PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-686

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 686

JANUARY 2010
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-686 - Page 20 of 33
36
PS 686
JAN 10
Dear Editor,
While maintaining the .50-cal machine guns for our unit’s Kiowa Warriors,
we’ve come up with a few tips to keep the guns up and firing:
•
Make sure everyone knows what
needs to be done with the extractor
while unloading the .50-cal. To
unload,
the
extractor
must
be
flipped up. But after you’re finished
unloading, you must put the extractor
back down before you pull back the
bolt to clear the weapon. Otherwise,
the bolt will jam and possibly be
damaged. Then the extractor itself
will no longer go up and down and
your gun is out of action.
P
laying with knobs and buttons is fascinating. We turn ‘em, pull ‘em, push ‘em and
press ‘em.
For the Kiowa Warrior, the
standby altimeter button is not
a button to play with. In fact,
whether the aircraft is running
or not, go easy on all the cockpit
knobs, switches and buttons.
The standby altimeter measures
air pressure to let you know how
far your bird is above sea level.
Fumbling around with the standby altimeter button or turning it roughly can easily
strip its gears. Even turning it too fast while adjusting the settings can strip the gears. If
that happens, the altimeter will display incorrect readings on the multi-functional display
(MFD) panel. That could cause uncomfortable ground contact!
Damage the altimeter button and you’ll be ordering a new altimeter, NSN 5841-01-374-
6039. And, until it comes in, you won’t be flying anywhere. Your bird will be grounded!
•
Check the inside of the flash suppressor
for corrosion. The flash suppressor can
become so corroded that it can break
loose and fly off during firing. If you spot
any corrosion, clean it off with a wire
brush. Prevent corrosion by giving the
flash suppressor a light coat of MIL-
PRF-32033 when you clean and lube
the rest of the .50-cal. If you spot
cracks in the flash suppressor, get it
replaced. It’s in no shape for firing.
Get
MIL-PRF-32033
with
NSN
It
replaces
VV-L-800, which is obsolete.
•
Replace the lock wires for
the gun’s bolts every year.
Some Soldiers thought that
wasn’t necessary as long as
the .50-cal passed its gaging.
Not
true!
We had bolts
actually fall off during firing
because
they
weren’t
lock
wired securely. That can lead
to jamming and gun damage.
SGT Andrew Guiher
SGT Daniel Tharp
603rd Aviation
Hunter Army
Airfield, GA
Editor’s note:
Those are high caliber tips,
Sergeants. Thanks for sharing your experience.
OH-58D…
50-Carat Advice for .50-cal
OH-58D…
As the Knob Turns
Go easy on
altimeter
button
hey fellas,
I
know you admire my
cockpit, but leave
my buttons alone.
turn it
back this
way!
let’s
try this
one!
hold up,
let me check
this one!
When you’re ±nished unloading, extractor
needs to be pushed back down
Clean out corrosion with a wire brush
Check inside flash
suppressor for corrosion
Replace lock wires every year
listen up to these
tips on keeping your
oh-58’s gun firing
on target!
686.36-37.indd
1-2
12/1/09
11:54:40 AM
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