PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-699
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 699
FEBRUARY 2011
4
PS 699
FEB 11
5
PS 699
FEB 11
W
hen it’s time for your tank to hit the wash rack, the last thing you want to worry
about is leaks, crewmen. But that’s what happens if you forget to protect the turret
race ring.
When water is forced inside the race ring, grease is washed away. Dirt gets inside
and mixes with the moisture to start the corrosion process. Corrosion damages the
springs, ball bearings, and the race itself. Eventually the turret grinds to a halt and
will no longer traverse.
Fixing the damage is dif±cult and
costly, so avoid it by using the turret’s
in²atable seal to keep wash water out.
You’ll ±nd the in²atable seal on all
M1, M1A1 and some M1A2 tanks.
Close the bleed cock below the
in²atable seal’s pressure gauge and
pump the handle until the gauge reads
25 psi. If the seal won’t in²ate to 25
psi, let your mechanic know. The seal
could be damaged.
After washing the tank, de²ate the
seal by opening the bleed cock and
allowing the pressure to drop to 0 psi.
Do not
try to traverse the turret with
the seal in²ated. That tears the seal.
Don’t forget to grease the turret
race
ring
monthly
with
aircraft
grease (WTR), NSN 9150-01-501-
5729 (MIL-PRF-81322). That keeps
corrosion away and the race ring
turning smoothly.
W
hen it comes to roadwheels, the MLRS has always had only one option: the
aluminum roadwheel, NSN 2530-00-801-6702.
That’s because the MLRS had to be light enough to be air-lifted by the C-141
Starlifter. Steel roadwheels, NSN 2530-01-310-2237, made the vehicle too heavy.
Now that the C-141 has been retired, that restriction has been lifted. Both the
Bradley and MLRS can use steel and aluminum roadwheels. In fact, you can mix
and match both types of roadwheels on the same vehicle. Just don’t mix them on the
same road arm.
So, how do you tell the two roadwheel types apart? Aluminum roadwheels have a
steel wear plate riveted in place. Steel roadwheels have no wear plate and no rivets.
Continue to use the aluminum roadwheels until unit supplies are exhausted. Then
make the switch to all steel roadwheels.
M1-Series Tanks…
M2/M3-Series Bradleys, MLRS Carrier…
No Need to Watch Your Weight
Pump handle
until gauge
reads 25 psi
Aluminum roadwheel has rivets…
...while steel roadwheel has none
Lube race
ring monthly
with aircraft
grease
check
out
these
guns!
nice!
but if you want
my race ring to last,
you’ll pump me up before
we go to the wash rack!
hey, you
look like
you’ve put on
a few pounds!
that’d be
my
steel
roadwheels!
I don’t have to
watch my weight
anymore!
T
!
P
IU
IU
P
M
U
P
699.04-05.indd
1-2
12/27/10
4:44 PM
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