PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-582
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 582
MAY 2001
When enough damage is done, the battery holddowns have nothing to
hold onto so the batteries are unsecured. The vehicle is NMC until you
can get a new battery box.
We've saved our unit a lot of down time with some quick modifications
to the battery box.
First, we cover the bottom of every battery box with corrosion-resistant
matting. The matting soaks up acid and helps keep it off the battery box.
A 1x100-ft roll of the matting comes with NSN 6160-01-389-1966.
Just cut it to fit the bottom of
each battery box.
Second, we drill two
3
∕
8
-in holes
through
the
fender
just
below
where the holddowns attach to
the battery box. Then we run the
holddowns though those holes and
up into the battery box.
Even if acid gets through the
matting and dissolves the bottom
of the battery box, the holddowns
keep the batteries secure. The
vehicle stays FMC until you can
get a replacement battery box.
PS 582
MAY 01
11
Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles.
..
Twist, Pull Breathers
B
reather valves on gearcases and axles like those on the front axles of M939A2 series
trucks must be clean and open to let off the pressure that builds in those assemblies.
If vents are plugged, the seals blow, lube goes, and gears go, too.
Keeping the breather valves clean is simple: Twist the valve's cap to loosen any
dirt stuck inside. Then pull up on the cap to make sure it's moving freely. If the cap
won't turn and pull up, get a new valve.
Make sure the new valve is good by blowing into the threaded end. If you can't
easily blow through the breather, it won't do the job for your equipment. The cap on
a good breather opens at a little under
1
∕
2
psi—almost no pressure at all.
Then give all breather valves the twist-and-pull test after each operation in mud
or heavy dust. Your gearcases and axles will live longer if you do.
PS 582
MAY 01
10
M1074/M1075 PLS…
Dear Editor,
Battery corrosion eats holes right through the bottom of the fiberglass
battery box on the M1074/ M1075 PLS.
SPC Billy Maxwell
15th Trans Co,
212th Bde
Ft Sill, OK
Axle breather
Twist cap,
then pull up
Don’t forget front
axle breather on
M939A2s!
Drill
3
∕
8
-in holes in
fender under battery
box for holddowns
Acid eats holes
in bottom of
battery box
582. 10-11 (C)
4/9/01
11:47 AM
Page 1
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