TM-9-2350-247-10 Operator Manual M548A1 M548A3 Tracked Cargo Carrier Download
Page 258 of 640
TM 9-2350-247-10 OPERATE CARRIER IN EXTREME COLD: BELOW -25 F (-31 C) — Continued 0039 00 DO’S WARNING Touching metal surfaces of carrier with bare hands may cause injury to personnel. Wear gloves. C A U T I O N Even with antifreeze in it, coolant can freeze. So can batteries. Ordinary oil can get so thick it won’t pour, and grease gets as stiff as cold butter. Bare skin can stick to cold metal so tight that you tear skin getting free. Rubber gets hard, and cracks or breaks easily. C A U T I O N You must follow approved methods and precautions for extreme cold operations. FM 9-207 is required reading. It contains information and instructions necessary to operate this carrier in extreme cold (below -25 F (-32 C)). NOTE Make sure your carrier has been prepared as described in FM 9-207. You should also become familiar with FM 31-70, FM 31-71, and FM 3-97.6. They contain important information on operation in extreme cold. In addition to using special fuel, lubricants, and coolant in extreme cold, the carrier should be equipped with a n engine coolant hea ter (WP 004 0 00 or WP 00 41 00 ). If y ou m ust operate in extreme cold without the coo lant heater, you m ust drain the coolant and rem o ve the batteries to a warm p lace every time the carrier is shut down. The engine must be preheated before replacing the coolant a nd engine start u p. If you do n’t h ave the e n gin e air in ta ke an d exhaust covers, u se tarpauli ns to co ver grilles (W P 0 026 0 0 o r WP 00 27 00 ). 1. Be alert at all times for the effects of cold on the carrier. 2. Keep an eye on your engine instruments all the time. If you get an unusual reading, stop and check it out right away. 3. Install air inlet and exhaust grille covers and adjust for conditions. 4. Start engine coolant heater as soon as you stop for more than a few hours. 5. Read TC 21-306 to learn about the methods and special hazards of driving on snow, ice, and unusual terrain. 6. Drive carrier slowly in 1 Range for about 100 yards (91 m), before you move out, to warm up the lubricant in the drive train and suspension. 7. Park in shelter whenever you can. If there’s no shelter, park so the carrier doesn’t face the wind. 8. If you can’t park in shelter, put a footing of planks or brush under the tracks so they won’t get frozen in. 9. Clean snow, ice, or mud off your carrier as soon as you can. 10. Drain fuel filters and air separator tank, and fill the fuel tanks as soon as you can. Water forms in an empty tank when it cools down. Water anywhere in the fuel system can freeze and block the system. 11. Keep the carrier covered as much as you can. If you can’t use the cab and cargo covers, use tarpaulins or anything available to protect the carrier. 0039 00-2 Change 1 º º º º