Matrix ULTRA Series User manual

Revised: March 2021 I Revised By: BNelson Page 1of 15
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.

Revised: March 2021 I Revised By: BNelson Page 3of 15
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

Revised: March 2021 I Revised By: BNelson Page 6of 15
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

Revised: March 2021 I Revised By: BNelson Page 9of 15
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

Revised: March 2021 I Revised By: BNelson Page 10 of 15
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