PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-565
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 565
DECEMBER 1999
PS 565
13
DEC 99
12
DEC 99
The Real Seal Deal
M
echanics, how would you like to extend the life of a tank’s exhaust grille
seal by six months or more?
All you have to do is rotate the seal 180
o
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? Because
the weight of the grille and most of
the engine heat is directed toward
the bottom of the seal.
Rotating the seal during semi-
annual maintenance evens
out the wear and results in
longer life. An added
benefit is that the screws
that hold the seal in place
get retreated with antiseize
compound. That makes
’em easier to remove each
time and less likely to
corrode 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 track
when you add grease.
With room at a premium in most motor
pools, this step gets skipped. But, if you
use the brakes, the weight of the tank is
thrown forward when you stop. That leaves
some track tight and other track loose. Ad-
justing the track then results in
overtight-
ened
track that wears out end connectors
and cups sprockets.
Adjusting track tension by following
all
the steps in the TM is the only way to
keep your track on track.
Overtightened track
wears end connectors.
..
...and cups sprockets
rewmen, if your tank has constant
problems with worn end connectors
and cupped sprocket teeth, the prob-
lem could be how you adjust track
tension.
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 relief
valve? That’s partly right, but you’re
forgetting a small but very important
step.
The TM says to move the tank for-
ward on a level surface and let it
coast
to a stop before drawing your grease
gun. 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
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