Chapter 5.
MAINTENANCE
20. General
Maintenance includes all measures taken to keep the rifle inoperating condition. This includes normal cleaning, inspectionfor defective parts, repair, and lubrication.
21. Cleaning, Materials, Lubricants, andEquipment.
(a.) Cleaning Materials.
(1.) Bore cleaner (cleaning compound solvent (CR)) isused primarily for cleaning the bore; however, it may be used onall metal parts for temporary (1-day) protection from rust.
(2.) Hot, soapy water or boiling water is no substitutefor bore cleaner and will only be used when bore cleaner is notavailable.
(3.) Drycleaning solvent is used for cleaning rifleswhich are coated with grease, oil, or corrosion-preventativecompounds.
(4.) Stubborn carbon deposits are removed by soaking incarbon removing compound (PCIII-A) and brushing. This processmust be followed by the use of drycleaning solvent.
Caution: Individual protective measuresmust be taken when using compound PCIII-A.
(b.) Lubricants.
(1.) Lubricating oil, general purpose (PL special) isused for lubricating the rifle at normal temeratures.
(2.) Lubricating oil, weapons (LAW) is used for lowtemperatures (below 0 degrees).
(3.) OE 10 engine oil may be used as a field expedientunder combat conditons when the oils prescribed in (1.)and (2.) above cannot be obtained. However, the weaponshould be cleaned and lubricated with the proper lubricants assoon as possible
(4.) Rifle grease should be applied to those workingsurfaces as shown in figure 33.
(c.) Equipment.
A complete set of maintenance equipment (figure34) and (figure 35)is stored in the stocks of the M1 and M1C rifles and consists of:
- M10 cleaning rod (4 sections with handle and plastic buffer).
- Small arms bore cleaning brush.
- Lubrication case.
- Chamber cleaning brush. (NOTE: Insure the M1 chamber brush is used. The M14 rifle chamber brush is 1/2-inch shorter and will not clean the M1 chamber).
22. Cleaning the Rifle
(a.) The rifle must be cleaned after it has been firedbecause firing produces primer fouling, powder ashes, carbon, andmetal fouling. The ammunition now manufactured has a noncorrosiveprimer which makes cleaning easier, but no less important. Theprimer still leaves a deposit that may collect moisture andpromote rust if it is not removed. The cleaning described belowwill remove all deposits except metal fouling which is relativelyuncommon and is removed by maintenance personnel.
(1.) Chamber. Remove the patch holder from the cleaningrod and insert two patches about halfway through the slot. Dipthe patches in bore cleaner, then wring or squeeze the excessfluid from the patches. Screw the M10 cleaning rod together (lessthe patch holder) and insert it all the way into the bore. Flarethe patches out, then insert the patch holder with the wetpatches into the chamber. Push the threaded end into the chamberuntil it touches the cleaning rod. Hold it there with one handand screw the cleaning rod and the patch holder together. Pullthe patches to the chamber; at the same time turning the rodclockwise. Turn the rod several times, wiping the chamberthoroughly. After the chamber has been thoroughly cleaned use thechamber brush in the following manner:
- (a) Screw a section of the M10 cleaning rod into a threaded hole of the driver ratchet.
- (b) Place the brush into the chamber of the barrel.
- (c) Allow the rifle bolt to close slowly against the end of the driver ratchet.
- (d) Using the rod section as a handle, rotate the driver clockwise and counter-clockwise to loosen and clean residue from the chamber.
(2) Bore. To clean the bore saturate the bore brushwith cleaning compound solvent (rifle bore cleaner) and -
- (a) Insert the bore brush into the chamber. Insert the cleaning rod into the bore and screw the brush onto the rod.
- (b) Pull the brush through the bore. Remove the brush and repeat the procedure as often as required to clean the bore.
- (c) Then use one cleaning patch dampened with bore cleaner in the following manner:
- Place the patch in the patch holder and insert it into the chamber.
- Insert the cleaning rod (less the patch holder) into the bore and screw it onto the patch holder.
- Pull the cleaning rod through the bore. Repeat this procedure using as many patches as required until the patches come through the bore clean.
(3) Gas cylinder lock screw with valve assembly. Removecarbon deposits by using bore cleaner, then wipe the part and oilit lightly (do not use abrasives). Check the valve to see that itis not held open by particles of dirt or sand.
(4) Piston of operating rod. Remove carbon from thepiston with bore cleaner. Take care not to damage the piston. Oilit lightly after cleaning (do not use abrasives).
(5) Gas Cylinder. Clean the gas cylinder with borecleaner and with patches.
(6) Face of the bolt. Clean the face of the bolt with apatch and bore cleaner, paying particular attention to its insideedges. Remove the bore cleaner with dry patches and oil the partlightly.
(7) All other parts. Use a dry cloth to remove all dirtor sand from other parts and exterior surfaces. Apply a lightcoat of oil to the metal parts and rub raw linseed oil into thewooden parts. Care must be taken to prevent linseed oil fromgetting on metal parts.
(8) Cleaning frequency. The rifle must be thoroughlycleaned no later than the evening of the day it is fired. Forthree consecutive days thereafter check for evidence of foulingby running a clean patch through the bore and inspecting it. Thebore should be lightly oiled after each inspection.
23. Normal Maintenance
(a.) When in use, the rifle should be inspected dailyfor evidence of rust and general appearance. A light coat of oil(PL Special) should be maintained on metal parts.
(b.) The daily inspection should also reveal anydefects such as burred, worn, or cracked parts. Defects should bereported to the armorer for correction.
(c.) A muzzle plug should never be used on the rifle.It causes moisture to collect in the bore, which causes bore rustthat is a safety hazard.
(d.) Obtaining the proper rear sight tension isextremely important; without it the sight will not hold itsadjustment in elevation. During normal maintenance and prior tofiring, the rear sight must be checked for correct sight tension.The indications of improper sight tension are: elevation knobextremely difficult to turn, and elevation knob turn freelywithout an audible click.
(1) If the elevation knob is extremely difficult toturn, the soldier must rotate the windage knob nut (with thescew-driver portion of the M10 cleaning rod handle)counterclockwise one click at a time. After each click an attemptshould be made to turn the elevation knob. Repeat this processuntil the elevation knob can be turned without extremedifficulty.
(2) In the event the elevation knob is extremely looseand the rear sight aperture will not raise, the windage knob nutmust be turned in a clockwise direction, one click at a time,until the aperture can be raised.
(3) To check for proper tension the procedures listedbelow should be followed:
- (a) Raise the aperture to its full height.
- (b) Lower the aperture two clicks.
- (c) Grasp the rifle with the fingers around the small of the stock and exert downward pressure on the aperture with the thumb of the same hand.
(4) If the aperture drops, sight tension must beadjusted. To do this the windage knob nut must be turned in aclockwise direction one click at a time until the aperture can nolonger be pushed down. If the proper tension cannot be obtained,the rifle must be turned in to the unit armorer.
24. Special Maintenance
(a.) Before firing the rifle, the bore and the chambershould be cleaned and dried. A light coat of oil should be placedon all other metal parts except those which come in contact withammunition.
(b.) Before firing, rifle grease should be applied tothe parts indicated in figure 33.A small amount of grease is taken up on the stem of the greasecontainer cap and is applied at each place. Rifle grease is notused in extremely cold temperatures or when the rifle is exposedto extremes of sand and dust.
(c.) In cold climates (temperatures below freezing) therifle must be kept free of moisture and excess oil. Moisture andexcess oil on the working parts cause them to operate sluggishlyor fail completely. The rifles must be disassembled and wipedwith a clean, dry cloth. Drycleaning solvent may be used ifnecessary to remove oil or grease. Parts that show signs of wearmay be wiped with a patch lightly dampened with lubricating oil(LAW). It is best to keep the rifle as close as possible tooutside temperatures at all times to prevent the collectin ofmoisture which occurs when cold metal comes in contact with warmair. When the rifle is brought into a warm room, it should not becleaned until it has reached room temperature.
(d.) In hot, humid climates or if exposed to salt wateror salt-water atmosphere, the rifle must be inspected thoroughlyeach day for signs of moisture and rust. It should be keptlightly oiled with special preservative lubricating oil. Rawlinseed oil should be applied frequently to the wooden parts toprevent swelling.
(e.) In hot, dry climates the rifle must be cleaneddaily or more often to remove sand and/or dust from the bore andworking parts. In sandy areas, the rifle should be kept dry. Themuzzle and receiver should be kept covered during sand and duststorms. Wooden parts must be kept oiled with raw linseed oil toprevent drying. The rifle should be lightly oiled when sandy ordusty conditions decrease.
(f.) Special instructions on caring for the rifle whenit is subject to nuclear, biological, or chemical contaminationcan be found in TM 3-220 and FM-21-40.
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- INTRODUCTION
