PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-636

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 636

NOVEMBER 2005
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-636 - Page 7 of 33
Starting
Now you’re ready to start the vehicle:
1.
Pull out and hold the
FUEL SHUTOFF handle.
Before Shutdown
Just before shutdown, run the engine at idle and turn on the FLAME HEATER
switch. If the heater is working OK, you’ll see a slight decrease in engine speed and
an increase in exhaust smoke. If not, call your mechanic.
Testing the flame heater also ensures that fuel is in the fuel supply line the next
time you start your vehicle.
To increase the chances of an easy start the next time the thermometer takes a nose
dive, have your mechanic install a cold start enhancement kit, NSN 2990-01-342-
7944.
The kit maintains 1
1
⁄
2
psi of positive pressure in the fuel lines. That prevents loss
of prime in the flame heater fuel supply line when the engine is not running.
You’ll find the kit listed on Page 0063 005 in TM 9-2815-202-24P (Jun 03).
PS 636
NOV 05
10
M109A2-A5 SP Howitzers…
Put Some
heat
in
Cold
starts
Before You Start
1.
Turn off the personnel heater and shut off the COOLANT HEATER switch.
2.
Make sure the battery indicator gauge is in the green range.
2.
Push the STARTER switch to
START and the FLAME HEATER
switch to ON at the same time.
Crank the engine for 15 seconds.
Release the FUEL SHUTOFF handle.
3.
Keep cranking the engine while setting the FLAME HEATER switch to ON for
one second and to OFF for one second until the tachometer reads at least 300 rpm.
4.
Let go of the FLAME HEATER switch. Keep cranking until the tachometer reads
at least 500 rpm. The hand throttle may be increased about 1/8 travel to help start
the vehicle once 500 rpm is reached. Do not use the foot throttle or the engine will
return to idle once it’s released.
5.
Stop cranking if the engine hasn’t started after two minutes, or you can burn up
the starter. Wait at least two minutes, then repeat steps 1 through 4. If the engine still
won’t start or doesn’t reach 100 rpm or more after 15 seconds, tell your mechanic.
6.
Release the starter switch after the engine starts and follow the engine warmup
procedures in the -10 TMs.
3.
Set the parking brake
and shift the transmission
to neutral.
4.
Turn the MASTER
switch to ON.
The indica-
tor lamp should come on.
5.
Turn the FUEL PRIME
switch ON for 45 seconds,
then release.
I’m s-so c-c-cold!
h-how will I e-ever
g-get s-
started?
d
rivers, if you don’t start your M109 howitzer right during cold weather, it won’t
start at all.
cold
weather
is
no
problem
if you get
a good
start!
636.10-11(C).qxd
9/26/05
3:31 PM
Page 1
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