PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-631
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 631
JUNE 2005
T
he TOW 2 missile system's traversing unit (TU) cable is too long to fit inside the
TU. So the cable sticks out where it can be stepped on or crimped. If the cable is
damaged, you're out thousands of dollars. Plus if you're forced to lay the TU on its
side for storage you need twice as much storage space.
SPC Stacy Stanfa and SPC Donald
McIntosh of the NYARNG at Ft Drum
gave an easy solution for storing the
TU back in PS 517 (Dec 95). Some
units missed it so here it is again:
Make a TU stand with schedule 40
8-in diameter PVC pipe. If your DOL
doesn't have any pipe, your local
plumbing supply store will.
Cut off a 5
1
⁄
4
-in piece of the pipe.
For handholds, cut a 4
1
⁄
2
-in x 1-in slot
on each side of the pipe.
Then set the TU upright in the stand.
The TU should fit snugly in the stand
up to the TU outer lip. The cables are
coiled safely inside the pipe. Use the
handhold slots to pick up the TU.
4
1
/
2
"
5
1
/
4
"
1"
PS 631
JUN 05
23
TOW 2 Missile System…
Make Your Stand…For Your TU
PS 631
JUN 05
22
Patriot Missile System…
W
hen the fifth wheel on the Patriot missile system's tractor and the M860 trailer
kingpin get in bad shape, you can't hook them up to hit the road. If they get in too
bad a shape, you think the truck and trailer are locked together, but they're not. One
Patriot unit watched their launcher take a spill when the truck drove off but the
launcher didn't follow. And even worse, a weak kingpin can also break off during
travel.
A little PM, though, will keep your Patriot trucking.
If you're operating in the desert, sand is more of a problem than rust. Grease the
fifth wheel and kingpin lightly only. When the truck and trailer aren't hooked up,
cover the fifth wheel and kingpin with plastic bags to prevent the grease from col-
lecting sand. When it's time to travel, wipe off any sand from them before you hook
up. Sand will cause the kingpin and fifth wheel to wear fast.
In rainy areas like Germany and Korea, corrosion is the problem. Grease the king-
pin and fifth wheel monthly. Any time you can't see grease on either, grease them.
It's a good idea to check the condition of the kingpin before you hit the road.
Here's how:
•
Completely wipe off all grease from
the kingpin and then clean it with dry
cleaning solvent. That way you can easi-
ly spot problems.
•
Look for cracks, gouges, and chips.
Any cracks in the kingpin make it NMC,
as do any nicks, chips or gouges deeper
than
1
⁄
8
inch.
Check kingpin for cracks and chips
…now
we’ve got
some
real
explaining
to do!
Cut pipe like this
Set TU
like this
with
cables
coiled
inside
pipe
it’s time we
make a stand…
for your tu,
that is!
Don’t Trail on Trailer PM
uh-oh!
no
one checked
the condition
of the king-
pin…
631.22-23(C)
4/28/05
6:30 PM
Page 1
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