5956 W. Las Positas Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94588 • www.strongtie.com
SAFETY STARTS WITH YOU
A. TRAINING
1. Simpson Strong-Tie recommends obtaining training and reading this
operator’s manual before attempting to use this tool. Training is available at
www.strongtie.com/training, or by calling 1-800-999-5099. Obtaining this
instruction is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
2. Read this manual completely and understand its contents fully before
attempting to operate the tool. If there is anything in this manual that
you do not fully understand, ask your instructor or call Simpson
Strong-Tie at 1-800-999-5099 for information. Reading and understanding
this manual is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
B. LIMITATIONS
1. Just as no instruction book of any kind can forewarn against all possible
situations or emergencies that may arise, neither can Simpson Strong-Tie
instructors or printed instructions detail all possible conditions
or circumstances surrounding the use of this tool or its supporting products.
Recognizing these circumstances and reacting in a safe manner is
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
2. Simpson Strong-Tie disclaims any responsibility for injury or death, which
may result from any disregard of this manual or the verbal instruction of
the authorized Simpson Strong-Tie instructor. Following the rules of safe
operation is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
The Simpson Strong-Tie® GCN150 and GCN-MEP tools are low-velocity, or indirect-acting,
gas-actuated tools. Do not attempt to operate either of these tools before obtaining proper
training. Training is available at www.strongtie.com/training, or by calling 1-800-999-5099.
READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY!
Understanding the safety features, operating principles and limitations of the tool will help
you operate the tool with the greatest safety and efciency. Simpson Strong-Tie disclaims
any responsibility for incidents resulting from the disregard of these instructions.
INTRODUCTION
-2-
SAFE HANDLING OF GCN TOOLS AND FUEL CELLS
GENERAL HANDLING OF THE GCN150, GCN-MEP, AND FUEL CELL (GFC34)
1. Open the tool before operating to make sure it does not
contain fuel, and remove battery, if installed.
2. Always point the tool away from yourself and all bystanders.
3. Never place your hand over the front (fastener guide) of the tool.
4. Never operate the tool without checking to see if the fastener guide is free of
obstructions and that the tool is clean and in good working condition.
5. Never attempt to alter, modify or manufacture parts for use in your
Simpson Strong-Tie
unsafe functioning of the tool. Use only genuine Simpson Strong-Tie
parts, fasteners and fuel cells at all times.
6. Operators and bystanders must wear eye and ear protection, and head
protection is recommended. Serious injury or death can occur if personal
protective items are not used.
7. REMEMBER: Use common sense and good judgment. Use these tools
for their intended purpose only. Know the material you are fastening into
and make certain it is compatible with the gas-actuated tool.
8. Always properly brace yourself when working on scaffolding or ladders.
9. Never carry a loaded tool from job to job.
10. Never use the tool for anything other than its intended purpose.
11. Never carry fuel cells in the same pocket or container with fasteners
or any other hard objects.
12. Never use gas-actuated tools in ammable atmospheres.
13. Never strike or pry a fastener or fuel cell from the tool.
1. NEVER attempt to force a fuel cell into or out of the fuel compartment.
2. NEVER use a sharp or pointed object to install or remove the fuel cell, this may
cause an accidental discharge, or may puncture/damage the fuel cell, creating a
hazardous condition.
3. NEVER attempt to service a jammed tool with the battery and fuel cell installed.
4. If at any time during the operation of the tool you feel it is not working properly,
STOP using it and call your Simpson Strong-Tie representative.
5. If unnecessary bystanders are in the area tell them to leave,
warn all others that you are using a gas actuated tool.
6. Check the work surface to be sure it is clear of any debris.
Clear away any debris so that the tool sits ush on the work surface.
7. Check the work area for explosive or ammable materials.
If any are found remove them before operating the tool.
8. Remove any debris from the tool barrel before operating.
9. Check the air lter for cleanliness and condition; if necessary, replace with new
lter (part # GCN-BC0597) or clean prior to operating tool.
10. NEVER load more than one fastener in the barrel or fastener guide for any reason.
11. Should a tool become disabled for any reason, immediately remove the fuel cell
and battery, and tag the tool “Defective Tool.” Do not resume operation until the
disabled tool has been repaired according to manufacturer’s instructions.
For cleaning procedures, please refer to www.strongtie.com/GCNcleaning
Before loading the tool or fastening into any base material, check the suitability and
thickness of the base material. To check base material suitability, give it the center
punch test.
CENTER PUNCH TEST
Using the fastener as a punch, with a hammer, strike a solid blow to the actual material
you wish to fasten into, then look for these results:
1. If the point of the fastener is blunted, the material is too hard and is unsuitable.
If the material is too hard, the fastener can ricochet, and possibly escape, striking
you or bystanders and cause serious injury or death.
2. If the material cracks or shatters, it is too brittle and is unsuitable. This can
result in particles striking the operator or bystanders, or the fastener could pass
completely through the base material causing serious injury or death.
3. If the fastener sinks into the material with the hammer blow, the material is too
soft and is unsuitable. If the material is too soft, the fastener can pass completely
through and strike someone on the other side causing serious injury or death.
4. If the fastener makes a small indentation in the base the base material
is suitable for fastening into.
DO NOT USE GAS-ACTUATED TOOLS FOR FASTENING
INTO THESE MATERIALS
1. Vertical mortar joints 6. Hardened or tool grade steel
2. Bricks 7. Cast iron
3. Hollow block or tile 8. Welded areas or torch cuts
4. Glazed tile 9. Spring steel
5. Glass 10. Natural rock
BASE MATERIAL THICKNESS AND CONDITION
Thickness of the base material is perhaps the most important consideration for good
safe fastenings. In concrete, the thickness must be 3 times the shank penetration;
in other words, for 1" of shank penetration, the concrete must be at least 3" thick. For
fastening into steel, make sure the steel is at and without irregularity.
1. Never Hold the tool at an acute angle to the work surface. The tool must be
perpendicular (90˚ angle) to the work surface. Make certain that NO debris is
present on the surface.
2. Never set a fastener too close to another installed fastener as this can cause
a ricochet.
3. Never fasten less than 3" from the edge of unsupported concrete or masonry,
or less than
recommended by the tool manufacturer.
4. Never fasten into rough, spalled, cracked or uneven concrete.
Fasten at least 3" from the outer edge of a spalled area.
5. Never fasten into material which is too hard, such as hardened steel, welds,
cast steel, marble, spring steel, natural rock, etc. This could cause the fastener
to shatter and escape and result in serious injury or death.
6. Never fasten into material which is too brittle, such as glass, glazed brick,
glazed tile, slate, etc. This could cause the material to shatter and result in
serious injury or death.
7. Never fasten into material which is too soft, such as wood, plaster, drywall
composition board, plywood, etc. This could cause the fastener to pass
through and escape resulting in serious injury or death.
8. Never fasten through an existing hole in any material as the fastener
could hit the edge of the hole and ricochet. (Consult with the clip, attachment,
or assembly manufacturer for installation instructions regarding specic
products that list power-driven fasteners as a suitable attachment method.)
9. Never place your hand or any part of your body over the front of tool.
10. Never service a GCN tool with the battery or fuel cell installed.
11. Never point the tool toward any person.
1
⁄2" from the edge of steel except for specic applications
PREPARE FOR LOADING
1. Always open the fuel compartment and make sure no fuel cell is present, and
2. Always check to be sure that the tool is clean. Excessive dirt or debris
3. Never store fuel cells in or near ammable areas.
4. Never load fuel or operate the tool in an explosive atmosphere or where
5. Never use improper fuel cells or fasteners in the tool, as this
6. Always insert the fastener(s) prior to loading the fuel cell and battery. Make
7. Never allow bystanders to gather around you when using the tool.
8. Never guess – before fastening into any unknown base material, particularly
no battery is installed.
can cause accidental ring or misring of the tool.
ammables are nearby.
may be unsafe or damage the tool.
sure you don’t double load the fasteners.
into walls, perform the center punch test described in this manual.
-6-
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR PROPER FASTENING
When operating the GCN150/GCN-MEP, always keep the tool perpendicular to the
work surface. Attempting to install fasteners other than at a 90˚ angle can result in pin
ricochet and cause:
– Injury to the user
– Injury to bystanders
– Damage to the tool
– Damage to the base material or attachment
Fasteners derive their holding power primarily from clamping of the concrete around
the fastener. Factors that inuence a fastener driven into concrete include:
– Depth of penetration
– Compressive strength of concrete
– Fastener spacing and edge distance
– Fastener shank diameter
– Concrete aggregate
FASTENER EDGE DISTANCE
Concrete: No less than 3" to nearest free edge.
MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN FASTENINGS
No less than 3"
MINIMUM BASE MATERIAL THICKNESS
Concrete: No less than 3 times penetration depth of the fastener.
“Fish-hooking” is when the fastener curves when driven into concrete. This is
caused by the fastener hitting large, hard, or excessive amounts of aggregate, rebar,
or any hard object. Fish-hooking can reduce the holding power of the fastener,
result in spalling, and may increase unsafe conditions due to escaping particles.
Fish-hooking can be minimized by:
The most common type of steel base material is structural steel in the form of beam,
angle iron, channel, tee, plate, and strip. The holding force of the fastener is a function
of the gripping action of the steel base material around the fastener, and the fusion of
the fastener to the base material.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE HOLDING POWER
OF FASTENERS IN STEEL ARE:
– Shank diameter: Larger shank diameters increase holding force
– Thickness of steel base material: Thicker base material increases holding force
– Fastener point penetration: Getting the point to pass through base material by
approximately
– Knurled fasteners: Knurling on the fastener provides interlocking of the shank
and the base material which increases the holding force
The magazine is designed to retain two pins during use to prevent the tool from
discharging without a fastener (which can damage the tool and possibly cause injury).
The tool will resume normal operation when additional pins are loaded.
-10-
GENERAL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
GCN150/GCN-MEP GAS-ACTUATED TOOL
LOADING A PREASSEMBLED FASTENER (GCN-MEP ONLY):
1. The GCN-MEP is a single-shot tool designed for preassembled fasteners, such
as washered pins and clips.
2. When loading a fastener into the fastener guide, make sure no ngers are on
the trigger, and the trigger is not depressed. Insert the fastener without forcing
the fastener guide to depress and retract into the tool body.
3. When installing the fastener, make sure the tool is perpendicular (90˚ angle) to
work surface.
CONVERTING THE GCN-MEP SINGLE SHOT TOOL INTO A MAGAZINE TOOL:
1. Push knob to extend the knob bolt.
2. Align the front of the magazine (model
number GCN-MEPMAG) with the fastener
guide and align knob bolt with knob bolt
slot. Slide both into place.
With the magazine attached, the GCN-MEP tool can re GDP series pins. The GDP pins have
a smaller head diameter than the single shot preassembled pins, which requires changing the
fastener guide. The fastener guide can easily be changed without tools, in seconds.
1. Remove the yellow plastic retaining clip
that hold the fastener guide.
2. Slide the single-shot fastener guide off,
and replace with the fastener guide for the
GDP pins (fastener guide for GDP pins,
is included in the magazine kit, model
number MEP-MAG1KT).
LOADING THE GCN-MEP MAGAZINE (GCN-MEPMAG) WITH GDP STRIP PINS:
1. Pull back the pin feeder boot until it locks
into place.
2. Slide up to (4) strips of GDP pins into the
back of the magazine.
3. Release the pin feeder boot and slide it
back until it is against the last pin.
The magazine is designed to retain two pins during use to prevent the tool from
discharging without a fastener (which can damage the tool and possibly cause injury).
The tool will resume normal operation when additional pins are loaded.
4. Place fuel cell into fuel compartment with
meter valve end in the upward position.
5. Push the metering valve stem into the red
triangle carburetor.
-14-
GENERAL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
GCN150/GCN-MEP GAS-ACTUATED TOOL
INSTALLING THE BATTERY (GCN-PPA020)
The GCN150/GCN-MEP uses a 6-volt
NiMH battery than can be fully charged in
approximately two hours. Install the battery
by pushing into place until it click-locks. To
remove the battery, push the release tabs and
pull the battery out.
Note: During extended periods of non-use, Simpson Strong-Tie recommends charging the
battery for at least 15 minutes every three months for optimal battery life.
THE GCN-MEP TOOL HAS A BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT
1. When the light is sold green, the battery is
fully charged.
2. When the light is ashing green, the
battery charge is getting low.
3. When the light is orange/ red, the battery
requires charging.
DEPTH CONTROL DIAL:
The GCN-MEP tool has a depth control
dial with allows the operator to adjust the
embedment depth of the fastener. Turn the
dial towards the “+“ symbol to increase the
embedment depth or turn the dial towards
the “-“ symbol to reduce the embedment
depth.
The GCN-MEP tool and the GCN150 tool can be used for installing pins in overhead applications
with an extension pole tool (model numbers PETG-6KT or PETG-8KT).
1. Remove the (4) bolts that secure the
engine cover.
With the mount installed onto the GCN-MEP tool, the extension
pole sections can be assembled onto the extension boot.
2. Align the bolt stems of the boot over the
bolt holes on the engine cover, making sure
the trigger hook is around the trigger.
3. While depressing the fastener guide
against a rm surface, install the long
engine cover bolts (supplied with the boot
kit, model number PETG).
OPTIONAL TOOL FOOT INSTALLATION (GCN-MEP ONLY)
The optional rear foot can be installed onto the GCN-MEP to help keep the tool perpendicular to
the work surface so that the installer only needs to keep the tool at a 90˚ angle to work surface
from the side-to-side direction.
PETGBootN/A
PETS2Pole extension2 ft.
PETS4Pole extension4 ft.
Complete tool, with boot,
handle and one extension
Complete tool, with boot,
handle and two extensions
PETH2
PETG
PETS4
6 ft.
8 ft.
-18-
LIMITED WARRANTY (ONE YEAR)
ON SIMPSON STRONG-TIE
Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. (“Simpson”) provides this limited warranty to
original purchaser. This product, if properly used and maintained in compliance with
all instructions and warnings, will be free from substantial defects in material and
manufacturing for one year from purchase date. Purchaser’s sole remedy is replacement
upon return to Simpson within one year of purchase (shipping prepaid).
WHERE LAWFUL, SIMPSON DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED
One Year
Limited
Warranty
DAMAGES OR DIRECT OR INDIRECT LOSS OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO BODILY INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. SIMPSON’S ENTIRE LIABILITY IS
LIMITED TO THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE
EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE
LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION. MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. SIMPSON IS IN NO WAY LIABLE FOR
INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM USE WITHOUT PROPER CERTIFICATION OR DISREGARD OF
INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL
RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE BEYOND THIS WARRANTY
PERIOD. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS
ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE
ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. WHERE
LAWFUL, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL SIMPSON
BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL
®
BRAND TOOLS
Return Tools To:
Northwest U.S.A. Southwest U.S.A. Northeast U.S.A.
Simpson Strong-Tie Co. Inc. Simpson Strong-Tie Co. Inc. Simpson Strong-Tie Co. Inc.
5151 S. Airport Way 12246 Holly Street 2600 International Street
Stockton, CA 95206 Riverside, CA 92509 Columbus, OH 43228
(209) 234-7775 (800) 999-5099 (614) 876-8060
Southeast U.S.A. Eastern Canada Western Canada
Simpson Strong-Tie Co. Inc. Simpson Strong-Tie Co. Inc. Simpson Strong-Tie Co. Inc.
2221 Country Lane 5 Kenview Boulevard 11476 Kingston Street
McKinney, TX 75069 Brampton, ON L6T 5G5 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0Y5
(972) 542-0326 (905) 458-5538 (604) 465-0296
T-SAS-GCNM12 1/12
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