TM  10-8400-203-23 3-5.  REPAIR  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF  BODY  ARMOR–Continued I Apply the adhesive to each surface to be joined and press the surfaces firmly together. When using adhe- sive for repairing open seams or broken stitches, it is recommended  that  the  adhesive  not  be  used  for  re- pair of bartacking nor for the repair of pocket to shell seam. Use of adhesive is not recommended on open or  broken  seams  in  excess  of  one  and  a  half  inches (3.81  cm).  When  the  outer  shell  has  been  removed from  the  vest,  open  seams  and  broken  stitches  may be  repaired  by  the  above  adhesive  patching  cement procedure or by following types of stitch, thread size, and stitches per inch specified in table 3-2. Machines will  be  used  for  all  servicing  except  in  emergency repair.  Adjust  thread  tension  so  that  there  will  be  no loose  stitching  or  excessively  tight  stitching  resulting in puckering of the material sewn. When restitching an open  seam  or  when  a  thread  breaks  during  normal stitching, backstitch not less than 3/4 inch (1.91 cm). For stitch-type  illustrations,  see  Federal  Standard  751.  In general, stitching, will conform to that of original man- ufacture  and  be  performed  with  nylon  thread  con- forming  to  Type  I,  II,  or  Ill,  any  type  of  Specification V-T-295. 3-8