Apollo Cable Lasher Operation and Maintenance All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the written permission of General Machine Products Co., Inc. General Machine Products Co., Inc. • 3111 Old Lincoln Hwy • Trevose, PA 19053 • USA TEL: +1-215-357-5500 • FAX: +1-215-357-6216 • www.gmptools.com U.S. Patents: 6,062,542 and 6,389,989 General Machine Products Co., Inc.
Apollo Lasher REVISION HISTORY: Rev Date 01 02 07-2013 Details Author Original issue Adspeak Revised format for clarity Removed repair parts 2 A.
Table of Contents 1.0 General 2.0 Precautions 3.0 Description 4.0 Operating instructions 5.0 Troubleshooting 6.0 Maintenance 7.0 Options and other information 8.0 Layout Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 3 4 7 18 19 20 22 1.0 General This manual covers the care, operation and maintenance of your GMP Apollo cable lasher, which you can use to lash cables up to 3.5 in. (89 mm) dia. to suspension strand, or smaller cable sizes to an existing lashed cable and strand.
Apollo Lasher Protect your work site with advance signaling devices at strategic points to warn traffic and pedestrians of any obstructions in the area. Check your Apollo lasher first! Before using your machine, check to make sure it is in good repair, and all of the parts and mechanical assemblies are intact and in good working order. If your machine is not properly maintained, it might be unsafe to use and pose an unnecessary risk to both you and the property and personnel in your work area.
Look at your Apollo lasher for a moment. You will see it consists of a rotating section supported on a sta - tionary carriage: the strand and cable pass through this stationary carriage during the lashing operation. Figure 2 Figure 3 As you look at the carriage you will see it has cable and strand rollers, front and rear gates, towing bracket and an anti-backroll strand roller on the front. The components are made from a variety of materials, each selected to provide specific properties.
Apollo Lasher Your lasher can use a single wire or two wires simultaneously (also known as “double lashing”). Like other GMP lashing machines, the balance of the Apollo is not affected by the amount of wire loaded in either magazine. Each magazine has two rollers for guiding and tensioning wire during lashing. The wire tension is developed by the routing of lashing wire and not the tension on the spool. The wire coils mount on a reel attached to the rotating drum.
4.0 Operating instructions 4.1 General As mentioned at the beginning of this manual, you should never operate a lasher unless you’ve been properly trained in advance or are being directed by a properly trained linesperson who is responsible for your work. However, you should find this section of the book helpful in outlining the correct sequence of steps to take in using your Apollo lasher. 4.2 Preparing a lashing wire coil The first step in any lashing operation is to prepare the lashing wire coil.
Apollo Lasher 2. Verify that the adjustable tension roller is in the correct position for the type of lashing. The roller should be in the lower- most position for normal lashing wire tension, including lashing broadband coaxial cables. The roller should be in the upper- most position for higher lashing wire tension. Figure 6 3. Depress the reel brake into cutout on rear flange.
5. Hold on to the looped end of the coil. Cut and remove the remaining cable tie and then continue to snug the reel cover against the wire coil ensuring a tight fit. The reel brake can be depressed into cutout on rear flange to hold the reel stationary as you tighten the reel cover. Figure 9 Make certain that the head or knot on the cable tie is not pulled through the coil and that the entire cable tie is removed, because portions of the cable tie may cause snagging of the lashing wire.
Apollo Lasher 9. Feed the wire into the drive wheel from the rearward direction so the wire moves around the drive wheel toward the front of the lasher. Figure 13 10. Continue feeding wire until it exits the drive wheel. The wire exiting the drive wheel must be below the wire entering the drive wheel. Figure 14 11. Pull up on the handle to disengage the drive wheel and feed wire into the exit rollers on the end of the machine.
12. Ensure the wire is captivated between the roller and the housing. 13. If more wire is needed, disengage the drive wheel to pull out more lashing wire. (See Figure 15) Figure 17 14. Close the cover and using a screwdriver or 7/16 in. socket as found on the 216C tool, or any tool used to tighten the bugnut, tighten the fastener (clockwise) 1/4 turn until the fastener seats and can’t be tightened further. Ensure that the cover is secure to the hub. 4.4 Lashing to bare suspension strand 1.
Apollo Lasher 7. Place the lasher on the strand and ensure that the strand is centered in the grooves of both of the front and rear rollers. 8. Close the front strand locks by depressing simultaneously on both hooks until audibly and visibly locked. 9. Close the rear strand locks by simultaneously depressing on both hooks until audibly and visibly locked. The lasher is now secured to the strand. Figure 20 10.
4.5 Over-lashing procedure Here is the proper way to overlash onto existing cable installations using the Apollo lasher: 1. Check the lashing wire coils to ensure there is enough lashing wire for the span. 2. Lower the rear gate to its lowest position by fully depressing the thumb latch and sliding the roller down. Ensure that the rear gate is open and the drum is locked in position. 3. Open both the front and rear strand locks by pulling up on the release knob.
Apollo Lasher 9. Raise the rear cable lifter by pushing up on the bottom of the lifter that contacts the D shaft. The thumblatch doesn’t have to be activated to raise the cable lifter. 10. Adjust the position of the vertical rollers so that they barely touch the sides of the cable(s). This will have to be done as the bundle size changes. See section 4.6 for more information on terminating lashing wire. 11. Now the final steps.
4.6.2 Lashing wire termination 1. Secure the lashing wire to the strand with a lashing wire grip before cutting or otherwise releasing tension in the lashing wire. The lashing wire grip should be placed far enough from where the supports, spacers and lashing wire clamps are to be installed to avoid having to move the grip. Note: The situation can exist where the .038 in. (0,97 mm) dia. lashing wire may nest in the space between the wires of the 10M strand.
Apollo Lasher See figure 25 steps 2, 3, 5 and 6. 2. Terminate one lashing wire using a lashing wire clamp by placing the wire below the stud and between the second washer and stud shoulder. 3. Remove any slack in the lashing wire by maintaining tension on the wire and tapping the strand sharply. Form the wire over the stud and tighten the nut. Cut the free end of the lashing wire off 1/4 in. (6 mm) beyond the end of the clamp. 4.
! 1. Before doing anything, make sure you are working from a secure perch where you can safely move your Apollo lasher without overreaching. This is extremely important. See section 4.6 for more information on terminating lashing wire. 2. Clamp the lashing wire to the strand. 3.
Apollo Lasher 9. Carefully lift the lasher off the strand and move it over to the strand on the other side of the obstruction. If you accidentally drop the lasher while making this transfer, the bridle assembly will keep the lasher from falling to the ground. 4.8 Removing the lasher from the strand The procedure for taking your lasher off the strand is basically the same as for moving it around a pole, except that you should also: Figure 30 1. attach a secured handline to the lasher handle; 2.
6.0 Maintenance 6.1 General It is easy to care for the Apollo and keep it in good operating condition, but to make sure it stays in adjustment and operates properly, always follow these simple precautions: Never drop your lasher or expose it to any kind of abuse. Keep your lasher in its protective case when not in use. Protect your lasher from unnecessary exposure to dirt, grit and any other foreign matter. Avoid placing the Apollo on the ground whenever possible. 6.
Apollo Lasher 7.0 Options and other miscellaneous information 7.1 General The Apollo lasher has been designed to minimize the snag and catch points and therefore requires no optional halo. 7.2 GMP lashing accessories The following items will help to increase your productivity and bottom line. Description D lashing wire grip D lashing wire clamp (100/pack) E lashing wire clamp (100/pack) lashing wire .045 430 SS 1200 ft/spool, 6 spools/ctn lashing wire .045 302 SS 1200 ft/spool, 6 spools/ctn lashing wire .
D Lashing Wire Grip 08605 D Lashing Wire Clamp 07886 E Lashing Wire Grip 81460 Lashing Wire Towing Bridle Assy 05817 Poly Tow Rope 70190 B Ratchet Wrench 07511 216C Tool 15439 21
Apollo Lasher LOWER TENSION ROLLER SHAFT REEL COVER Fig. 31, Side View REAR STRAND RELEASE KNOB EXIT ROLLER (LH) EXIT ROLLER (RH) REAR GUIDE ROLLER VERTICAL ROLLER ASSY LOWER REAR ROLLER ASSY Fig.
FRONT STRAND RELEASE KNOB TOWING BRACKET Fig. 33, Front View TOWING BRACKET LOWER FRONT ROLLER DOOR ASSY LH FRONT ROLLER W/O CLUTCH REAR ROLLER ASSY TOWING BRACKET DOOR ASSY RH Fig.
Apollo Lasher General Machine Products Co., Inc. • 3111 Old Lincoln Hwy Trevose, PA 19053 • USA TEL: +1-215-357-5500 • FAX: +1-215-357-6216 • www.gmptools.
