PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-673

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 673

DECEMBER 2008
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-673 - Page 5 of 33
Lubrication Update
Proper lubrication and service info is not in the -10 or -20 level TMs. Until those
TMs can be updated, make sure the road arms and housing assemblies are lubed
with GAA semiannually or every 1,500 miles, whichever comes Frst.
To lube a road arm that’s mounted on the vehicle, remove the two plugs, NSN
4730-00-278-2965, at the top of the road arm housing.
Install a grease Ftting,
NSN
into the top hole and a
pressure relief valve, NSN
side, angled hole.
Add GAA to the grease
Ftting until you see clean
grease coming out of the
relief valve. Wipe away the
excess grease, then replace
the Fttings with the plugs.
You’ll Fnd the complete scoop on the road arm bearings in TACOM MAM
08-030:
6
PS 673
DEC 08
M
echanics, the road arm bearings, NSN 3120-01-102-4700 (outer) and NSN 3120-
01-102-4701 (inner), on some Bradleys have been failing. Soft bearings are part of
the problem, but lack of lubrication is also a culprit. The added weight of belly armor
and reactive armor tiles just compounds the problem.
2.
Use a tanker’s bar to pry
the roadwheel up from the
track. This is a quick check
for a broken torsion bar, but
you can also use it to watch
and feel for movement in the
road arm that signals free play
in the bearings.
3.
Put the tanker’s bar between
the double roadwheels and try
to move the roadwheels on the
spindle. Movement indicates
bearing problems.
If any of these three tests lead you to believe there’s a problem, lift the suspect
roadwheels with the dogbone tool, NSN 4910-01-118-7711. With the roadwheels
in the air and no longer supporting the vehicle’s weight, use the tanker’s bar to test
for movement again. If the roadwheels move, you need to disassemble and repair
the bearings.
If the bearings show a lack of lube when disassembled, you should assume that
all
of the road arms on that vehicle lack proper lubrication. It’s strongly advised that
you go ahead and inspect and lubricate all of that vehicle’s road arms.
1.
Perform a visual
in-
spection. Are any of the
road arm seals leaking
or protruding? Are any
of the road arms out of
alignment relative to the
hull and in comparison
with other road arms?
Are any of the road arms
canted at an angle?
M2/M3-Series Bradley…
Wrasslin’ With the Road Arms
Look for canted roadwheels
Use tanker’s
bar to check
for bearing
movement
Grease Ftting goes here…
…and
relief
valve
here
that’s why tacom recommends you perform
an inspection of all bradley road arms as
soon as it’s convenient, but no later than
the next semiannual or 1,500 mile service.
hey,
couldja
take a look at
my road arms?
I don’t think
I’m
bearing
up!
673.06-07.indd
1-2
10/27/08
5:24:14 PM
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