M109 Self propelled gun info needed

[jdmcm]

From those pictures Paul provided it seems like the final drives slide direct into the transmission, but they must have some kind of a coupler that would allow transmission removal without having to de-track both sides and remove both final drives...there must be a coupler like Rob indicated between the two or maintenance would be a nightmare...Rob actually has M109's he maintains so I am sure he can clear this up! No pressure Rob!

[rob love]

So many questions. Unfortunately our M109 is tarped right now, but I can foresee having to un-tarp it and opening up the front covers. We also have a spare pack (takeout from a monument) that will answer the questions about the flanges, but it is out back and wrapped up tighter than a drum.

We have more than a regiments worth of manuals here on the M109 and the ARV. Unfortunately, most of the pictures are line drawings. One manual that is sitting before me now, TM 9-2350-311-20-1 has some good line drawings of the various systems. The manual is online if you google that TM number. Here is a photo of the complete steering for instance from page 9-17.

[rob love]

Here is a photo from p 10-46 of the same manual showing the flanges and U-joints. Perhaps the photo Paul shows was from a different application. There is no planetary on this output setup.