Cable Lasher Guide

A cable lasher wraps lashing wire around a communications cable, or a bundle of cables, and a supporting messenger strand. The wrap holds the cables together along an aerial route. Cable lashing is used in aerial fiber and telecom construction where the installation calls for strand-supported cable.

The lasher is one part of the installation system. The strand supports the cable route; guides and rollers manage cable position; lashing wire secures the bundle. Selecting a machine starts with the strand size, finished bundle diameter and wire specified for the job.

As the lasher travels along the messenger strand, its rotating assembly carries lashing wire around the cable bundle and strand. Wire pays out from the reels as the machine advances. Cable guides and rollers keep the cable positioned through the machine.

1. Prepare: confirm the approved route, cable, strand and wire, then inspect the machine.
2. Load: place the wire coils in the reels in the direction indicated on the reel.
3. Position: seat the strand in the appropriate pulley grooves and guide the cable through the machine.
4. Secure and operate: complete the manufacturer’s setup sequence, secure the wire ends and connect the towing rope.
5. Inspect: check the completed work against the project requirements.

This is an overview of the process. Use the 16-step FF001 Quick User Guide for the illustrated MECSIL setup sequence. Aerial work requires trained personnel and the jobsite’s applicable safety procedures.

• Wire reels and caps: hold and retain the lashing-wire coils.
• Traction pulleys: form part of the machine’s drive arrangement.
• Rotating assembly: carries the wire around the strand and cable bundle.
• Strand rollers and locks: position and retain the machine on the messenger strand.
• Cable rollers and supports: guide the cable through the machine.
• Wire guides: direct wire as it leaves the reels.
• Gates, latches and adjustment mechanisms: provide access and allow the machine to be positioned for use.

Use the FF001 exploded parts diagram and numbered list to identify an individual component. Confirm your machine configuration and part number before ordering; component compatibility must be checked individually.

Messenger strand is the supporting member. Cable bundle is the group of cables being secured. Lashing wire wraps around them. These dimensions describe different parts of the installation and must be checked separately.

MECSIL’s current FF001 specifications list 1/4 in and 5/16 in messenger strand, a maximum bundle diameter of 3.5 in (88.9 mm), and .038 in or .045 in lashing wire. Check the current model specifications below before ordering.

Wire diameter alone does not define suitability. Follow the project specification for wire grade, corrosion requirements and installation method. A coil’s wire length is not the same as the length of aerial route it can lash: the wire follows a spiral around the bundle.

Start with the job requirements, then compare machine configurations. Write down the finished bundle size, messenger-strand size, specified wire, whether the work is new lashing or overlashing, and the support information your crew needs.

• Confirm the machine’s published dimensional limits.
• Compare reel and traction-pulley materials.
• Review machine weight, warranty terms, price and availability.
• Check access to setup guidance, maintenance references and replacement parts.
• For an overlash job, evaluate the existing installation and the complete bundle after adding the new cable.

Standard, Pro and Heavy Duty share the compatibility values shown below. Choose between their documented configurations; the model names alone do not establish a tested durability or productivity ranking.

The FF001 Quick User Guide organizes setup into three phases: loading the wire, positioning the machine on the strand, and securing the assembly for operation. The basic sequence applies to Standard, Pro and Heavy Duty.

Pay particular attention to the direction arrows on the reel, installing and locking the reel cap before removing the coil ties, seating the strand in the pulley grooves, and routing the cable close to the vertical rollers. Follow each illustrated step in order.

Open the complete 16-step setup guide. If a latch, roller, reel or adjustment does not work as expected, stop and identify the problem before operation. Use the equipment and procedures specified for the aerial job.

MECSIL’s FF001 maintenance reference specifies a weekly lubrication and inspection routine. Inspect traction pulleys, nylon bearings and reels for wear, damage or excessive play. Check reel adjustment, clean the machine after use and keep it protected in its storage case.

Use the lubricant and locations in the FF001 Lubrication & Weekly Care guide. It specifies lithium-soap spray grease with paraffinic base oils, applied in a controlled amount to the marked points, with excess wiped away.

The illustrated maintenance reference shows five views of the machine. Use those marked service points rather than applying lubricant indiscriminately. Weekly care supplements inspection before use and attention to any unusual wear or behavior.

MECSIL supports customer-performed maintenance with technical guidance and replacement parts. Identify the part using the exploded view, record your model and the component number, and send a clear photograph if you need help confirming the part.

MECSIL does not provide on-site maintenance or a send-in routine maintenance service. If you suspect a manufacturing defect, contact MECSIL for evaluation and return instructions under the applicable warranty or return policy before shipping anything.

Identify a replacement part · Contact MECSIL · Read the limited warranty. Warranty periods are Standard: 90 days; Pro: 180 days; Heavy Duty: 1 year, subject to the policy’s conditions and exclusions.

• FF001 Quick User Guide — the illustrated setup sequence.
• FF001 Lubrication & Weekly Care — lubricant, service points and inspection.
• FF001 Parts & Exploded View — component identification and parts requests.
• MECSIL Videos & Tutorials — visual references for operation and maintenance.
• MECSIL for Business — business purchasing inquiries.
• Request a quote or application support — share the model, quantity and project requirements.

Explore the Learning Center for focused explanations of lashing, equipment selection and care.

Articles in the Learning Center

• What Is a Cable Lasher and How Does It Work?
• How Aerial Cable Lashing Works
• Cable Lasher Maintenance Guide
• Lashing Wire .038 vs .045: What’s the Difference?
• What Is Overlashing in Aerial Cable Installation?
• How to Choose a Cable Lasher
• Cable Lasher Parts Explained
• Cable Lasher Inspection Checklist