boots,put on some wool socks with cushion

soles. They provide comfort and wickmoisture away from your feet.

Pull the boots on with both handsby grasping them firmly at the top.Make sure your heel is firmly set intothe boot before lacing. Boots shouldfit firmly but not feel tight. You shouldhave about a 1/2-in gap between yourfoot and the toe of the boot.

Carry extra socks. Change themat least once a day, or any time youfeel the socks getting moist.

CareWhen your boots need cleaning,

brush them off and wipe them with adamp cloth. Let them dry naturally atroom temperature. Don’t place themnext to a heat source—the heat can dryout and crack the leather.

Put guide marks and warn-ing lines down inside your mo-tor pool with easy-to-use andenvironmentally friendly paint.

Yellow paint, NSN 8010-00-900-3648, has been the paint ofchoice for years. Unfortunately,it’s flammable and pollutes theair. Also, paint thinner is neededfor proper cleanup. Leftover paintand paint thinner are hazardouswaste.

Use yellow paint, NSN 8010-01-019-1776, instead. It’s a water-basedlatex that’s easy to clean up. Thepaint is non-flammable and presentsfewer health and safety hazards.

Before disposal of any leftoverpaint or cleanup materials, though,check with your environmentalsafety office for state and localregulations.

The boots do not need waterproof-ing, but mink oil or a similar condi-tioner can help maintain the leatherand extend its life.

BewareIf you feel your feet getting cold,

button up all your clothing and ex-ercise your whole body. Swingyour arms, stamp your feet andtry to move your toes as much asyou can to increase circulation toyour feet. Trench foot and frost-bite can cause painful injuriesor even permanent disability.

Finally, no boot can keepyour feet from freezing if youremain motionless for severalhours in cold and wet condi-tions. Keep moving!

MAKE YOUR

MARK

Paint . . .

Wear wool cushion socks

Intermediate�cold weather boots can�

save your dogs�from cold injury if you�

wear them correctly and�treat them right. slip�

these tips on.

you’d better�move around if�you want your�boots to do�their job!

use�latex paint�for safety�

lines.

PS 565 50 DEC 99 PS 565

PS 565 53 DEC 99PS 565 52 DEC 99

Tents . . .

Apply sealantonly to seamsdarn�

leaking tent!�lack of tent pm can�

really get you�into trouble.�

�

i-i-i-i'll say!

4984. You’ll also need a 1-in wide paintbrush to apply the sealant, rags andsome small disposable containers withlids.

Seal the tent seams like so:! Spread the clean, dry tent on a flatsurface in a well-ventilated area, pref-erably outdoors.! Put the seam sealant into the smallcontainers and keep the lids on the onesnot in use. This keeps the sealant fromthickening as you work.! Brush a light coat of sealant ontothe stitched areas of the seams, flapsand webbing.! Use a 1-in brush turned sideways.The sealant should only go on thethread and holes left by the stitchingneedles. Try not to let it slop over be-yond the width of the seam on to thefabric.! Let the tent dry about 30 minutes.! Apply a second light coat. Dry thor-oughly. Two light coats work betterthan one thick one.

The sealant isn’t flame retardant, sokeep it off the polyester fabric. Applyit only to the tent’s seams. It increasesthe fabric gloss and makes it morelikely to crack. If it cracks, your leaksare worse than ever.

ents used to be made out ofcotton duck, usually called canvas.New tents are a coated polyester fab-ric. No matter—they all leak.

You want to stay dry, you pull somePM. But first, you gotta know whatkind of tent you have—canvas or poly-ester. There are differences in the twokinds—how they look, feel and smell.

Cotton duck is olive drab and has acoarse, rough feel. It develops a mustysmell.

Coated polyester is bright green, andfeels slick. It has a vinyl smell.

Treating CanvasProcedures for fixing leaky canvas

are spelled out in FM 10-16, General

Fabric Repair. All tents start out re-pelling water, but the repellency wearsoff after awhile. Once they’ve been putup, taken down and cleaned a fewtimes, it’s time to renew that waterprotection.! To re-treat canvas, you’ll need can-vas preservative paste, NSN 8030-00-281-2346.! Make sure the canvas is dry. Brushoff any loose soil.! Stir the canvas preservative pastethoroughly. Then dilute it with an equalamount of dry cleaning solvent, add-ing the solvent a little at a time. Stirthe mixture continuously until all the

solvent is blended into the preserva-tive paste. Stir it again before you start.! Apply the coating mixture with abrush or spray gun. Be sure you havelots of ventilation. If you use a spraygun, wear protective clothing, a respi-rator, and a helmet liner.! Put the coating on thicker overpatched areas and places that have pre-viously been repaired.! Let the canvas dry until it loses itstacky feel.

Polyester TentsIf your tent is made of polyester fab-

ric, it doesn’t need re-treatment. Justthe seams need to be re-sealed.

Use seam sealant NSN 8030-01-350-

he personal computer(PC) has become a vitalpart of Army supply,maintenance and otheroperations.

Whether you are usinga PC for ULLS, SAMS,SIDPERS-3, FED LOG,electronic technicalmanuals (ETMs) orsurfing the Internet forArmy pubs, it hasbecome your work horse.

Anytime you move that work horse to another country, take the time to set itup correctly when you are ready to use it again. Otherwise, you may find yourPC up in smoke when you need it to be up and running.

Most initial computer hardware failures happen when the PC is plugged intothe wrong power type. In the US, the most common voltage is 115/120-volts AC.

However, some OCONUS locations use 230-volt power. Plug adapters areavailable that allow you to plug your PC into a 230-volt outlet, but they are notpower transformers. Plugging a 115/120-volt PC into a 230-volt outlet willblow the the PC power supply.

The same goes for plugging your PCinto a straight 230-volt uninterruptablepower supply. Your computer will burnup if it is set at 115/120 volts.

When going to an OCONUS loca-tion, you should:1. Determine your power requirementsbefore you move the equipment. Checkwith your prime power engineeringsupport or see Appendix C of FM 5-422, Engineer Prime Power Operations(May 93). Although a bit old, it stillidentifies a number of different powertypes available in countries around theworld.

PS 565 54 DEC 99

Computers . . .

is that�computer ready�

to go?

it will�be as soon�as i plug�

it in!

hold it!�first make�

sure my power�settings are�

right!

Use flatheadscrewdriver tochoose desireduninterruptablepower setting

120 VAC

230 VAC3. Before you set up your PC at your destination, have the prime power engi-neers verify the power output right where you plan to plug in (not miles awayor even next door). Then verify your equipment settings before you power upyour equipment.

These simple precautions can save you a Report of Survey and keep you andyour unit up and running!

Use step-down transformers with adapter

2. Switch your computer input settingsto meet the voltage you’re going to beusing before you pack your PC. MostPCs use recessed switcheslocated next to the power cable onthe rear panel of the computer. Youshould be able to change your settingsby pushing in the button and movingit up or down with a screwdriver orpen. No switches? Then you will needto use the proper transformer to con-vert the power to meet your computerequipment’s operating needs.

Push buttons in and moveup or down to get todesired power setting

PS 565 55 DEC 99

PS 565 56 DEC 99 PS 565 57 DEC 99

roller mechanisms can cause furtherjamming.

If you can’t get all the jammed pa-per out, call the service tech.

Keeping the document glass cleanwill help get clean copies and fewermisfeeds. Use a paper towel or softcloth and a liquid, nonabrasive glasscleaner, or water. Do not put the liquiddirectly on the glass where it can seepinto the works—put it on the cloth.Use the cloth on the glass and wipeit dry.

If the paper is stored in an area witha different temperature than the copyroom, let it sit near the copier forseveral hours before you use it. Thislets the paper adjust to the workingtemperature.

Don’t remove the paper from thewrapper until it’s time to load it in themachine. Leave the wrapped papersealed in its packing box as long aspossible.

Eyeball the paper to find themanufacturer’s arrow on the ream la-bel before loading the paper into thecopier. This helps orient the curl of thepaper in the correct direction. If themachine is jamming frequently, tryturning the paper over

Fan paper before loading it in thecopier. That will help it feed easier.Don’t load the machine with any pa-per that has bent corners or raggededges.

Keep paper high and dry

Make sure the copier paper is storedin a dry place, and off the floor, espe-cially if the floor is concrete.

.When you get a paper jam, make

sure you get the entire sheet of paperout. Small pieces of paper left in the

In humid areas, try to keep the pa-per away from the outside moisture.Keep the paper boxes as far from out-side doors as possible. Try to store thepaper at normal room temperature—72oF or so.

hen your copier breaks down, itseems like nothing else works right allday. But if your copier isn’t properlymaintained, or if the paper is stored orloaded wrong, your machine will breakdown and jamming will be a fact oflife.

Here are some things you can do tokeep copies coming:

Make sure the copier is servicedaccording to the manufacturer’s main-tenance schedule.

After long print jobs, especiallytwo-sided runs, let the copier cool offfor a few minutes before starting a newjob.

Add new toner when the warninglight calls for it.

Clean accessible areas on the copieras needed. And keep the copy room asclean and dust free as you can. Dirt isa leading cause of copier jams.

oh, no!�not another�breakdown!

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

✸

Fan paper before loading

Keep document glass cleanIf the machine continues to jam, call

for service immediately. Have thecopier model and serial number handywhen you make the call. Some modelsmay be under warranty, or due forreplacement.

Use Recycled PaperSince Jan 99, recycled paper has been

required for government copy ma-chines. The following NSNs bring aream of recycled copier paper:

• NSN 7530-01-335-2623 81/2 x 11 inches• NSN 7530-01-334-7817 81/2 x 14 inches

✸

Office Equipment . . .

PS 565 59

Unit Supply . . .

The relationship may be interchange-able, substitutable or a combination ofboth. All family members will have aphrase code (PC) that points them tothe master NSN. How the items areselected for issue is based on the orderof use (OOU) file.

Interchangeable items can be sub-stituted for each other with little or noadjustment required. Their perfor-mance, reliability and maintainabilityare identical

Substitutable items aren’t identicalto each other, but are enough alikethat they can be substituted for oneanother under specific conditions andapplications.

When an item manager decidesthere is a relationship amongsimilar items, he establishes an

I&S family. AN I&S family consistsof one master NSN (the head of thefamily) and one or more related NSNs.

To find out more about how I&Sworks, go to the LOGSA I&S homepage at:

http://www.logsa.army.mil/avc/iands.htmand click on the DOD I&S TrainingModule.

You can also click on the LOGSAI&S problem report form. This reportcan be filled out on-line and sub-mitted to the LOGSA I&S team forreview. You can use this I&S problemreport any time you think there isan I&S problem. Report the problemas soon as you can so it can becorrected before it becomes an evenbigger problem.

i'll solve�this mystery or�

my name isn't�cody breaker.

i'm�almost�there!

As you check out some new parts that came in toyour supply room, you notice that some of theparts are not exactly what you ordered. The NSNsare different.

But, before you excess those parts and reorder the original NSNs, using advicecode 2B - Do Not Substitute, check ’em out in the FED LOG Army MasterData File (AMDF). Those new parts may be the result of a process calledInterchangeability and Substitutability (I&S).

I&S provides a way to get ridof duplicate items, or items witha limited range of performance,reliability and maintainability

characteristics, in favor of itemsthat don’t have limitations.

i've got to figure�out why we keep getting�

the wrong parts.pssst!�

crack the�i s codes! the�

answer is�there!

huh!?

i s codes?�that’s a new�one on me!�

PS 565 60 DEC 99

If you have�questions about the�

training or the report,�contact...

Clyde Whitman at DSN 645-0778,(256) 955-0778, or by e-mail:

clyde.whitman@logsa.army.milor Charles Zepfel, DSN 645-0791, (256)955-0791, or by e-mail:

charles.zepfel@logsa.army.mil

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATIONTitle of Publication:

PS, The Preventive Maintenance MonthlyPublication No. 341-950Date of Filing: 10 Sept 99Frequency of Issue: MonthlyNo. of Issues Published Annually: 12Annual Subscription Price: Domestic $30.00

Foreign $37.50Complete Mailing Address of Publication:

PS Magazine, USAMC Logistics Support Activity,Bldg 5307, Sparkman CircleRedstone Arsenal, AL 35898-7466

Complete Mailing Address of the Headquarters orGeneral Business Offices of the Publisher:

Department of the Army, Washington, DC 20310Publisher: Department of the ArmyEditor: Jerome J. HillKnown Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security

Holders Owing or Holding 1 Percent or More

of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: NoneThe purpose, function and nonprofit status of this

organization and the exempt status for Federalincome tax purposes has not changed during thepreceding 12 months.

Submitted by: W. Richard Morris, Production Manager

Extent and Nature Average Copies Oct 99of Circulation Last 12 Months Issuea. Total No. Copies 101,668 101,905b.(1) Subscriptions 95,183 95,436b.(3) non-USPS 4,913 4,919c. Circulation 100,096 100,355d. Free Distribution/Mail 716 716e. Other free 180 180f. Total free 896 896g. Total Disrtribution 100,992 101,251h.(1) Office Use 675 654i. Total 101,667 101,905Percent Required 99.11% 99.12%

this i s�code breaker is�

invaluable.

thanks for�cluing me in,�

connie!

Expandable Tent LinerGetting your expandable tent, NSN 8340-00-782-3232, ready for winter? Don’t forgetthe new thermal liner, NSN 8340-01-452-7049. It comes with all new tents, but it canalso be requisitioned as a separate item.It’s lightweight, installs easily and will keepyou comfortable down to –60°F.

M1A1 Roadwheel TorqueTM 9-2350-264-20-1-4 says to torque thenuts to 320-350 lb-ft when you replace aroadwheel on your M1A1 tank. But that’snot tight enough. The roadwheel nutsshould be torqued to 380–420 lb-ft. Make anote until the TM is updated.

AN/PSG-8(V)2 BatteryThe BA-5600/U lithium battery used in theAN/PSG-8(V)2 handheld terminal unit, hasbeen replaced by BA-5600A/U, NSN 6135-01-441-0402. The new battery comes in apackage of eight that costs $224.M88A1 Wiring Harness

Don’t order the dual voltage regulatorharness, NSN 6150-01-235-0467, shown asItem 1 in Fig 12 of TM 9-2350-256-24P-1. Itcauses electrical charging problems thatcannot be solved by troubleshooting andwill soon be deleted from the TM. So, whenyou need a new harness, order NSN 5995-01-245-7651. It’s Item 1 in Fig 119.

M22 Binocular PartsIf you need to replace the rubber armorbushing that attaches to the objective lensfilter frame of your green M22 binoculars,use NSN 5365-01-348-7037. This informationhas been added to Item 6, Fig 1 of TM 9-1240-403-12&P with Change 1.

Food Container PaintWhen painting your old food containers,use NSN 8010-00-081-0809 to get a quartof olive drab enamel. Use NSN 8010-00-297-0586 to get a gallon. We had it wrongin PS 562.

Computer Case ErrorWe slipped a digit in our computer casestory on Page 60 of PS 562. The correcttoll-free phone number for Barry Cases is(800)844-3440.

connie, i've�got a maintenance�

problem.