PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-620
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 620
JULY 2004
Dear Editor,
If a torque bolt on the Patriot launcher becomes frozen with corrosion, you
can break the bolt trying to turn it. Then you’ve got to spend two or more
hours cutting off the bolt with a hacksaw. That is not an afternoon of fun.
It’s easy enough to prevent frozen torque bolts. Every month give all the
bolts a light coat of an oil like WD-40. Run the bolts up and down to work
the lube in. That’s much easier than getting out the hacksaw.
SSG Jose Diaz
SSG Paul Bary
SFC Earlie Poole
SSG Verdie Johnson
Ft Bliss, TX
PS 620
JUL 04
19
Patriot Missile System…
Dear Editor,
The data link terminal module (DLTM), launcher missile round distributor
(LMRD), and launcher electronics module (LEM) on the Patriot's launcher
just don't get the PMCS attention they deserve. As a result, they suffer
electrical damage from moisture or overheat from lack of air. Those can be
expensive fixes, besides killing missile launches. We've found these pointers
will keep the DLTM and LEM pointed in the right direction:
•
Drain them.
This is
something Patriot crews often
forget. Water builds up inside
the DLTM, LMRD or LEM,
which causes electrical dam-
age and corroded connectors.
The TM recommends draining
them monthly, but if you're
operating in a rainy area every
other day would be better. We
open up their drain plugs when
we begin PMCS and close
them when we're finished.
•
Clean the fans in the DLTM,LMRD and LEM, especially in
the desert.
If the fans are running constantly in the desert, they will soon
be caked with sand. If the fans aren't cleaned, they'll eventually burn out
and the DLTM, LMRD or LEM will overheat. We clean the fans daily when
we're operating. We've found the easiest way to clean the fans is to take
them out of the DLTM, LMRD or LEM and blow them off with an air hose.
•
Keep water hoses
away from the DLTM,
LMRD and LEM.
They're not
completely waterproof. High-
pressure water will get inside
their components and cause all
sorts of damage. On all Patriot
components you should never
clean with hoses above the
wheel level. And even then you
should fasten the louver covers
on both the DLTM, LMRD and
LEM to make sure water can't
accidentally get in them.
CW2 Isaac Smith, PFC Bobby Jackson
Ft Bliss, TX
Drain DLTM,
LMRD and
LEM often in
wet weather
Keep water
hoses away
from DLTM,
LMRD and
LEM
Close louver
covers when
washing
wheels
Lube torque
bolts monthly
uh-oh.
get
out the hack-
saw. there
goes your
afternoon.
620. 18-19 (C)
6/8/04
11:11 AM
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