PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-596
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 596
JULY 2002
PS 596
53
M12A1 Decon…
PM
for
Sitting
Decons
M
ost M12A1 decons sit for much of
the year. But that doesn't mean they
don't need PM. Without PM, corrosion
locks up their valves and pump, the bat-
tery's juice leaks out and you're up the
decon creek when it's time to operate.
To prepare your M12A1 for a long
period of sitting, first drain all the
water. Park it on level ground and drain
the main tank, prime detergent tank and
pump. If water's left in the tanks and
pump,
corrosion starts and your
M12A1 soon leaks.
It's almost impossible to drain all the
water and even a cup of water can
cause corrosion and damage the pump.
The answer is general purpose
lubricating oil (PL-S), NSN 9150-00-
231-6689. If your decon will be sitting
for a while, mix 3 pints of PL-S with 3
gallons of water. Pour the mixture into
the detergent tank and open Valve 4.
Run the pump 30 seconds, then drain
the pump. Close Valve 4, but leave the
pump drain valve open. Now the pump
won't corrode.
To save the battery while
the M12A1's sitting, discon-
nect the ground cable from the
negative battery terminal to
keep the battery from drain-
ing. Better yet, remove the
battery and store it inside on a
wood pallet.
Top off the fuel tank. That
keeps
condensation
from
building up in the tank and
starting
corrosion.
Then,
before you start the M12A1
for the first time, drain the fuel
sediment bowl so that water
from condensation doesn't get
in the carburetor.
Drain tanks
and pump
Disconnect
negative
terminal
Top off
fuel tank
Pour water/oil mixture in detergent
tank… and open valve 4
I feel
drained.
I think my
battery is
a goner.
just because
we sit around
most of the
year, doesn’t
mean we don’t
need PM!
yeah! I’ve
got corrosion
lockin’ up my
valves and
pumps!
And my battery’s
juice has leaked
out all over…
I’m nowhere near
ready to work!
596. 52-53 (C)
6/4/02
10:29 AM
Page 1
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