AEROGRAPHER'S MATE 3 & 2 



MAINTENANCE 



This equipment generally requires very little 

 maintenance. The maintenance of this equipment 

 consists mostly of inspection and lubrication. 



Transmitter Maintenance 



Once a week (or more often during severe 

 weather conditions) visually inspect the trans- 

 mitter for evidence of physical damage, such 

 as broken impeller, rust, or weakened mast. 

 Under normal conditions the equipment should 

 require lubrication every 2 years. However, 

 in a subtropic or polar climate the equipment 

 may need lubrication more often. 



Normally, an AG1 or AGC accomplishes the 

 lubrication and other maintenance which 

 requires the dismantling of the set. If the 

 AG3 or AG2 is on a one-man billet, or there 

 is no AG1 or AGC, request assistance from 

 a nearby weather unit. 



Indicator Maintenance 



The only service inspection required for 

 the indicators, at the Aerographer's Mate 3 

 and 2 levels, is an observation of their operation 

 to detect erroneous readings or failure of 

 the lamps. 



Recorder Maintenance 



It is not recommended that any parts be 

 repaired or replaced in the recorder other 

 than lamp bulbs, pens, ink tanks, chart drive 

 motors, and chart drive switches. Replacement 

 of other recorder parts requires the use of 

 overhaul facilities. 



When cleaning the recorder, DO NOT clean 

 electrical parts. Clean the mechanical parts 

 as follows: 



Wash exterior painted surfaces and the 

 window with soap and water; rinse and dry 

 thoroughly. Do not wash the inside of the case. 

 Do not clean the windows with a solvent since 

 minute cracks may result. 



Clean the ink tanks by prying off the covers, 

 removing them from the recorder, and washing 

 the parts in warm water. Rinse and dry thor- 

 oughly. If washing does not remove all of the 

 dried ink, loosen the remainder by soaking 



the tank in alcohol; then wash as before. Be 

 sure the vent holes in the cover are open and 

 that the cover is not bent in removing. 



Clean the pen element by blowing water or 

 alcohol through it with the pen filler. Loosen 

 clogged ink particles that block the pen by running 

 a fine piano wire through the tube and then 

 cleaning as above. 



The recorder should be lubricated every 

 quarter. This interval is established for 

 operation on a 24-hour basis under moderate 

 climatic conditions. Whenever climatic con- 

 ditions necessitate more frequent intervals 

 for general servicing, the lubrication interval 

 should be shortened accordingly. Avoid overlu- 

 brication; overlubrication is injurious to the 

 recorder. Inspect the equipment after lu- 

 brication. Remove all excess oil, as it tends to 

 collect dust or gum up. Oil may be properly 

 applied by dipping a toothpick in the oil and 

 applying it to the surface to be lubricated. 

 Remove excess oil with a clean, lint-free cloth. 



The pen elements are properly balanced when 

 they are full of ink, and the balance adjust- 

 ment should not be changed unless necessary. 

 Whenever rebalancing is required, screw the 

 two balance weights as necessary along the 

 shaft on the rear of the pen to rebalance. 

 The pen balance should be such that when the 

 chart is tapped lightly with one finger, the pen 

 bounces up and down on the chart. A pen pressure 

 that is too heavy on the chart causes the pen to 

 drag toward the center of the chart or noticeably 

 reduces the speed of response of the pen. 

 Accordingly, if maximum response speed is 

 desired, the pen pressure must be no greater 

 than is necessary for satisfactory inking. Handle 

 the pen element carefully; a bent element causes 

 incorrect readings. 



SHIPBOARD WIND SYSTEM 

 TYPE B3 



Type B3 Wind Indicating Equipment (fig. 3-6) 

 is installed aboard some ships to determine 

 wind speed and direction. Aboard aircraft 

 carriers this system is supplemented with a 

 wind recorder of the type used with the shore 

 system (fig. 3-5). It, however, only records 

 the apparent wind direction and speed, which 

 must then be used to compute true wind direction 



46 



