PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-621
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 621
AUGUST 2004
Dear Editor,
Teachers learn from experience, too. Through teaching soldiers at the
U.S. Army Chemical School, I’ve learned a few tricks on keeping an M17-
series decon running.
•
TM 3-4230-228-10
says to shut down the
M17 by pushing the
throttle to 0. The trou-
ble with that is that the
sudden stop strains the
belt for the water wheel
and wears out the belt
faster. Avoid that by
gradually lowering the
engine speed until the
water wheel stops. Then
push the throttle to 0.
•
M17s have 2-cycle engines
that require oil mixed with
MOGAS. The older M17s and
M17A1s need 1 quart per 5 gal-
lons of gas while the newer
M17A2s and M17A3s need 1 pint.
To avoid confusion, units need to
color code fuel cans to match
either the silver fan guards on
the M17 and M17A1 or the black
guards of the M17A2 or M17A3
to avoid putting in the wrong
fuel-oil mixture. They also need
to stencil ENGINE: TWO-CYCLE
MOGAS ONLY on the cans.
Units also need to remember,
though, many old M17s have been
upgraded to M17A2s or -A3s,
but the markings and instructions
on the decon still are those for
the older version. That could lead
to someone putting in the wrong
fuel-oil mixture. If your M17s have
been upgraded, stencil M17A2 or
M17A3 in big letters on the
decon and paint out the old
instructions for the fuel oil mix-
ture. Stencil 1 PINT OIL PER 5
GAL MOGAS somewhere like on
the side of the burner.
•
Don’t let the wand waste water when you operate with a blivet. Hang
the wand on the side of the blivet so the water goes right back in the
blivet when you’re not deconning. Idle down the M17 so that the water
pressure is low. This is especially important in the desert.
•
If the wires around
the starting handle
dangle, they can be
ripped right out when
you jerk the handle out.
Prevent that by tying
the wires back with
several zip ties.
SSG Jorge Morel
U.S. Army Chemical
School
Ft Leonard Wood, MO
PS 621
AUG 04
48
PS 621
AUG 04
49
M17-Series Decon…
Slowly lower
RPMs until water
wheel stops
Color code
cans and
stencil
ENGINE
TWO-CYCLE
MOGAS
ONLY
Stencil M17A2 or M17A3
on upgraded M17s
Tie back wires around
starting handle
(
Editor’s note:
Whoa! You did good, Sergeant.
Thanks for sharing your teaching experience.)
give him
—and them—
a listen!
this experienced
teacher from the
chemical school
has some great
ideas on
helping your m1
7
.
621. 48-49 (C)
7/3/04
1:36 PM
Page 1
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