解:$(1)$∵$AO = 17 \text{m},$
∴$A(0,17)。$
∵$OC = 100 \text{m},$缆索$L_{1}$的最低点$P $到$FF'$的距离$PD = 2 \text{m},$
$BC = 17 \text{m},$
∴易得抛物线$L_{1}$的顶点$P $的坐标为$(50,2)。$
∴可设缆索$L_{1}$所在抛物线对应的函数表达式为$y = a(x - 50)^2 + 2。$
将$A(0,17)$代入,得$2500a + 2 = 17,$解得$a = \frac {3}{500}。$
∴缆索$L_{1}$所在抛物线对应的函数表达式为$y = \frac {3}{500}(x - 50)^2 + 2。$
$ (2)$∵缆索$L_{1}$所在抛物线与缆索$L_{2}$所在抛物线关于$y$轴对称,
∴缆索$L_{2}$所在抛物线对应的函数表达式为$y = \frac {3}{500}(x + 50)^2 + 2。$
令$y = 2.6,$得$2.6 = \frac {3}{500}(x + 50)^2 + 2,$
解得$x_{1} = -40$或$x_{2} = -60。$
又∵$FO < OD,$$OD = 50 \text{m},$
∴$FO$的长为$40 \text{m}$