PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-560
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 560
JULY 1999
hile it’s not the same as slaying a Hydra, recovering a disabled vehicle is still
a heroic task for your M88A2 Hercules.
Here are a few problems to “head” off before they come back to bite you:
Oil Changes
The Hercules uses CAT 10 oil in its transmission, not OE/HDO-10 like the
M88A1. Use the wrong oil and the transmission can seize up. Get a quart
M1A1 Tank Warning Light
C
rewmen, eyeball the OVERHEAT SPONSON
IN and OVERHEAT SPONSON OUT lights
on the tank commander’s panel. These lights
came from the factory with yellow covers, but
they’re supposed to be warning lights, not
caution lights. Ignoring the lights could result
in an NBC filter fire. If the lenses are yellow,
get your mechanic to replace them with
red covers, NSN 6210-00-176-4954.
M1A1 Cotter Pin
U
se NSN 5315-01-390-7088 to get new cotter pins for connecting the
spent ammunition frame to the screen guard in your M1A1 tank. The part
number listed for Item 154 in Appendix G of TM 9-2350-264-20-2-4 is
now 12387310-71.
M88A2 Recovery Vehicle . . .
of CAT 10 with NSN 9150-01-424-
7696, 5 gallons with NSN 9150-01-
424-7692, and 55 gallons with NSN
There’s also a change for the hy-
draulic system. The Hercules uses FRH
instead of OE/HDO-10. Use the right
stuff or the hydraulic system could
burn up.
And don’t forget that FRH is poi-
sonous. FRH can be absorbed through
your skin, so wear protective clothing
and oil-resistant gloves when you
handle it. It’s also a good idea to wash
your hands with soap and water after
working with FRH.
Auxiliary Winch
When the Hercules is used as a brake
vehicle during towing,the auxiliary
winch gets covered with mud and
water thrown by the towed vehicle.
That leads to corrosion that can ruin
the winch.
Units at Ft Hood use homemade cov-
ers to prevent this problem. Their can-
vas shop makes a bag-shaped cover
large enough to fit over each winch. A
drawstring pulled tight keeps the cover
in place.
PS 560
17
JUL 99
behold!
i have
vanquished
the evil
hydra
!
nice
work,
herc
. now
how about taking
on some
real
labors
.
this
is
not
a
test!
Uncovered winch is
exposed to mud and water
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