Chapter 4. PRESERVATION AND PACKING OF MAJOR ITEMS

TM 746-10

CHAPTER 4

PRESERVATION AND PACKING OF MAJOR ITEMS

Section I. UTILITY AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

4-3. Air Compressors

4-1. General

Perform preservation of compressor prior to, or

Preservation and packing of utility and support

simultaneously with, the preservation of the power unit.

equipment not specifically identified in this section

Process the power unit per paragraph 4-5.

should be processed by using instructions for similar-

type items possessing the same physical and

a. Reciprocating compressors.

mechanical characteristics.

(1) Rated 200 pounds per square inch (psi) and

below. Fill compressor crankcase to operating level

4-2. Maintenance and Repair Shop Equipment

with P-10, grade 30. Remove the air cleaners and pour

a. Machine tools installed in vans. Thoroughly

or spray 4 to 5 ounces of P-10, grade 30, into each air

cleaner connection. Start the compressor and, while

clean items such as lathes, drill presses, saws, and

operating, fog or spray an adequate amount of the same

grinders of dirt and exterior grease, and lubricate them

preservative oil into the first stage compressor section

with prescribed lubricants. Coat unpainted, exposed

until the preservative is observed in the final stage

machine surfaces with P-10. Wrap or cover the coated

discharge. Drain the excess preservative oil from the

surfaces with greaseproof barrier material and secure in

condensate separators while the compressor is

place with tape.

operating. Stop the compressor and reinstall the air

b. Portable electric tools. Coat unprotected metal

cleaners.

surfaces with P-10 and cover coated surfaces with

(2) Rated above 200 psi.

Fill compressor

greaseproof barrier material. Place in carrying cases, if

crankcase with P-10, grade 30. Start the compressor

provided, or package in fiberboard boxes.

and operate, without load, at normal operating speed for

30 minutes. At the end of the operating period and

c. Handtools, reamer sets, tap and die sets, etc.

before the compressor is stopped, open the drain valve.

(1) Individually wrap items with VCI in sets

Stop the compressor and, when the pressure has been

contained in cases and secure with tape. Place items in

completely released, close the drain valve. Purge the

their designated location in the case and seal with tape.

compressor stages for 1 hour with dry compressed air or

As an alternate, a single sheet of VCI may be placed on

nitrogen with a dew point of minus 40 or more. Close

top of the tools and the case sealed, as specified herein.

the valve on the downstream side of the receiver. Place

(2) If no case is provided, preserve tools, as

new cartridges in the cartridge holders and close the rain

specified above, and preserve unit pack submethod IC-

caps or covers.

1. Place tools in drawers, cabinets, or other storage

b. Rotary compressors. Fill compressor crankcase

space within the van.

to operating level with P-10, grade 10. Start the

d. Tachometers, multimeters, voltmeters, electrical

compressor and operate at normal speed until it reaches

test sets, frequency meters, etc. Cushion and place

its normal temperature. Reduce the speed and operate

items in carrying cases provided or cushion and pack in

at a slow idle for approximately 3 minutes and then stop

fiberboard boxes.

the compressor.

e. Common handtools.

Preserve common

c. Air receivers. Fog with P-10, grade 30, the

handtools such as hammers, screwdrivers, chisels,

interior surfaces of air receivers on reciprocating

picks, and shovels by applying P-1 to unprotected,

compressors and rotary compressors when the air

ferrous metal surfaces.

receiver is located downstream on the dry side from the

air oil separators. Drain cocks will be left open.

f. Pneumatic tools. Coat interior surfaces of air

motors by injecting P-10, grade 30, into the air stream

d. Pressure regulation system.

Coat interior,

while operating the air motor until the preservative

ferrous metal surfaces with P-10, grade 10.

appears at the exhaust port. Cover the air inlets and

e. Openings.

Seal all openings into the

outlets with tape or a combination of tape and

compressor such as crankcase breathers, oil filter tubes,

greaseproof barrier material.

Coat unpainted or

and oil dipstick tubes with tape.

unprotected, ferrous metal surfaces with P-1.

4-1