PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-599
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 599
OCTOBER 2002
Starting
Now you’re ready to start the vehicle:
1.
Pull out and hold the FUEL
SHUTOFF handle.
PS 599
OCT 02
8
M109A2-A5 SP Howitzers…
D
rivers, you only have to try starting your howitzer once in cold weather to see how
frustrating it can be.
To get the best starts, follow these instructions.
Before You Start
1.
Turn off the personnel heater and shut off the COOLANT HEATER switch.
2.
Make sure the battery indicator gauge is in the green range.
Before Shutdown
Just before shutdown, run the engine at idle and turn on the FLAME HEATER
switch.
If the heater is working OK, you’ll see a slight decrease in engine speed
and an increase in exhaust smoke.
If not, call your mechanic.
Testing the flame heater also ensures that fuel is in the fuel supply line the next
time you start your vehicle.
To increase the chances of an easy start the next time the thermometer takes a
nose dive, have your mechanic install a cold start enhancement kit, NSN 2990-01-
342-7944.
The kit maintains 1
1
∕
2
psi of positive pressure in the fuel lines.
That prevents loss
of prime in the flame heater fuel supply line when the engine is not running.
You’ll find the kit listed in TM 9-2815-202-24P.
3.
Keep cranking the engine while setting the FLAME HEATER switch to ON for
1 second and to OFF for 1 second until the tachometer reads at least 300 rpm.
4.
Let go of the FLAME HEATER switch.
Keep cranking until the tachometer
reads at least 500 rpm.
The hand throttle may be increased about 1/8 travel to help
start the vehicle once 500 rpm is reached.
Do not use the foot throttle or the engine
will return to idle once it’s released.
5.
Stop cranking if the engine hasn’t started after 2 minutes or you can burn up the
starter.
Wait at least 2 minutes, then repeat steps 1 through 4.
If the engine still
won’t start or doesn’t reach 100 rpm or more after 15 seconds, tell your mechanic.
6.
Release the starter switch after the engine starts and follow the engine warmup
procedures in the -10 TMs.
2.
Push the STARTER switch to
START and the FLAME HEATER
switch to ON at the same time.
Crank the engine for 15 seconds.
Release the FUEL SHUTOFF handle.
3.
Set the parking brake
and shift the transmission
to neutral.
4.
Turn the MASTER
switch to ON.
The
indicator lamp
should come on.
5.
Turn the FUEL PRIME
switch ON for 45 seconds,
then release.
cold
weather is no
problem when
you start me
right!
not
even
you
can stop
me when
I’ve got
a
good
start!
599. 08-09 (C)
8/29/02
2:13 PM
Page 1
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