PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-598
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 598
SEPTEMBER 2002
PS 598
SEP 02
9
M88A1 Recovery Vehicle…
Take Time to Tape
APU
M2/M3-Series Bradleys…
I
f you’ve struck a tree or other hard
object with your Bradley’s 25mm
cannon barrel, don’t assume every-
thing’s OK.
Eyeball the weapon for bent or
cracked parts and double check the
mounting area to ensure nothing is
loose or broken. Report any problems.
If everything checks out visually,
have your mechanic perform STE Test
2791, 2640 and 2650. Those tests
check the turret traverse bearing as
well as gun and TOW elevation.
G
ot a good battlefield damage assess-
ment and repair (BDAR) tip or tech-
nique, but not sure how to share it with
others?
The TRADOC Executive Agency at
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, is the
place to go. They test BDAR techniques
during live fire testing of vehicles and
incorporate successful ones in the
appropriate BDAR manuals.
Contact the TRADOC Executive
Agency by calling DSN 298-3050/4474
or (410) 278-3050/4474, faxing to (410)
278-5184, or e-mailing
robert.gehr@ocs.apg.army.mil
or
brian.burridge@ocs.apg.army.mil
Dear Editor,
We repair the M88A1’s auxiliary power unit (APU), NSN 6115-01-047-
9330, under the National Maintenance Management Repair Program. We’ve
noticed that more and more APUs arrive needing extensive (and expensive)
repairs to the engine block because of water damage.
When the APU is removed, the exhaust port is left wide open. That lets
water
-from rain, condensation or any other source-inside the APU. The
water seeps past the exhaust valves, enters the combustion chamber and
rusts the piston to the side of the cylinder.
To fix this damage, we have to hone
the cylinders and fit oversized pistons
and rings. All that dramatically increases
repair costs.
Most of this damage could be prevent-
ed if mechanics would seal the exhaust
port with a piece of duct tape immedi-
ately after removing the APU. That keeps
water out and damage to a minimum.
Robert A. Hamme
Ft Knox, KY
That little piece of duct tape sounds like a good investment!
It’s probably a good idea to further protect the APU by
shrink wrapping it before shipment to the repair site.
wow!
I guess
I hit that tree
a little harder
than I realized!
yeah, you’re
telling me!
Now, what’re
you gonna do
about it?
with your bdar
suggestions, I can
keep going on the
battlefield!
From the
desk of
the
Editor
I guess I’d
better remove
your APU so we
can send it off
for repairs.
b-b-but
you don’t
have any
duct tape!
Put duct tape over
exhaust port
598. 08-09 (C)
8/1/02
11:37 AM
Page 1
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