PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-729
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 729
AUGUST 2013
4
PS 729
AUG 13
P
P
revention really is the best medicine when it comes to preventing rust- and
corrosion-causing moisture in your M1 tank’s ammo compartment.
When you do PM on the hull ammo compartment, make sure you place a couple
desiccant bags inside to absorb moisture. Then check the desiccant bags regularly. If
they’re moist or the compartment walls are wet, time for new desiccant.
NSN 6850-00-264-6571 gets a drum of 300 bags of desiccant.
But
sometimes
you
might Fnd more water in the
ammo compartments than
desiccant bags can handle.
If that happens, take a close
look at the blow-off panels.
Sometimes the seals under
those panels wear out and
allow water to leak through
to the ammo compartment.
There’s also a small environmental cover to the rear of the blow-off panel. Check
for cracked welds, broken or missing bolts or a leaky seal. All can lead to water
problems in the ammo compartment.
If
those
aren’t
causing
the
problem, it could be you’re using
high-pressure
water
or
steam
to
clean the engine compartment when
the powerpack is removed. That can
force water past the gasket on the
hull ammo well access panel and into
the ammo compartment. Check the
gasket and avoid spraying this panel
in the future.
As an extra precaution, cover your tank with a tarp, especially when it’s being
stored for a long time. Use NSN 2540-01-568-9376 to order a tan tarp for M1A1
tanks and NSN 2540-01-568-9379 for a green tarp. Use the tarp from your BII for
your M1A2.
M
echanics, always discard the old seal and replace it with a new one when doing a
repair job on an M1-series tank’s line replaceable unit (LRU). Too many LRUs are
being put back into service without new seals and that can cause problems.
Before long, the LRU will have to be repaired or replaced. That’s because reusing
the old seal—or using no seal at all—means moisture, dust and other contaminants
get inside and damage the sensitive electronic components.
So be sure to replace the seals when doing repairs. And then remind tankers to
keep high-pressure water and steam away from LRUs.
Beating Ammo
Compartment Water Woes
M1-Series Tanks…
Beating Ammo
Compartment Water Woes
M1-Series Tanks…
Be Sure to Seal the Deal
Check
blow-off
panel seals
No high-pressure water on
hull ammo well access panel!
hey!
what
are you
up to?
gotta get all that
moisture
outta your
ammo compartment!
why
so glum,
pal?
didn’t you
get a
new seal
like me?
no!
and I
know I won’t
be effective
for long
without one!
729 04-05.indd
1-2
6/25/13
10:13 AM
Click here for a copy of these articles to save or email.
Back to TopBack to Top
