PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-614
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 614
JANUARY 2004
Dear Editor,
Based on our unit's experience maintaining and using the M17 decon,
we've come up with a few suggestions for getting the most out of your
M17s.
•
When you start up,
you're supposed to
squeeze the ball pump
on the fuel line until fuel
fills the fuel filter. Then
you go to the carbure-
tor and tickle it until
fuel comes out the drip
plate. That usually
takes 5 minutes. You
can do the job in 1
minute if you hold the
tickler down while you
pump the ball pump.
PS 614
JAN 04
20
M17-Series Decon…
•
If your M17 hasn't been used
much, take off its heater fuel
pump belt and try to turn the
pump by hand. If it won't turn,
corrosion or dried fuel may have
locked it up. If you try to run the
pump in that condition, pump
parts will likely snap and the pump
will be ruined. Unfortunately, the
pump costs $2,000. Sometimes
direct support can cure a stuck
pump by removing the fuel suction
line from the fuel pump inlet and
filling the pump inlet with pene-
trating oil or carburetor cleaner
and letting it sit overnight. Then
try to turn the pump by hand. If
it turns, you're ready to go. If it
doesn't, direct support will need
to take the fuel pump apart and
lubricate it.
•
When starting a cold heater,
it's a good idea to first use
MOGAS and then switch to
diesel later. The heater is hard to
start when cold with diesel. See
the temperature guidelines on
Page 2-32 in TM 3-4230-
228-10.
•
Before you replace what you
think is a bad igniter, first use a
multimeter to check the voltage
output from the stator. See Test
8 on Page 3-11 of the -23&P.
Lots of times a bad stator or
step-down transformer is the
problem, not the igniter. That
quick check can save you repair
time. Direct support will need to
replace a bad stator.
SFC Jose Hernandez
181st Chem Bn
Derrick Colton, SBCCOM Logistics Assistance Representative
Ft Hood, TX
You do have the word on
good deconning—several
in fact. Thanks.
Squeeze
ball pump
while tickling
carburetor
Try to turn fuel
pump by hand
I think I’m
gonna need
mogas on a
day like this!
these guys
have some
good tips on
helping your
m1
7
be
all
it can be!
From the desk
of the
Editor
listen up,
deconners!
The WORD on
Deconning
614. 20-21 (C)
12/1/03
10:20 AM
Page 1
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