PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-682
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 682
SEPTEMBER 2009
31
PS 682
SEP 09
Backplate–
If you need to take off the backplate, Frst ease the bolt forward. That
takes pressure off the spring and prevents the drive rod from springing out of the
receiver and spearing you.
When you put the backplate back
on, don’t jam it on. That wears out
the locking latch. Then the backplate
could come off when you lift up on the
backplate handles. If the M2’s cocked,
the drive rod shoots out and into you.
The right way to put on the backplate
is to Ft it in the receiver grooves and then
pull back the latch lock while lifting up
on the latch. Slide the backplate down
until it locks in the receiver.
Feed assembly–
If the feed assembly
is put together wrong, the feed lever lug
and bolt switch bang against each other
during Fring and are damaged. Most
gunners feed from the left, so the left
groove should be unblocked. If you do
feed from the right, turn the bolt switch
so the right groove is unblocked.
Sear slide–
The sear slide
always
goes in from the
left
. If you install it
from the right, your M2 won’t Fre from
the M63 mount.
Cocking lever–
Make sure to push the
cocking lever forward before pushing
the bolt in the receiver. If you push the
bolt in with the lever back, the bolt jams
and your repairman has to unjam it.
How to Carry
Many M2s have to go for
repairs each year because Soldiers
don’t carry them correctly and end
up dropping them. The M2 weighs
more than 80 pounds, so the best
way to carry it is with four hands.
After the barrel is removed,
have a buddy lock his hands under
the barrel support while you lock
your hands under the receiver Fve
inches from its end.
If you’re alone, hold the barrel
support with your left palm out
and the receiver with your right
palm in. Brace the receiver against
your legs for more support.
Never
use
the
backplate
handles for a carrying handle.
The backplate can slip out and
the receiver takes a tumble in the
vicinity of your toes.
If you don’t have a rack, the
M2 should be stored flat so it can’t
fall. But don’t put M2s on top of
each other. That will break things
like sights.
Breech lock–
It’s easy to put it in
backwards. The beveled side should
face forward toward the muzzle. Once
installed, the lock should easily move
up and down in the guideways of the
barrel extension.
Bolt, buffer and barrel extension–
Put them together as one piece before
putting them in the receiver. That’s
much easier than putting them together
in the receiver.
Put It Together Right
all the care you
give your m2 will
be pointless if you
don’t put it back
together right.
these are
some assembly
mistakes…
Left groove clear for left feed
Bolt
switch
Left
groove
Right
groove
Feed
lever
Bolt
base
Sear slide goes
left to right
Push
locking
lever
forward
before
installing
bolt
Beveled
side
faces
toward
muzzle
Assemble
bolt,
buffer,
and barrel
extension
outside
receiver
Pull back
on latch
lock while
lifting latch
4-hand carry is best
Brace it against your body
Latch
Latch lock
682.30-31.indd
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8/7/09
2:37:45 PM
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