General Cleaning Instructions

TM 55-1520-226-20-1 INTRODUCTION - Continued (3) General Cleaning Instructions. If a steam cleaner is available, it may be used to remove any remaining dirt. After water or steam cleaning, lubricate vehicle. Check all lubricant reservoirs for water droplets. If water is found, drain and refill. Clean grease, oil, or dirt from all metal parts with dry cleaning solvent, cleaning compound, or equivalent. Use mild soap and water to clean or wash parts not made of metal. Rinse thoroughly after cleaning with water and then dry. Remove rust or dirt from fine-machined surfaces with dry cleaning solvent and crocus cloth, if necessary. Do not use any other material. Be careful not to change the dimensions of parts when rubbing off rust. Coat bare metal surfaces, after cleaning, with lubricating oil. Nameplates, caution plates, and instruction plates may rust quickly. When they are rusty, clean parts and coat them with lubricating oil. (4) General Maintenance Instructions. Put protective caps or plugs on all tubes, hoses, and fittings as soon as you disconnect them. Dirt could get in and ruin the system. Do not remove caps or plugs until you are ready to connect the system. Replace bent, broken, or stripped bolts, nuts, screws, and washers. Bolts, screws, and nuts may be loose if rust, chipped paint, or bare metal is around them. Tighten loose screws, bolts, and nuts. Replace missing parts. Inspect electric wires for broken, chafed, cracked, discolored, frayed, loose, melted, or worn insulation, Replace or repair bad parts. Have another soldier help aline mating ends of connectors, plugs, and receptacles on larger harnesses. Make sure that pins and keyways line up. Tighten twist-snap type connectors, plugs, or receptacles until a click is heard. Tighten screw-on type connectors until a ratchet noise is heard to indicate that connectors, plugs, or receptacles are tight. Look at hoses, fluid lines, and tubes for bends, wear, cracks, or leaks. Replace bad parts. Make sure all clamps and fittings are tight. If a fitting leaks, tighten it. Hold fitting adapter with one wrench and tighten nut with another wrench. When tightening fittings, tighten nut snug and then tighten 1/6-turn to 1/8-turn more. If fitting leaks, loosen nut a full turn and then tighten. If still leaking, replace defective parts. Service, clean, or change oil filters, as applicable, when they are known to be contaminated or clogged; service is recommended by AOAP laboratory analysis; or at prescribed hardtime intervals. (5) Lubrication. Use only authorized lubricants. All lubrication instructions are mandatory. Change 6 3-9