PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-569
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 569
APRIL 2000
PS 569
24
APR 00
M9 Armored Combat Earthmover . . .
whew!
that's
a good
couple
hours
work! now it's
time to give this ace
a break and
inspect
its
hydraulics
.
Keep things off the air intake
grills, too. Anything stacked there
restricts airflow to the engine
and radiator—overheating the en-
gine and transmission.
Time for a Break
It’s no secret that the ACE is
hard on its hydraulic system, es-
pecially when you’re digging in
the hard stuff.
Taking a break every 2 or 3 hours for vehicle downtime is an unwritten rule
for many ACE operators. That short time off lets them look for any potential
hydraulic problems.
While training other operators, leave the vehicle’s ejector out about 2 feet
when digging or extracting dirt. With your CO’s OK, do the same thing during
normal operations.
With the ejector forward, there’s enough room to see a busted compensation
pump or a leak in the valve bank.
he ACE is a hard-working earthmover, and will move mountains for you if
you pile on the PM.
Follow the word in TM 5-2350-262-10 and use these pointers that others have
learned the hard way to keep your ACE on the job.
Keep a Keen Edge
The dozer blade’s cutting edge
protects the moldboard. If the edge
wears down too far, the moldboard
is damaged and has to be replaced
or sent to DS for repair.
Make sure the moldboard is still
protected. Get down on your knees
and clear away the dirt to eyeball
the blade’s cutting edge. To get
an even better look, fold the blade
like you do for cross-country
travel.
If the cutting edge is worn to
1
/
4
inch—report it. Your mechanic
can reverse the edge or replace it
if it can’t be reversed.
Fold the Blade
As always, follow the word in
the TM and fold the blade when
traveling cross-country, no matter
what the soil conditions are—even
if it’s sand or loosely packed
dirt. That way, the blade can’t dig
into a ridge or other obstruction—
damaging the blade, moldboard,
ejector and hydraulic system.
Fire Prevention Tip
When you’re ready to go to the field, don’t stack duffel bags or camouflage
netting on top of the engine’s access doors. Those items can shift during travel
and end up on top of the exhaust stack. The stack gets hot enough to start a fire.
...to inspect moldboard
Fold blade.
..
...and for cross-country travel
Keep
access
doors
and
intake
grills
clear
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