PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-618
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 618
MAY 2004
Track Tension
Improper track ten-
sion will wear out
track fast! Track that’s
too tight cups sprocket
teeth and strains shoe
pins and end connec-
tors. Track that’s too
loose gets thrown,
damaging roadwheels
and support rollers.
PS 618
MAY 04
6
M1-series tanks:
There are two different style track adjusting links used on the M1-series tank.
You’ll find the procedures for both starting on Page 3-194 of TM 9-2350-264-10-2,
Page 3-107 of TM 9-2350-288-10-2, and Page 3-124 of TM 9-2350-388-10-2.
M88A1 recovery vehicle:
1.
Let the vehicle roll to a complete stop on firm, level ground.
2.
Remove any dirt or mud from the outboard end connectors between the first and
second support rollers.
3.
Place a string with a weight on both ends over the first end connector before the
No. 1 support roller. Extend the string past the No. 2 support roller and over the next
end connector.
4.
Go to the center end connector between the two support rollers. Measure the dis-
tance between the string and the center point of the end connector.
If the measurement is between 3/8 inch and 9/16 inch, no adjustment is needed. A
measurement outside that range means the track is either too tight or too loose.
Follow the instructions starting on Page 3-21 to adjust the track tension.
M88A2 recovery vehicle:
There are two different style track adjusting links used on the M88A2. You’ll find
the procedures for both starting on Page 0103 00-1 and Page 0104 00-1 of TM 9-
2350-292-10.
Sprockets
Check the drive sprockets on your vehicle for broken teeth, cracks, excessive wear
and loose mounting bolts.
The sprockets on M1-
series tanks and M88A1
recovery vehicles have
wear limit marks. When
the wear limit mark is
reached,
you
should
reverse or replace the
sprocket.
For M113-series vehi-
cles, use the track and
sprocket
gauge,
NSN
to
check for excessive wear.
If any part of the sprocket
tooth does not extend
beyond the gauge, reverse
or replace the sprocket.
If your carrier has the new style T130 sprockets, the wear gauge is not needed.
These sprockets have wear marks that are used to gauge wear to the teeth.
When replacing or reversing a sprocket, make sure all mating surfaces are clean
before reinstalling the parts. Pay special attention to bolts and the surface of the
sprocket where the bolt mounts. Dirt between these areas can cause the bolt to
loosen or break.
Keep track
tension just
right by
checking it
after every
operation.
Here’s how…
Check wear
marks on tank
and M88A1
sprockets
Sprocket tooth
extends beyond
gauge?
Good PM
has me
smilin'!
My broken
teeth make
me
use-
less!
Measure between string and center point of end connector
618. 06-07 (C)
3/29/04
11:11 AM
Page 1
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