PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-709
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 709
DECEMBER 2011
38
PS 709
39
PS 709
DEC 11
A Line on Alignment
It doesn’t take much to knock the
canopy
out
of
alignment
and
then
it can’t seal out fumes. That’s why
you should never move the turret or
vehicle with the canopy open. That not
only destroys the canopy’s alignment
but also the mounting brackets for
the canopy struts. Shut and latch the
canopy before any movement.
For the same reason, don’t let the
canopy spring open or slam shut. Use
the lanyard to guide the canopy all
the way up or down. Gunners often
don’t guide the canopy all the way up
because the canopy lanyard is too short
for them to do it while they’re seated.
So they let it go. An easy ±x for that
is to lengthen the lanyard by tying 550
cord to it.
Any time the canopy moves without
resistance or won’t stay open, you’ve
got bad struts. Get them replaced.
A good weekly PMCS tip is to check
for cracks around where the canopy
arms attach to the blocks mounted
on the turret wall. If you catch cracks
while
they’re
small,
they’re
easily
±xed. But if the cracks get a chance to
grow, the arms can rip right out.
Dear Editor,
A Patriot system that has trailer problems is a Patriot that’s not going
anywhere. Here are a few tips to keep your Patriot trailers on the trail:
•
If the trailer’s brakes won’t release, check the air pressure. It needs to be
at least 120 psi. If that’s not the problem, the glad hands for the trailer
may be leaking from dry rot. Get your repairman to check it out.
•
If the trailer lights won’t
come on, check the pins
for the inter-vehicular
cable connections. If
pins are missing or bent,
your repairman will need
to be called in. But if
the pins are just pushed
in, you can use needle-
nosed pliers to pull them
out far enough so they
make contact when the
cable is plugged in.
If the pins are OK, the problem may be a bad ground. Check that the
nuts for the grounding wires are screwed down tight and aren’t rusted or
painted over.
•
Before you hook up trailers to their trucks, make sure the truck headlights
are turned off. If the headlights are on when you plug in the inter-vehicular
cables, arcing can burn out pins. That means no trailer lights.
CPL Marcelo Reyna
45th ADA
Ft Hood, TX
The Seal of Approval
You certainly want to make sure
the canopy has a good seal so you
don’t get missile exhaust in the
turret. Here’s an easy check:
• Put 6x1-in pieces of paper half
in and half out of each front
corner of the turret.
• Close and lock the canopy.
• Pull on the paper.
• If either piece slips out easily,
you’ve got a bad seal. Tell your
repairman pronto.
Editor’s note:
Terrifc trailer tips,
Corporal. Thanks For sharing.
Patriot
Missile
System…
Tips Keep
Trailer
on
the
Trail
Good
trailer pM,
Buddy! I’m
reaDy to
Hit
the TRAiL!
Check inter-
vehicular cable
connector for
bent, missing
or
pushed-in pins.
Close canopy before moving turret
or vehicle. Use lanyard to gently
open and close canopy
Tie 550 cord to canopy strap
to allow operator to open
canopy while seated
Check area
around canopy
arms for cracks
If paper pulls out easily,
canopy is leaking
709 38-39.indd
1-2
11/7/11
2:26 PM
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