Installation Guidance Press & Latch Cable Fittings
Overview
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Please read the following as well How to use the tension meter?
These instructions provide step-by-step installation guidelines for installing the Press and Latch Cable Tensioner and Terminals on straight runs. The Tensioners and Terminals are designed for 1x19 construction stainless steel cables. They are designed to handle either of diameter 5/32” or 1/8” cable. Each run of cable has a Cable Tensioner on one side and a Cable Terminal from the other side.
Press and Latch system only works with 1x19 strand construction cable.
Caution:
Wear ANSI approved safety glasses, working gloves and breathing mask at all times.
Tools Required:
Part List:
-
Cable Tensioner Kit
-
Cable Terminal Kit
- Curved and Flat Washers (included in Cable Fitting kit)
- Release tool
Important Note: All fittings (Tensioners and Terminals) need to be oiled before attaching them to the posts. Do no skip this step or the cable won’t latch properly and will sag later. Spray WD40 inside the jaw latch mechanism.
Instructions
- Begin by inserting the provided washers (flat washer for square posts and curved washer for round posts) into the cable Tensioner and Terminal then screw them into the posts using a 10mm wrench. Make sure they are tightened well
-
Press the cable into the terminal side first (for about 1 1/4” until it hits the back of the fitting) then make a sudden pull so the jaws latch on the cable. Watch this video for more details on how to sudden pull the cable - Unscrew the turnbuckle of the tensioner to about 1 1/4” from each side, then mark your cable for the cut
- Cut the cable using the cable cutter. You could release the cable from the cable ender (using the Release Tool) to measure and cut the remaining run of cables.
- Release the tensioner turnbuckle. Insert the cable into the tensioner using the cable release tool as showed in the following video. When twisting cable into fitting, twist in direction of cable lining to not fray ends.
- Make a sudden pull so the jaws latch on the cable
- Using two 10 mm wrenches (as shown in the below picture) assemble back the tensioner turnbuckle until the cable is tightened, then give the cable a small kick to latch it again. Then tighten the turnbuckle for the last time. Avoid twisting the cable by keeping the front part of the tensioner steady from rotating, the goal is to pull and tension the cable not twist it.
- After making sure that all the cables are equally tensioned, tighten the two lock washers located at the two ends of the turnbuckles
Common Issues and troubleshooting:
- Long cable - One common problem is cutting the cable too long. In this case, the cable tensioner doesn’t have enough threads left over to tighten the cable. Use the release tool to take the cable out, and return to step 3.
- Cable pull out - Another common problem is the cable keep pulling out from the cable fittings. In this case, the jaws inside don’t latch on the cable. Apply WD-40, and make sudden pulls to ensure the cable is latched. Repeat the same for the rest of the cables of this run.
- Tensioning - The tensioners have a very high tensioning capability. The goal is to have equal tension force on all the cables. Over-tightening one cable will make the other cable loose. Be careful not to over tighten the cables. Make sure as well that the top rail tubing is properly installed and solid.
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