PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-600
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 600
NOVEMBER 2002
PS 600
NOV 02
7
PS 600
NOV 02
6
A Lift for Tow Bar Hookups
H
ooking up the tow bar when recovering a disabled combat vehicle is one of the
most difficult—and dangerous—jobs you have to do, mechanics.
Not only is that tow bar pretty darn heavy, but who wants to stand between sev-
eral tons of metal that might move suddenly?
The solution is a home-
made tow bar lifter. It
makes your job a lot easier
and safer. You won’t have
to stand between vehicles
to hook up the tow bar.
And, with two people lift-
ing, the load is a lot lighter.
The 11-ft long lifter is made of 1
1
∕
2
-in diameter
steel pipe that is
1
∕
8
inch thick. It has a 14-in long
tee made from the same pipe and fits in the
V-shaped end of the tow bar.
After attaching the tow bar to the disabled
vehicle, two people use the lifter to hold the tow
bar up. The recovery vehicle driver makes the
hookup with the help of the ground guides.
The lifter is designed to work with all Army
tow bars and recovery vehicles, including the
5-ton wrecker.
5
1
/
2
"
4
1
/
4
"
14"
11'
Use 1
1
∕
2
-in
steel pipe to
make lifter
M88A1 Recovery Vehicle…
Two person lift is easier
and keeps both out of
danger zone
One of us
has to hook
up that tow
bar.
how ‘bout
rock, paper,
scissors?
D
o you leave the boom on your M88A1 up or
down after operation? If you leave it up, the
boom may go
BOOM!
the next time it’s used.
When the boom is left up, gravity drains
the hydraulic fluid into its reservoir, leaving
behind an air pocket. The next time the boom
is lowered, the air pocket can let the boom fall
suddenly. That spells doom for equipment or
personnel that happen to be in the way.
Follow the information in Item 14 of TM 9-
2350-256-10’s PMCS tables.
Always
keep
the boom in the stowed (travel lock) position
when it’s not in use.
No Room for
Boom Doom
Recovery Vehicles…
how ‘bout
stowing
my boom?
you’re not
gonna leave
me like this,
are you?!
600. 06-07 (C)
9/26/02
5:35 PM
Page 1
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