CHAPTER V, SECTIONS 2 and 3
Very little maintenance work was required
for the Scientific Structures. Principally, the

work consisted of painting the towers as necessary and lubricating bolts, nuts, dogs and other

movable parts of the various structures. Electric fixtures, wiring and plumbing facilities were
repaired when required.

SECTION 3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
During

operating

periods,

all

electrical

generating units were under observation by operators for unusual mechanical noises, over-

heating,

or

smoky

exhausts.

A

check

of

the fuel and lube oil consumption and operating logs usually indicated need for adjustments, replacements or repair. A maintenance

history was kept on each unit into which all

items of maintenance work were entered. Repeated or too frequent replacement of the same
parts indicated the need for corrective action.

program, did not permit proper servicing, adjusting, or on-site repair of generators. Gasoline
operated prime movers gave the most trouble,

primarily from fouled plugs, and salt spray deposits on spark plug porcelains. It was often

necessary to exchange units. A particular case

was the exchange of two 75 KW generators at
site Dog Scientific Power Plant DO-500 just
prior to the Yankee event. Due to radiation
exposure conditions existing at the site, this job

had to be accomplished hurriedly.

In general, preventive and corrective maintenance was accomplished on the 1000KW generators after 600-1000 operating hours; other
units after about 300 operating hours. At these

Overhead electrical distribution systems
were subject to accelerated deterioration due to

removal of carbon accumulation, check and ad-

justment of all operating parts, cleaning of
windings, and adjustment of brushes.

wires will be done with copperweld wires. Salt
incrustation of insulators, a severe problem in
similar Pacific areas, was avoided by the type

As the dividing line between operation and
maintenance was sometimes thinly defined, it was

ure washing routine. The continuous and necessary operation of elevated mobile equipment

IV, Section 2, certain major items of non-routine

a number of breaks in the overhead lines. This
suggests the need for overhead clearances great-

times the units were secured and opened for

necessary to cover under “Operation” in Chapter
maintenance. Briefly reviewed, these were as
follows:

(a) Relining of three General Motor 1000
KWgenerators due to deterioration of
liner plating which was caused by use

of a lube oil not properly compounded
to neutralize the high sulphur content
of the diesel oil furnished.

(b) Repairs to Engine No. 2 of CMR
power plant necessitated by a crank-

case explosion caused by the seizure
of #15 piston to its liner.

(c) Repairs to Cummins engines in the
Tare base power plant were required
since, shortly after their installation,

the action of the salt-laden atmosphere, and mes-

senger and guy wires and galvanized hardware
corroded. In the future, all replacements of guy

of insulator used and by a periodic high press-

such as cranes or trucks with A-frames caused
er than is normal in construction camps. All

submarine cables were tested periodically and

repaired as necessary. On 9 March 1953, tele-

phone cable number 105 between Elmer and
Yvonne was found punctured; this required
700 feet of replacement cable. Breaks in sub-

marine cables, usually attributable to chafing
with the surge of the sea on sharp coral format-

ions, were, in several cases, caused by ships

dragging anchors across them even though the
“Cable Crossing” signs were conspicuous.

For the post-test operating period, the painting of 149 transformers was scheduled. Routine

maintenance of interior circuits covered mainly

repair or replacement of fixtures and outlets,

the fuel pump drive shafts and the

bulb replacements, minor line repairs, and repiacement or repair of the various types of electrical apparatus and appliances.

belts which drove the shafts, and the

performed in two general categories: maintenance of equipment installed in buildings (i.e.

they developed mechanical difficulties
which resulted in the breaking of

gear pump drive shaft pins. This
was rectified by slackening the fan
use

of

high

temperature

grease in the gear pumpdrive.

resistant

(d) Frequent cleaning of screens in the
CMRpowerplant was due to excessive
accumulation of marine growth and
trash.

In certain instances, radioactive contamination, combined with the exigency of the test

Maintenance of communication systems was

telephone switchboards, instruments, radio

transmitters and receivers) consisting of normal
checking, repairs, and parts replacement; maintenance of portions of the system installed outdoors (i. e. telephone aerial and submarine
cables, antennae, transmitters and_ receivers
mounted in boats and vehicles) required an unusual amount of maintenance due to deterioration caused by climatic factors.
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