PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-582
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 582
MAY 2001
PS 582
MAY 01
45
PS 582
MAY 01
44
M249 Machine Gun.
..
F
iring lots of bullets produces lots of carbon in your M249 machine gun. That
carbon coats moving parts and plugs the gas system. If you don't remove all the
carbon, your M249 fires slower and slower.
..and then quits.
But you have the tool to make that carbon disappear: your scraper. Each
scraper part is designed to scrape off carbon from different M249 parts. The
sooner you use the scraper, the easier it is to remove carbon. Carbon hardens
like enamel if it sits too long.
Use the scraper like this:
For the chamber, use the chamber
brush and CLP. If your M249 has
trouble extracting, a quick cleaning of
the chamber usually fixes the problem.
CLP does a good job of cleaning
off carbon, but it also does a good job
of collecting carbon. So never use
CLP—or any lube—on the barrel's
gas regulator hole, the gas regulator,
the gas cylinder, or the op rod's piston
end. Clean carbon off those parts with
the scraper only—no CLP.
It's OK to use CLP on the barrel,
the chamber, the rest of the op rod,
and the bolt face, but wipe those sur-
faces dry before firing.
If CLP and the scraper or brush can't knock out carbon, tell your armorer. He can
soak off the carbon with dry cleaning solvent. Never, ever use abrasives like sandpaper
on any metal parts of the M249. They remove the gun's protective finish.
Clean center hole of regulator
with POINTED END, turning it
clockwise and pushing in until
scraper hits bottom
Clean two grooves on regulator
with PROTRUDING TIPS
Clean piston grooves by
scissoring the SCRAPER
around the grooves.
Clean the front hole of the
piston with the FLAT SIDE.
Use CLP and
chamber
brush
Wipe dry
before firing
Barrel
Chamber
Op Rod
Bolt Face
Clean inside front of gas
cylinder with FLAT SIDE
582. 44-45 (C)
3/28/01
4:19 PM
Page 1
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