PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-572
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 572
JULY 2000
PS 572
15
JUL 00
14
hecking the hydraulic reservoir
level for your Bradley’s power unit ac-
cess door is a daily task, crewmen. If
you don’t do it right every time, you
may not be able to open the engine
compartment next time.
Follow these three steps to ensure
the reservoir has the correct amount of
fluid:
Step 1
Park the vehicle on level ground. The
reservoir sight glass won’t give an ac-
curate reading if your Bradley is parked
at an angle.
Step 2
Open the access door
all the way
before checking the fluid level. When
the door is only partially open, you’ll
get a high reading because the hydrau-
M2A2/M3A2, ODS Bradleys . . .
M2/M3-Series Bradley . . .
Stop Pushing So Hard!
Y
ou can push some things only so far, crewmen. That includes the track
adjuster piston on your M2/M3-series Bradley.
When tightening the track, the maximum extension for the piston is 3
1
/
2
inches. If you try to tighten any more than that, excess grease is bled off through
a small hole in the piston. You’re just
wasting grease because the track
won’t
get any tighter.
If you see grease coming out of the
bleed hole and the track is still too loose,
bleed off the track adjuster to loosen
the track and remove a shoe. Then try
again.
vampire pump, NSN 4930-01-119-
4030, to remove the excess fluid.
One More Thing
When checking the sight glass, pay
special attention to the
color
of the
fluid. Fluid that is milky in color is
probably contaminated with water. Let
your mechanic know right away. Con-
taminated fluid will ruin the seals.
If it doesn’t, add FRH until it reaches
the line. If the level passes the mark,
drain some of the fluid. Use an AOAP
Step 3
Eyeball the fluid level in the reser-
voir. The level in the sight glass should
reach the full mark line inscribed on
the reservoir.
lic cylinders aren’t fully extended.
Later, when you drain extra FRH
from the reservoir to bring down the
level, the system will become under-
pressurized. That lets air into the
system and may keep the door from
opening.
Open the access door to the fourth
detent on the support link. That’s fully
open.
Report
milky
color
in sight
glass
Fluid level
should
reach fill
mark on
reservoir
Fourth
detent
is fully
open
hmmm
,
this reservoir
is pretty
low
, i'd
better
add
some
frh
!
of course
it's
low! i'm
not parked
on
level ground
!
Piston extends only 3
1
/
2
inches
14
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