Spinball Wizard
Owner's Manual
CAUTIONS
● This machine is not a toy! Use
under adult supervision only.
● Machine will throw balls and strikes- batters must stay alert and
always wear a helmet.
● Use only regulation baseballs and softballs, or balls specifically
designed for machine use.
● Hold machine steady when loosening ball joint for
adjustments. The machine is not fully balanced on the ball joint and may
move suddenly under its own weight if not held in place.
● Use a grounded (3 prong) outlet only. Use a GFCI outlet when machine is
operated outdoors. Do not use the machine in wet conditions.
● Do not store the machine with the urethane wheel tread compressed against the ground. Flat spots will develop.
● Check that all motor mounting screws are tight before use.
ASSEMBLY / SET UP
LEGS Legs should slide into the sockets of the tripod base until the spring loaded buttons pop up. If holes do not line up properly, try rotating the leg 180o or switching legs.
WHEEL INSTALLATION – INITIAL
USE ONLY
To prevent shipping damage, the Spinball Wizard is shipped with the wheels not
installed. A 3/16” Allen wrench is included with the machine to install the
wheels and adjust motor position. It is stored in a small black clip on the
back side of the frame. To install the wheels, first install the legs as
detailed above, then set the machine upright with the
motor shafts horizontal. The four set screws (two per wheel, one each side)
that hold the wheels on are pre-installed in the wheels. Remove the set screws,
add 2-3 drops of the included threadlocker to each one, then
re-install them about halfway back into the threaded holes. Each wheel has one
rounded tread edge and one square. For appearance only, we recommend that the
rounded edges face away from the machine. Slide each wheel onto the end of the
motor shaft, lining up the set screws with the flat portion of the motor shaft.
Slide the wheel just far enough that wheel is completely on the motor shaft,
just past the small chamfer on the end of the shaft. Do not slide the wheels on
as far as they will go, or they will rub against the motor housing and not line
up with the ball feeder tube. Tighten the two set screws on each wheel using
the Allen wrench. The machine may be used after the threadlocker hardens in
approximately four hours. It will reach full strength in 24 hours.
Line the wheel set screws up with the flat section of the motor shaft. Slide the wheel onto the motor shaft just past the small chamfer on the end of the shaft.
BALL FEEDER TUBES CAUTION: The wheels will expand up to 1/8" when spinning, depending on speed. Use the 3" inner diameter feeder tube for baseballs and the 4" inner diameter feeder tube for softballs. Attach the tube to the machine using the two thumb screws included. Adjust the feeder tube to clear the tires by approximately 1/4" when running. Placing the tube in contact with the tires will damage the tube, and may cause it to be grabbed by the tires and thrown. Placing the tube too far away from the tires will diminish the machine's accuracy.
MOTOR / WHEEL POSITION WARNING: Turn
the machine off before adjusting the wheel position.
Mounting holes
are placed 1/4” apart to allow for adjustability for different types of balls
and for tread wear. Machines are shipped with the motors pre-located in the
proper position for softer dimpled balls and no adjustment is necessary. For
baseball, this is the center position. For softball, it is the position second
farthest out. When using real leather balls, or very hard dimpled balls, one
wheel should be moved one hole farther out. Whether the bottom motor is moved
down one hole or the top motor is moved up doesn’t matter unless the ball feeder
tube is not quite centered between the wheels. In that case, the closer wheel
should be moved out to best center the tube.
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Default baseball position for softer dimpled baseballs |
Top motor moved up 1 hole for real or hard dimpled baseballs |
Bottom motor moved down 1 hole for real or hard dimpled baseballs |
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Default softball position for softer dimpled softballs |
Top motor moved up 1 hole for real or hard dimpled softballs |
Bottom motor moved down 1 hole for real or hard dimpled softballs |
The wheels are moved by removing the four socket (Allen) head cap screws that hold each motor sled to the main channel frame. The 3/16” Allen wrench is the same one used for installing the wheels. Be sure to support the motor / wheel assembly when removing the screws – do not let the motor hang by its cord. Reposition the motor & wheel assembly as desired, then re-install the four screws. As the wheels wear, the motors can be brought closer together. For especially soft or compressible balls, the wheels will need to be closer than normal. If the wheels slow significantly or there is a major jolt when throwing a ball, the wheels are most likely too close. If the ball is thrown significantly slower than the machine is set for, the wheels are most likely too far apart. Generally, each wheel should be set at the same distance from center. However, for fine tuning, a difference of one hole is acceptable. Unless switching between baseballs and softballs, this gap will only need to be reset after considerable tread wear.
OPERATION
CONTROLS The wheel
speeds are controlled by a lighted power switch and two rotary knobs. The
motors do not receive power until the machine is switched on, regardless of
their speed setting. The motors will draw a small amount of power even when
their speed is set to 0 if the power is switched on. A ticking noise at speeds
under 15 mph is normal. The machine may be switched on with the motor speeds at
any setting. Do not feed balls into the machine until the wheels have exceeded
25 mph or the ball may jam between the wheels. If this happens, turn off the
machine immediately and clear the jammed ball by hand.
ADJUSTING MACHINE
ORIENTATION
The machine is positioned by use of a single ball and socket joint. The joint
is locked in position by turning a clamping knob, which squeezes two parallel
plates against the ball. To lock the machine in position, simply turn the knob
clockwise until tight. To adjust the machine, grasp the machine's frame and
turn the knob counterclockwise until the joint is just loose enough to move the
machine. The
goal is to loosen the joint enough that you can adjust the machine, but not
loosen it enough that it can move on its own. WARNING: The machine is not
fully balanced on the ball joint and may move suddenly if the ball joint is
loosened and you do not hold the machine in place.
THROWING DIFFERENT PITCHES Thrown balls will tend
to curve in the direction they are spinning, and the greater
the spin, the more the curve. Spin is imposed on the ball by setting one wheel
to turn faster than the other- the ball will spin & curve away from the
faster wheel. By rotating the machine on its ball joint, you can set the curve
in any direction. The speed of the ball will be the average of the wheel speed
settings. For example, setting one wheel at 60 and the other at 90 will result
in a 75 mph pitch. A color laminated chart is included for guidance.
ACCURACY The primary
factor behind pitch accuracy is the consistency of the balls. They must be dry
and in good condition. Dimpled machine balls will be more accurate than leather
baseballs, especially after use. The more consistent the balls are, the more
consistent the pitches will be. If pitches seem to wander during use, check
that the ball and socket joint is tight. Also check that the entire machine is
not moving from recoil. When used on a hard slick flooring surface such as
hardwood or cement, the machine should be set on a carpet scrap or non-slip mat.
SPEED The speed
dial settings are not exact. There is no economical way to compensate for the
different types, sizes, and conditions of the variety of balls that might be
used. The speed settings are, however, very consistent and repeatable, so that once
a machine is set, it will deliver consistent speed and accuracy. Speeds shown
on the control knobs are for baseballs. Softball speeds are approximately 15%
less than shown.
MISCELLANEOUS
WHEEL BALANCING Our wheels are balanced within +/- 1.0 gram on a 12" diameter at assembly. Should your wheels require rebalancing for any reason we will rebalance them for you for free. Shipping each way is not covered. You may send the machine or just the wheels.
GENERATORS This machine may be
powered by a standard household outlet or a portable generator. The machine
will pull a maximum continuous load of 4 Amps (480 Watts) at 120V AC. Be sure
when selecting a generator that you check the electric output power rating, not
the gas engine output, which is usually how they are advertised. You may also
use a marine battery with a 120V AC inverter.
MAINTENANCE If stored
outdoors, always keep the machine covered to protect it from rain. Tarps are available
at any local hardware store, but even a large black trash bag will work.
WARRANTY If your
machine doesn't perform like you expect, please contact Spinball and we will
attempt to diagnose the problem for you. If a part fails during the warranty
period and you feel confident you can install it yourself, we will send the
replacement part for free. If something goes wrong during the first 30 days you
have the machine, you can also choose to exchange it for a new one. After 30
days, if you need to return the machine for repairs, you will have to pay for
return shipping. We will repair the machine and return the machine back to you
at our expense. All components of your machine are covered for non-commercial
use for five years from the date of purchase, but wheels and motors are
considered wear items which are prorated. For example, if a wheel or motor only
lasts 3 years, you will receive 40% off the price of a new one. The warranty
does not cover cosmetic issues, normal wear, or misuse of the product. For
commercial use, the warranty period is one year.
THANK YOU! Thank
you for buying from Spinball Sports Products. We hope you will enjoy your new
pitching machine for many years to come. If you have any questions or comments
please email us at info@spinballsports.com. And thanks again!