PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-589

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 589

DECEMBER 2001
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-589 - Page 12 of 32
Dear Editor,
M119A1 howitzer taillight assemblies, NSN 6220-01-369-2920, get
crushed when they’re stored in the back of a HMMWV.
When it’s time to reinstall them on your howitzer, they’re badly mangled
and often don’t work. Nobody’s happy when a ruined assembly has to be
replaced. They cost more than $670!
We protect our taillight assemblies with a wooden plate. Here’s how to
make and use it:
1.
Cut out two 10-in diameter
circles from a sheet of 3/4-in
thick plywood.
2.
Secure one circle on top of
the other using three 1-in long
drywall screws.
3.
Cut an oval hole in the top of
the circles to use as a handle. The
hole should be approximately 4 1/2
inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide.
4.
Slip the plate inside the open-
ing of the taillight assembly.
Tighten the taillight clamp screws
to hold the plate securely in place.
The plate strengthens the tail-
light assembly and keeps it from
being bent or crushed.
CW2 James A. McDonald
2/15th FA
Ft Drum, NY
PS 589
DEC 01
20
M109A6 Paladin…
E
asy does it when you swing open the driver’s hatch on your Paladin. If you use
more force than necessary, you’ll snap the small pin that holds the driver’s hatch
stop in place.
That snapped pin makes your howitzer NMC because the hatch can no longer
be secured. Item 77 of the PMCS table in TM 9-2350-314-10 gives the NMC low-
down.
Don’t be tempted to use an unauthorized field fix to keep the hatch stop in oper-
ation, either. If you’re one of those drivers who thinks you can substitute a cotter
pin or nail to keep your Paladin off the NMC list, think again.
Those quick fixes aren’t made for the job. If they last long enough, the hatch
stop, NSN 2510-00-774-6550, is damaged and has to be replaced. And if the quick
fix gives out.
..well, let’s just say you don’t want your head in the way of an unse-
cured hatch.
So take it easy on the origi-
nal pins by opening the hatch
gently. Then, if one of the pins
gets lost or broken, replace it
Some units keep a few extra
pins on hand. They don’t cost
much—less than $1 each—
and you’ll be able to keep your
howitzer FMC by immediately
replacing any broken pins.
Replace lost or broken pin
A
new
hatch stop pin
would’ve cost
a lot
less
than
the bottle of
aspirin you’re
gonna
need!
I’ve got just
the protection
your taillight
assemblies
need!
I feel
better
already!
1
1
/
2-in
10-in
4
1
/
2-in
Two pieces of plywood
Protecting makes a whole lot more
sense than replacing. Good idea!
Plate keeps taillight
from being crushed
From the desk of the
Editor
M119A1 Towed Howitzer…
589. 20-21 (C)
10/29/01
2:19 PM
Page 1
Back to Top
Back to Top