PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-711
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 711
FEBRUARY 2012
6
PS 711
FEB 12
7
PS 711
FEB 12
A
fter a long, hot day of Fring on the range, you may not feel like doing all of your
Paladin’s after-operation PMCS, crewmen. That would be a
big
mistake!
±or example, after Fring you’re supposed to slide back the bore evacuator, inspect
for damage and then clean, clean, clean!
Unfortunately, that’s not always happening,
especially when it comes to the prereservoir.
After you’ve cleaned and lubed the cannon tube,
evacuator oriFces, and metering holes, you’ve still
got to separate the prereservoir. That allows you
to clean and lube the evacuator ball valves, tube
surface, tube threads and prereservoir oriFces.
Neglect any of these areas and the surface of
the cannon tube will begin to rust and pit. Not
only will the cannon tube have to be condemned
early, but the damage can let carbon monoxide
back into the crew compartment during Fring.
So make sure you follow
all
of the instructions in Check 58 of the after-operation
PMCS. It starts on Page 2-55 of TM 9-2350-314-10 (±eb 99, w/Ch 8, Apr 11).
Dear Half-Mast,
We’ve been having a lot of trouble lately with breech corrosion on our
M777A2 towed howitzers. Specifically, the spindle and obturator pad are
turning up coated with rust!
I think the problem is that the spindle and obturator pad aren’t being removed
for cleaning and lubing after the howitzer is fired. But others in my unit argue
that since the lube instructions on Page 3-5 of TM 9-1025-215-10 don’t
say anything about removing the components, it’s unnecessary.
What do you say, MSG Half-Mast? Can you resolve this argument?
SSG J.C.B.
Dear Sergeant J.C.B.,
In this case, you win the argument, Sergeant! While the TM doesn’t specifcally
tell you to remove the spindle and obturator pad For cleaning, that
is
what was
intended. In Fact, the TM is scheduled to add removal oF the components For
cleaning and lubing at the next update.
By the way, the
M198 towed howitzer
and M109A6 Paladin
have the same breech
confguration and both
have had the same
rusting problems. In
their case, however,
the lubrication
instructions already say
to remove the spindle
and obturator pad For
cleaning aFter fring.
Winning the great
BreeCh Rust
Debate
M109A6
Paladin…
Don’t Forget the
Bore Evacuator!
M777A2, M198 Towed Howitzers, M109A6 Paladin…
Winning the great
BreeCh Rust
Debate
Tube will rust and pit if bore
evacuator is not cleaned
I sure hope
they remEmber
to clean my
bore evacuator
after we get
back!
dey forgot
again!
and by bore evacuator
is stuFfed ub
bad!
later…
NuThS!
If not removed for cleaning
and lubing, both spindle…
…and obturator
pad will rust
O
o
F
!
711 06-07.indd
1-2
12/22/11
11:05 AM
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