PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-734

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 734

JANUARY 2014
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-734 - Page 22 of 33
41
PS 734
JAN 14
Cleaning
If the launcher’s Fring contacts are dirty,
the rockets won’t have a good electrical
connection. Before a mission, every one of
the contacts should be cleaned with a wire
brush, NSN 7920-00-900-3577. Brush the
contacts in and out, not side to side, to
avoid damaging them. But remember the
Fring contacts are actually three inches
inside the tubes. Some Soldiers mistake
the igniter arms for the contacts.
The tubes need a thorough cleaning and the best time to do the cleaning is as soon
as possible after a Fring. That way carbon doesn’t get a chance to turn rock solid.
Before doing any cleaning, make sure the
aft igniter arms are in the LOAD/UNLOAD
positions
and
the
side
Fring
contacts
are
recessed so they won’t be damaged. Then spray
a bore brush with CLP. Push the bore brush into
each tube from the front of the launcher all the
way through the back. Push the brush slowly to
the rear while turning the handle. Repeat this
until the inside of the tubes are free of carbon.
But in the desert you want the tubes
wiped free of all CLP because CLP
attracts sand. Attach a rag to the brush
and run it back and forth in each tube
until all the CLP is gone. Change to a
clean rag after every third tube.
Before a mission in the desert, use
low-pressure air to blow out any sand
that may have gotten in the tubes.
PMCS
±eel each tube for looseness. Some units have had tubes shoot out during Fring.
If an M260 launcher has more than
two loose, dented or deformed tubes,
it should be replaced. ±or the M261,
it’s more than three bad tubes. A tube
is also bad if it fails voltage or fuse
circuitry continuity checks or it has
a damaged detent, detent spring or
igniter arm.
Replacement launchers are free
issue, accountable items, which are
tracked on the unit’s property book. Order M260 launchers with NSN 1055-01-070-
9113 and M261s with NSN 1055-01-071-0064. Make sure you are ordering within
your unit’s MTOE or else your requisition will be rejected by the supply system.
±or more info on how to clean and care for your launcher, see TM 9-1055-460-
13&P.
Loading Tool
Order a tool to
make loading
rockets
easier
with NSN
1005-01-
536-7961.
Storage
If you remove the launcher for storage, get help
carrying it. It’s too big for one person to safely
carry. Be careful setting it on its end. If you let it
slam down, the edge of the launcher can be bent and
the launcher rivets loosened.
M260/M261 Rocket Launcher…
The M260/M261 rocket
launcher will have a real
hangup with hangfires if
you haven’t prepared it
for firing.
Good
launches
hang
on
PM.
Clean contacts with wire brush
Igniter arms should be
in LOAD/UNLOAD position
Spray brush
with CLP
Turn brush as you
push it through tubes
Blow out launcher
before a mission
in the desert
Feel each tube
for looseness
Moving launcher
is
two
-man job
734 40-41.indd
1-2
11/25/13
12:13 PM
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