PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-613
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 613
DECEMBER 2003
M12A1 Decon…
Expert
Advice
from the
Experts
Dear Editor,
Through experience using and maintaining our M12A1 decons, we've come
up with these suggestions for decontaminating potential problems:
Have extra hoses made.
The discharge and
eductor hoses are fabri-
cated locally. When you
need a hose replaced,
go ahead and have sev-
eral made. It doesn't
cost that much more to
have extras fabricated,
it will give you on-hand
replacements, and it will
save you the trouble of
getting a new hose fab-
ricated every time one
fails.
Don't put hoses together yourself.
The hoses are under great
pressure during operation. It
takes a special tool that units
don't have to secure the clamps
for the hoses. If the clamps aren't
installed right, the hose can blow
off and possibly injure somebody.
At the very least, a blown hose
will cause a huge mess. For the
same reason, clamps other than
those called out in TM 3-4230-
209-20&P should never be used
for the hoses. Substitute
clamps
-like those used on truck
hoses
-may not hold.
Put plumber's tape on the hose connections
for the upper and lower hose reels.
If those connections leak, you'll
have trouble building up water pressure
and spraying. And it's hard to detect
leaks at the connections because the
hoses must be completely unreeled in
order to check the connections. Put
tape, NSN 8030-00-889-3535,
on the connector threads and then
screw in the hoses. That will help the
connections hold their seals. Replace
the tape quarterly. Also replace the
rubber gaskets, NSN 5330-00-811-
9471, but don't muscle the hose con-
nection more than hand tight. That
can crush the gasket.
Check that the dust covers for the hose connections
have chains and the chains are connected.
Water pressure can make
projectiles out of the dust
covers. The chains keep the
covers from taking flight far
enough to hurt you. Also check
the dust covers' seals. A bad
or missing seal makes it more
likely that the dust cover
blows off. The chains will also
keep the covers handy for
sealing openings when you dis-
connect the hoses.
Make sure the loop clamp that holds the pipe
from the pump is in place and tight.
This clamp is often left
off after repairs. Without
the clamp holding the pipe
tightly in place, vibration
causes the pipe to leak
and you can't build up
water pressure. Make
sure the clamp is still
tight each month.
SSG Alfred Nieto
2d Chemical Bn
Ft Hood, TX
PS 613
DEC 03
51
this guy has
the straight
stuff on m12s!
yo,
deconners!
listen up!
while you’re
at it, get some
extra
hoses
made!
…direct
support
needs to
do that!
Replace gasket
to stop leaks
Dust covers
have chains?
Clamp in place
and tight?
Great job, Sergeant.
These suggestions will help make
deconning safer and easier.
whoa!
don’t try
to install
‘em…
613. 50-51 (C)
11/3/03
1:42 PM
Page 1
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