Drivers,
Be sure to check your M113 FOV’s ramp hydraulic reservoir. If you don’t, your vehicle’s ramp could let you down when you need it most.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, check the fluid daily. Most importantly, check it the right way.
Make sure your vehicle is parked on level ground. Parking it on an incline could cause the sight glass reading to make it appear there’s either too much or too little hydraulic fluid in the reservoir.
If you adjust the level based on a faulty reading, you could end up with too much or too little hydraulic fluid. Too much means a big mess with FRH leaking out of the hydraulic system tank breather. Too little fluid could make your ramp act all wonky or stop working altogether.
Don’t forget that the ramp has to be all the way down when you check the fluid. Follow the ramp lowering instructions in the -10 TM. If you read the reservoir sight glass while the ramp’s closed or partially open, the reservoir will appear to have too little hydraulic fluid.
And check out the lubrication table on Card 21 of LO 9-2350-261-12 (Jul 90, w/Ch 4, Jul 97) for the M113A2 and Cards 18 and 19 of LO 9-2350-277-13 (May 12 w/Ch 1, Sep 13) for the M113A3. That’ll give you more information about keeping the hydraulic system up and running in all conditions.