Smoking just got better.

Dear editor,

Through years of working with the M157A2 smoke generator we've come up with some sure fire for better smoking. Believe me, we've found these suggestions will save operators and repairmen lots of trouble.

* If the smoke generator suddenly shuts down or great clouds of smoke come out the engine head opening, make the flutter valve your first check. Usually the valve has slipped or the nut holding the valve in place is loose. Reposition the valve and tighten the nut and see if that helps. A good PMCS check is to eyeball the grooves in the head that help hold the valve in place. If they're worn, you probably need a new head. The valve will not stay in place.

* A bad band heater will shut down the control panel when you turn on the panel. Then you can't; smoke. If you suspect that's the problem, unplug the band heater. That lets you turn on the control panel and smoke. The generator should still start, although it may have more trouble doing so. Then get the band heater fixed as soon as possible.

* If you're not getting fuel or the smoke generator Stops when you hit the fog oil switch, check the supply line inside the fuel can. Sometimes the line can work loose and fall in the can. One smoke unit spent 1 1/2 days figuring out why their generator was shutting down before they discovered the supply line had worked loose.

* If the fuel pump won't keep running after you release the FUEL switch, have your mechanic check its circuit breaker. The breaker is right above the circuit board and has 5 written on it. If the breaker has popped out, push it back in and try the fuel pump again.

* Sometimes when it's very cold, the elbow for the air line freezes. No air means no smoking. You can thaw out the elbow with a hair dryer or hot water. If you smoke often in the cold, it's e good idea to wrap some pipe insulation around the elbow.

SGT Phillip Wilson

SSG Jeffrey Obermuller

SSG Raul Palomo

69th Chemical Co

Hanau, Germany