TM 9-6695-274-14
CHAPTER 3
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
Section I. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SERVICES
inspection procedures. Any or all of these checks that
3-1. General. The purpose of preventive maintenance
are pertinent to any item (including
supporting,
is to detect the first signs of electrical and mechanical
attaching, or connecting members) will be performed as
failures, and to ensure that appropriate corrective action
general procedures, in addition to any specific
is taken before expansive and time-consuming repairs or
procedures given.
replacements are required. This system is based on
frequent inspections and services accomplished by
(1) Inspection for good condition is usually
operators or maintenance personnel under active
an external visual inspection to determine whether the
supervision by all commanders and supervisors.
unit is damaged beyond safe or serviceable limits. Good
condition is explained further as meaning not bent or
3-2. Responsibility. Operators and team
twisted, not chafed or burred, not broken or cracked, not
chiefs are
personally responsible for assigned
bare or frayed, not dented or collapsed, not torn or cut,
materiel.
Unit and organization commanders are
and not deteriorated.
required to ensure that materiel issued or assigned to
(2) Inspection of a unit to see that it is
their commands is properly maintained in a serviceable
correctly assembled or stowed is usually a visual
condition and is properly cared for and used.
inspection to see if the unit is in its normal position in the
materiel and if all its parts are present and in their correct
3-3. Intervals. The principal criteria for determining the
relative position.
frequency of preventive maintenance services are
(3) Inspection of a unit to determine if it is
operating hours and road movement. Since these cannot
secure is usually an external visual examination or a
be accurately predicted, these intervals should be
check by hand or wrench for looseness. Such an
established in an IOP. Operating under adverse
conditions such as extreme temperature or inclement
locknuts, locking wires, or cotter pins as well as any
weather may require that preventive maintenance
connecting tubes, hoses, or electrical cables.
services be performed more frequently. Reduce the
(4) Excessively worn means worn beyond
intervals when environmental conditions indicate the
serviceable limits or to a point likely to result in failure if
need. Do not exceed the intervals unless authorized to
the unit is not replaced before the next scheduled
do so.
inspection. Excessive wear of mating parts or linkage
3-4. General Procedures for all Services and
connection is usually evidenced by too much play (lash
Inspections
or lost motion). It includes illegibility as applied to
markings, data and caution plates, and printed matter.
a.
The following general procedures apply to
preventive maintenance services and to all inspections,
necessary" or "replace if necessary" are not used in the
and are just as important as the specific procedures.
specific procedures. It is understood that whenever
b.
Inspections to see if items are in good
inspection reveals the need of adjustment, repair or
condition, correctly assembled or stored, secure, not
replacement, the necessary action will be taken.
excessively worn, not leaking, and adequately lubricated
apply to most items in the preventive maintenance and
3-1