PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-590
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 590
JANUARY 2002
PS 590
JAN 02
21
drip, drip, drip
y
ou’ve spotted oil dripping from the vent holes on your Paladin’s elevation cylin-
der. Must be a Class III leak, right?
Not necessarily! When the cannon is elevated and depressed, it’s normal to see
several drops of oil coming from the two vent holes on the elevation cylinder. Just
how many
drops will determine whether there’s a problem.
Page 2-75 in Change 1 (Apr 01) to TM 9-2350-314-10 says to check the cylinder
monthly like this:
1.
Elevate and depress the cannon three times.
2.
Wipe down the elevation cylinder with a clean cloth.
3.
Watch the vent holes while someone else elevates and depresses the cannon 25
more times.
If you see no more than six drops of oil from each vent hole during this time,
everything’s OK. But if you see more than six drops from either vent, the elevation
cylinder’s leaking too much. Call your mechanic. He’ll determine if your howitzer
needs to go to DS for repair.
PS 590
JAN 02
20
M992A2 Ammo Carrier…
Dear Half-Mast,
TM 9-2350-293-10 is a little vague when it comes to checking
the shock absorbers on your M992A2 ammo carrier.
Item 40c in the PMCS tables says to turn the shock absorber
from side to side. Any movement means the upper end of the shock is
damaged and the vehicle is NMC.
The confusion comes from interpreting the “side to side” movement.
Some operators think it means to rotate the upper shock
clockwise/counterclockwise to check for movement.
I’ve always thought it meant left and right lateral movement of the
shock absorber. That would better indicate movement between the
bearing bore and the shock mounting stud or within the bearing itself.
Can you give us the straight scoop?
CW3 D.D.
Dear Mr. D.D.,
You’re 100 percent right, Sir. You’re
supposed to check for any lateral move-
ment, not rotation of the shocks. Almost all
shock absorbers will rotate slightly. The
amount of rotation depends on mileage
and how much CARC paint there is on the
shock.
Make a note in the -10 TM until it can
be updated.
Check for left-to-right
movement, not rotation
but, sergeant,
all
the shock
absorbers move
when I try to
rotate ‘em!
Hey, I just
spotted a
class III
leak
on the
elevation
cylinder!
hold on a
minute. did
you count
the number
of drops?
Count number
of drops here…
…and behind here while
exercising cannon
what’s
going on!?
they can’t
all
be NMC!
M109A6 Paladin…
590. 20-21 (C)
11/23/01
4:05 PM
Page 1
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