25
TAPMATE
™
XL-424 Operating Manual
PERFORMING THE TAP:
(cont.)
11. Start feeding the Cutter into the pipe wall by slowly rotating the Lead Nut handles. The cutter will
travel about
3
/
16
” for each revolution of the Lead Nut. DO NOT OVER FEED. Over feeding can result in
stalling the motor and / or damage to the cutter.
The Shaft Nose can be fed into the pipe wall firmly until the Shell Cutter begins to cut. Once the Shell Cutter
starts to cut, feed slowly and listen to the hydraulics and Cutter for indications of over feeding.
12. The Travel Chart provides distances necessary to cut for each tap size. The distances are measured from when
the Cutter hits the pipe (not the Shaft Nose or PVC Pilot). You will feel and hear the difference of when the
Shaft Nose is cutting and when the Shell Cutter starts cutting.
The operator will feel resistance when feeding the cutting tools. This resistance provides the operator feedback as
to progress of the cut. Resistance is greatest when cutting is occurring and virtually absent once the tap is
completed.
Note
:
Cutter travel exceeding the calculated distance of cut may result in cutting through the back-side of the
pipe. This is more critical on size-on-size taps.
13. Use the following rules to determine completion of the tap:
•
On All Taps Except Size-on-Size Taps
(see next paragraph for information on size-on-size taps)
The Maximum RequiredTravel distance is ½ the outside diameter of the pipe, even if you still feel resistance
while feeding the cutting tools. At the completion of the cut, you will feel the feed resistance and
Cutter noise diminish. When this happens, turn the lever on the drive unit to the by-pass position. Then
continue to feed the cutter into the pipe, for another one or two complete revolutions of the Lead Nut. You
should feel no increase in resistance. In this case, the tap is finished. If you continue to feel resistance, move
the cutter back to where you stopped the hydraulics. Turn the hydraulics back on and finish the cut.
• Size-on-Size Taps
The Maximum RequiredTravel distance is ½ the outside diameter of the pipe, even if you still feel resistance
while feeding the cutting tools.
14. When it's been established that the tap has been completed, stop the supply of hydraulic pressure and
disconnect the hoses from the Hydraulic drive unit.
15. Retract the Shaft and Cutter out of the pipe, sleeve and valve by unthreading the Lead Nut back to "zero".
Note
:
There should be two "zeros" now visible on the Lead Tube's scale.
16. Remove the Brake Tube Locking Handle from the Brake Tube.
17. Continue retracting the Shaft and Cutter by unthreading the Brake Tube back to "zero".
Note
:
There should be three "zeros" now visible on the Thrust Tube's scale.
18. Close the gate valve.
19. Release the water pressure in the Adapter Bell by opening the exhaust valve on the back of the Adapter
Bell (14-24” adapters).
