PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-585
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 585
AUGUST 2001
PLS, HEMTTs.
..
Bushings Worn? Maybe Not
5-ton Wreckers.
..
TOWING UPDATE
The maximum speed limit when towing a 5-ton vehicle is 35 mph on the highway
and 15 mph for cross-country.
All 5-ton wreckers can pintle tow most 5-ton trucks without a payload. But no 5-
ton wrecker can tow a van that is carrying its maximum payload of 15,000 lbs. The
maximum speed limit for pintle towing is 35 mph on the highway and 15 mph for
cross-country.
Disabled 5-tonner
(without payload)
M923, M925, M927, M928,
M929, M930, M931, M932,
M935
M934, M936
M813/A1, M818
M814, M815, M817,
M816
M819, M820/A1/A2, M821
M543A2
Lift Towing
Tow with Wrecker?
No
No*
Yes
No
No*
No*
No*
Yes
No*
Yes
Yes
No*
No*
No*
Yes
No*
Yes
Yes
No*
No*
No*
M936/A1/A2
M816
M543A2
*The M984E1 HEMTT wrecker recovers these vehicles.
PS 585
AUG 01
4
PS 585
AUG 01
5
Paint cracks, wrinkles, minor cuts
are
OK…
…but movement or wallowing
is not
OK
But never send your PLS tractors or HEMTTs to support for bushing replacement
unless you detect movement in the bushings. If they are turning (look for signs of
movement against the beam bore) or wallowing (the bushing is narrower in some
spots than others), they're shot. Otherwise, keep on truckin'.
M
echanics for PLS tractors and HEMTTs, take note: Cracked or wrinkled paint
alone does not identify equalizer beam bushing wear. Neither does a minor cut
or two.
Yet many PLS tractors and HEMTTs wind up job-ordered to support for equaliz-
er beam (walker beam) bushing replacement because of paint cracks and wrinkles,
or minor cuts and gouges.
Cracked or wrinkled paint can make bushings look like they're dry rotted when
they're not. Cuts and gouges can make them look ready for the scrap heap when
they're really OK.
So, you’re
saying
that…
…just ‘cause a bushing
looks
like it needs replacing,
doesn’t mean it
should?
you
got
it!
Note that
no
5-ton wrecker
can lift or tow
another
5-ton wrecker.
T
owing other 5-ton vehicles with 5-ton wreckers has always been a touchy task. It
requires skill and attention to detail—and new information.
The chart below corrects what was printed in PS 455 (Oct 90) and issued as a
field message in early 1990.
585. 04-05 (C)
6/23/01
7:59 PM
Page 1
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