Section V. FRAME STRUCTURE REPAIR PROCEDURES

TB 9-2510-242-40

4-2 Facilities. The basic requirement for a frame straightening facility is a covered weatherproof structure with adequate

lighting, creature comforts, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic power sources, and a reinforced concrete floor at least 8

inches thick. The floor should be capable of having engineered tie-downs inserted into it, and be capable of withstanding

pulls of up to 50 tons. Anchor equipment or trailer elements to the tiedowns as required. A trailer alignment facility only

requires a flat and level floor. Facility floor spaces should be sufficient to allow full movement of the largest trailer

authorized for repairs.

4-3 Tools and Equipment. Use only equipment authorized by a Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) or a

Modification TOE (TOE). The TOE/MTOE shall include commercial frame straightening equipment, as well as

equipment for cutting, bending, drilling, and welding steel sheets/plates and shapes of not more than 1 inch thick.

4-4 Skills. Standard metal working, welding, and automotive mechanic skills are required to perform basic frame and

suspension system repairs. The Military Occupational Specialty (MOS.) required to perform these repairs is MOS. 44B

(MOSC 44B10 [Organizational] and MOSC 44B20 [DS/GS]), Metal Worker.

Section V. FRAME STRUCTURE REPAIR PROCEDURES

5-1 Frame Members and Segments

a. General. A frame member is a single part of the frame fabricated from a channel, Z, I-beam, or box beam. It

can be a side rail or a crossmember. A segment is a given length of a frame member. Damaged, non-repairable

segments may be cut out of a member and new replacement segments added in their place.

b. Repair Planning. When planning a frame repair, first identify the damaged member/segment causing the

greatest frame distortion. Develop a repair method to eliminate that distortion. Continue to plan by identifying the next

greatest distortion and developing a repair method for its elimination. Successively eliminate the causes of each frame

distortion until all remaining distortions and repair methods have been identified. Whenever a member or segment is

removed for replacement or repair, other damaged members shall be straightened before installing the replacement or

repaired member or segment.

c. Damaged Frame Members.

(1) Bolted Members. Remove and replace or repair damaged bolt-on frame members.

Attach the

repaired/replacement member to the frame according to the repair plan.

(2) Riveted Members. Depending upon the extent of damage, a riveted-on frame member should be removed,

repaired/replaced and then reinstalled using correct size new bolts in place of the rivets.