PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-627

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 627

FEBRUARY 2005
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-627 - Page 29 of 33
PS 627
FEB 05
55
M17-Series Decon…
Starting after Sitting
Dear Editor,
If you try to fire up your M17 decon after it's been sitting idle for weeks,
you could end up sending crystallized gas chunks or gummed-up fuel into the
fuel nozzles. Then you've got a plugged fuel system and a major cleaning chore
ahead of you.
Avoid that chore by purging the old fuel. Get a 2-ft fuel hose that fits over
the metal burner return line. Take off the return line hose and connect the
2-ft hose in its place. Put the other end of the hose in a container to catch
the contaminated fuel. Stick the burner suction hose in a can of fresh fuel.
Start the engine and run it
for one minute. That should
get all the old gas out of the
system. Dispose of the
drained fuel properly.
Pull off the hose you used
for purging and reconnect the
hose for the burner return
line. Make sure the other
end of the return hose is in
the fuel can with the suction
hose like it normally would be.
Now start the engine and
see if the burner fires up. If it
doesn't, you need to clean
the fuel nozzles and solenoid
and try again.
Jim Blackiston
RDECom Decon/Smoke Team
APG, MD
PS 627
FEB 05
54
M17-Series Decon…
Connect to Correct Connecting Link
Dear Editor,
In my role as a roving troubleshooter/inspector for the M17-series decon,
I find that 25 percent of the M17 connecting links between the carburetor
and the engine vane are either missing or have had a piece of coat hanger
substituted.
The result is the engine governor vane gets bent in the engine housing and
the M17 engine can't reach high enough rpm to decon properly. There is no
replacement vane. The only fix is to buy a whole new engine block for more
than $3,000.
Before you order a new block,
have your support remove the head
nuts, washers, head gasket, and
head to take out the vane. They
can try to reshape the vane to its
original shape and then reassemble
the engine. The nuts must be
torqued to 22-23 ft/lb.
Use the correct connecting link,
give the reshaped vane a try. If it
works, you've saved $3,000.
Never try to fabricate a con-
necting link. When a link is damaged
or missing, order a new one. The link
costs less than $6. It's not worth
risking a $3,000 engine.
Jim Blackiston
RDECOM Decon/Smoke Team
APG, MD
(Editor's note:
Another good decon
suggestion, Jim. Thanks again.)
(Editor's note:
Excellent idea that should
save decon units time. Thanks, Jim.)
If connecting link disappears, order a new one.
Don’t try to fabricate a link.
That damages engine vane.
I’ve been
sitting here
for
weeks!
my fuel has
gone
bad.
I
need purging
bad!
I don’t think you
should have used
a coat hanger to
make a connecting
link.
I just can’t
seem to build
up any rpm!
Connect
2-ft hose to
burner return
line and put
other end in
contaminated
fuel container.
Run engine for
one minute.
M17-Series Decon…
627.54-55(C)
12/28/04
2:39 PM
Page 1
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