Matrix ULTRA Series User manual

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Strength Cable and Belt Guide
Keeping strength cables and belts tensioned properly is not part of the product warranty and
should be maintained by the facility. This document will walk you through how to properly
tension Matrix strength cables and belts and, also show you examples of damaged cables.
Cables can stretch over their life and should be checked WEEKLY for proper tension and
inspected for damage. Without proper tension, users will lose some range of motion and excess
wear to the cables can occur.
Table of Contents
(click a link to be directed to that instruction)
Cable Bolt Overview
Versa Series
Varsity Series
Checking for Proper Tension
Aura Series
Cable Cross & Functional Trainers
Ultra Series
Go Series
Identifying Damaged Cables & Components

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Cable Bolt Overview
Strength cables may have different size cable bolts that connect to the top plate or head plate adapter
on weight stacks. For this reason, it is important to follow these steps when tensioning cables to ensure
your cable has enough engagement to not be a safety concern.
Remove and measure the cable bolt. Measure from the top of the bolt head to the bottom of the bolt.
Remember the bolt length as you screw the bolt into the head plate adapter/sleeve (axle). A minimum
of ½” (13mm) must be engaged at all times.
Example: The bolt measures 2 ½” (63.5mm) in length (top of bolt head to bottom of threads). Attached
the cable bolt to the head plate adapter/sleeve (axle) by screwing it down so 2” (51mm) of the bolt is still
showing. From there you will check the tension of your cable. If the cable needs tension, you will screw
the bolt down giving it further engagement. If it is too tight and there is no other way to adjust tension
(see tensioning procedures in the following pages) you must replace the cable. Do not unscrew to reduce
the required ½” (13mm) of engagement.

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Checking for Proper Tension
Ultra, Versa, Aura, Go and Varsity Series Single Stations
Check for Proper Tension:
1. Unpin the weight stack pin from the stack
2. From the midway point of the cable bolt and top of weight stack, use your finger to move the
cable from side to side. You should see no more than ½” (13mm) of deflection (about the width
of your finger) before the top weight plate starts to move or you feel resistance from the cable
3. If you have more than ½” (13mm) of deflection, follow the tensioning procedure below
Cable Cross and Functional Trainers
Check for Proper Tension:
1. Proper tension should leave 20mm of clearance at the widest point on the pulley guard as
pictured below.
The following pages will outline tensioning procedures for each series/design.

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Ultra Series
Important: A minimum of ½” (13mm) of the cable bolt must be engaged into the head plate adapter
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Unpin the weight stack pin from the stack
2. Remove the cable bolt from the head plate adapter
3. Turn down the cable bolt so ½” (13mm) of the bolt is engaged into the head plate adapter (see
image below)
4. Check cable tension. If you have no more than ½” (13mm) deflection the cable is tensioning
properly (see checking for proper tension procedure above)
•If you have too much deflection, turn the cable bolt down a few turns and check tension
again. Do this until proper deflection is achieved
5. Tighten jam nut down the cable bolt so it is tight to the head plate adapter. You must secure it
with a wrench. Finger tight is not good enough.
6. Use the weight stack pin and pin 50-60 lbs. then perform 5-7 reps to set/stretch the cable
7. Check for proper tension (see above)
8. Check to make sure the weight stack pin goes into each weight plate. If the pin touches the
bayonet, that is fine as long as the pin can be inserted completely.
•If not, loosen the jam nut on the cable bolt and turn out 1 thread then recheck
Note: Some 2018 and newer Ultra Series units may also have the top down tensioning shown for Versa

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Versa Series
Versa Series single stations use a ball end cable at the top of the weight stack. The cable is secured to
the head plate by a jam nut locking it in place. To adjust the cable tension, you must use the adjustment
on the lower part of the weight stack frame.
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Loosen the two bolts circled in the picture below. Do not remove
2. Using a 6mm Allen socket, turn the adjuster bolt (shown with the arrow) down a few turns.
This will push the cable pulleys lower giving the cable tension
3. Check for proper tension
4. Tighten the bolts from Step 1 once the proper cable tension has been achieved

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Aura Series
The Aura Series was originally designed with a reinforced 15/16” flat Kevlar/urethane belt. Later, a line
extension was designed using cables. Belts and cables are NOT interchangeable.
Cables
Important: A minimum of ½” (13mm) of the cable bolt must be engaged into the head plate adapter
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Unpin the weight stack pin from the stack
2. Remove the cable bolt from the head plate adapter
3. Turn down the cable bolt so ½” (13mm) of the bolt is engaged into the head plate adapter (see
image below)
4. Check cable tension. If you have no more than ½” (13mm) deflection the cable is tensioning
properly (see checking for proper tension procedure above)
•If you have too much deflection, turn the cable bolt down a few turns and check tension
again. Do this until proper deflection is achieved
5. Tighten jam nut down the cable bolt so it is tight to the head plate adapter. You must secure it
with a wrench. Finger tight is not good enough.
6. Use the weight stack pin and pin 50-60 lbs. then perform 5-7 reps to set/stretch the cable
7. Check for proper tension (see above)
8. Check to make sure the weight stack pin goes into each weight plate. If the pin touches the
bayonet, that is fine as long as the pin can be inserted completely.
•If not, loosen the jam nut on the cable bolt and turn out 1 thread then recheck.
Note: On some machines, such as the cable Leg Press, there will be additional adjustment at the opposite
side of the cable. Only adjust there if you run out of bolt threads above the weight stack.

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Aura Series
The Aura Series was originally designed with a reinforced 15/16” flat Kevlar/urethane belt. Later, a line
extension was designed using cables. Belts and cables are NOT interchangeable.
Belts
Belts should be tensioned if you notice the belt riding to one side of a pulley or if range of motion loose is
seen.
Belt Tensioning Procedure:
1. Loosen bolts on ‘fold over’ clamp or ‘barrel’ clamp
2. Using your hand, pull any slack out of the belt and using a pliers on the cut end of the belt,
pull to remove that slack
3. Tighten bolts using the instruction below
Note: It is recommended to leave three (3) squares of extra belt showing on the opposite side of the
clamp to give you something to grab onto when tensioning.
‘Fold over’ type clamp;
•Add Red Vibra-Tite thread locker to the 4 bolts threads then tighten to 5 N-m using a torque
wrench.
•The bolts should be tightened in a uniform pattern to ensure the clamp is applying consistent
pressure to the belt (see the image below). Tighten the 4 bolts a few turns each until the 5 N-
m torque is reached on each. Do not tighten 1 bolt all the way to 5 N-m before moving onto
the 2nd bolt, etc. Tighten a little to each bolt until 5 N-m is met.
‘Barrel’ type clamp;
•Add Red Vibra-Tite thread locker to the 2 bolts threads then tighten to 30 N-m using a torque
wrench. Like the fold over clamp, tighten each bolt a little at a time until proper torque is met.

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Go Series
Important: A minimum of ½” (13mm) of the cable bolt must be engaged into the head plate adapter
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Unpin the weight stack pin from the stack
2. Remove the cable bolt from the head plate adapter
3. Turn down the cable bolt so ½” (13mm) of the bolt is engaged into the head plate adapter (see
image below)
4. Check cable tension. If you have no more than ½” (13mm) deflection the cable is tensioning
properly (see checking for proper tension procedure above)
•If you have too much deflection, turn the cable bolt down a few turns and check tension
again. Do this until proper deflection is achieved
5. Tighten jam nut down the cable bolt so it is tight to the head plate adapter. You must secure it
with a wrench. Finger tight is not good enough.
6. Use the weight stack pin and pin 50-60 lbs. then perform 5-7 reps to set/stretch the cable
7. Check for proper tension
9. Check to make sure the weight stack pin goes into each weight plate. If the pin touches the
bayonet, that is fine as long as the pin can be inserted completely.
•If not, loosen the jam nut on the cable bolt and turn out 1 thread then recheck

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Varsity Series
Varsity Series machines have two different cable attachment assemblies. One assembly has a cable bolt
that attaches to the head plate shown below. The second is a clamp style using a ball end cable (no bolt)
shown on the next page.
Important: A minimum of ½” (13mm) of the cable bolt must be engaged into the head plate adapter
Cable Bolt
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Unpin the weight stack pin from the stack
2. Remove the cable bolt from the head plate adapter
3. Turn down the cable bolt so ½” (13mm) of the bolt is engaged into the head plate adapter (see
image below)
4. Check cable tension. If you have no more than ½” (13mm) deflection the cable is tensioning
properly (see checking for proper tension procedure above)
•If you have too much deflection, turn the cable bolt down a few turns and check tension
again. Do this until proper deflection is achieved
5. Tighten jam nut down the cable bolt so it is tight to the head plate adapter. You must secure it
with a wrench. Finger tight is not good enough.
6. Use the weight stack pin and pin 50-60 lbs. then perform 5-7 reps to set/stretch the cable
7. Check for proper tension (see above)
8. Check to make sure the weight stack pin goes into each weight plate. If the pin touches the
bayonet, that is fine as long as the pin can be inserted completely.
•If not, loosen the jam nut on the cable bolt and turn out 1 thread then recheck

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Varsity Series
The machines using the cable clamp will have a ball end cable (above weight stack) with a cable stopper
at the user end of the cable. The cable tension for these machines is based on the cable stopper position
to the pulley.
Cable Clamp
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Remove/loosen the clamp bolts from the clamp on top of the weight stack
2. Move the cable ball end to the middle adjustment slot and check the distance of the cable
stopper to the pulley
3. Check cable stopper position in relation to the pulley
4. Tighten the clamp bolts using a wrench

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Cable Cross and Functional Trainers
Important: A minimum of ½” (13mm) of the cable bolt must be engaged into the adjustable pulley
sleeve/pulley carriage.
Cable Tensioning Procedure:
1. Remove the cable bolt
2. Turn down so ½” (13mm) of engagement is achieved
3. Tighten the jam nut using an adjustable wrench
4. Check the cable ball end measurement. Proper tension should leave 20mm of clearance at the
widest point on the pulley guard as pictured below
5. Adjust the cable bolt down as needed. Always ensure to tighten the jam nut with a wrench when
you are done
6. Set or Pre-stretch the cable by attaching a short handle to the ball end of the cable then pin 50-60
lbs. on the weight stack
7. Do 5-10 reps at a rapid rate but do not allow the weight stack to crash down. You want to keep
constant tension on the cable
8. Check the cable ball end measurement. Proper tension should leave 20mm of clearance at the
widest point on the pulley guard as pictured below
9. Adjust the cable bolt again as needed. Always ensure to tighten the jam nut with a wrench once all
adjustments are made
Note: Aura Functional Trainers have a pulley adjustment on top of the weight stack as well.

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Identifying Damaged Cables
It is important to check cable conditions weekly. If any of the following are noticed, please put the unit
“out of order” and contact Matrix for a replacement cable.
Fractures:
Casing can crack or fracture under strains during use. Any crack in the casing merits cable
replacement even if no wire rope is exposed. Be especially observant for fractures near the
components on the cable assembly
Twisting/binding:
Inspect casing to ensure wire rope is not twisting within its casing. Any sign of the cable twisting
should be replaced immediately.
Bulging:
Internal wire rope strands can break within and coil causing a bulge to appear. Cable should retain
same outside diameter throughout.
Frayed/Exposed Wire:
Any exposed wire rope protruding through the casing or at either end.
Flattened:
Section of cable is compressed and will not retain its shape (outside diameter).

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Bent:
Cable has ‘kink’ and prohibits cable from laying straight.Wire rope may be unraveling beneath
casing and is compromised warranting replacement.
Ends Separating:
Watch for component end of cable to pull away from cable assembly - look for exposed wire
rope. Often times the oil from inside the cable jacket will start to leak out which can cause the
cable to become brittle over time.
Damaged Cable Protection Components:
The cable protection components help protect the cable. If access wear is seen, replace
components as shown on next page.

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Cable Protection Components
Assembly Instructions
1. Slide the ball stop and then the strain relief onto the cable. The strain relief fits inside the ball
stop and extends out the other side.
2. Place the cable end into the eyelet end fitting. Pull the ball up into the end fitting and line up
the screw holes on the ball and fitting.

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3. Apply Vibra-Tite thread locker (red) to the bolt. Next, use a 4mm Allen wrench to attach the
socket head screw to secure the assembly.