PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-584
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 584
JULY 2001
R
esist the quick-fix urge to plug a leaking front air system gladhand. If you do, the
FMTV's parking brake won't be able to lock the spring brakes on the rear wheels.
The gladhands must vent as designed when the truck is placed in SYSTEM
PARK so that it won't roll away. Any plug used to seal off a gladhand takes away
the venting feature.
PS 584
JUL 01
5
FMTV.
..
Lead-acid Batteries.
..
Drivers,
Get a
mechanic
to fix a
gladhand
leak…
It’s not
your
job!
I’m gonna plug
that leaking
gladhand!
I
n this case, it's what you can't smell that can hurt you--hydrogen gas escaping
from your lead-acid batteries. Don't do anything foolish that would make this stuff
flare up.
The smallest of sparks can set off an explosion that could make the battery act
like a bursting hand grenade.
Here are some tips for everybody to memorize:
❏
Never, never light a match or smoke while
working around batteries.
❏
Keep a watchful eye on battery cable wear.
They can get chafed
until a short-circuit is started and has a sparking good time.
❏
Be ‘specially careful when you take the battery off the charger, as the
fumes’ll be greater. Natch, if the batteries are still on the charger, they’re
doubly dangerous. Before unhooking batteries from your charger, TURN IT
OFF. This’ll lessen the possibility of a spark when you unhook the terminals.
❏
When you put batteries in a vehicle, make sure they're connected right so
you get the right voltage and polarity. If you're not sure how to hook up the
cables, dig out the vehicle's TM and look it up.
❏
At the first sign of an overcharged battery—it drinks too
much water (more than an ounce a week per cell)—get the
generator/alternator checked for putting out too much juice.
❏
Do not jerk or pull on battery cables or terminals.
Hear a
leak?
And if the spring brake doesn't work right,
the truck will roll when put in SYSTEM
PARK. That truck you thought would stay
where you put it may end up real close to
you—maybe too close.
So, when you have a front gladhand leak,
don't plug it. Get a mechanic to fix it. Most
times the problem can be fixed by servicing
or replacing the one-way check valve inside
the front gladhands.
Don’t
plug
me
up!
IT’S
DANGEROUS
TO BE
CARELESS!
Is That Gas You Smell?
Not
unless
you want
parking
brake
failure!
❏
Always remove the ground clamp before you take
the battery out and always put it on after you
put the battery back in.
584. 04-05 (C)
6/7/01
8:41 PM
Page 1
Back to TopBack to Top
