PROMATIC Hobby Clay Target Launcher User Manual

: June 9, 2024
: PROMATIC

PROMATIC Hobby Clay Target Launcher

PROMATIC-Hobby-Clay-Target-Launcher-PRODUCT

WARNING

Clay target launchers can be dangerous and must be treated with great care at all times to avoid accidents.
Never place any body part into the path of any mechanical piece whilst the machine is in motion or likely to be so.
You must treat a clay target launcher with the same caution that you would treat a loaded gun.
Assume at all times that a clay target launcher is armed and loaded and treat it accordingly.

Specifications

Single column 55 target hopper.
Weight: 34.5kg / 76 lbs
Length: 490mm / 19 ¼“
Width: 420mm / 16 ½ “
Height: 940mm / 37” (On tilt base)
Power: 12vDC Rechargeable battery

This document must be read in full before attempting to operate the machine

Preface

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this manual is complete, accurate and up-to-date. Promatic International assumes no responsibility for errors beyond its control.

Conventions used within this manual

Trap: Your Hobby – Clay target launcher—commonly known as a clay trap and may be referred to in this manual as “The trap” or “The machine”

Warnings & Cautions

Warning: This section contains instructions which, if ignored or carried out incorrectly, may result in risk of personal injury.

Caution: This section contains instructions which, if ignored or carried out incorrectly, may result in malfunction or damage to the equipment

Note: This section contains additional information which the user may find useful, but is not essential to the operation of the product.

12v DC Power Source

This product is designed to be powered from a 12v DC battery. We recommend 22Ah leisure batteries. Promatic part no. E30V/SLC22 IT MUST NEVER BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO MAINS AC POWER.

EYE PROTECTION MUST BE WORN WHEN WORKING ON OR AROUND A CLAY TARGET LAUNCHER AS SMALL SHARP PIECES OF CLAY MAY BE EJECTED DURING NORMAL USE.

Understanding your new trap

PROMATIC-Hobby-Clay-Target-Launcher-FIG-3

Connecting the battery

Ensure you are behind the machine, the ARM/DISARM switch is in the OFF position and it is otherwise safe to proceed. Connect the red cable to the Red (+) terminal and the black cable to the Black (-) Terminal. Ensure the terminal fasteners are tight, the battery is securely strapped to its tray and the charger has been removed.

WARNING: Never approach the machine from the front or sides, Do not assume the trap is safe even without electrical power it may still be armed.

Electrical Troubleshooting

Trap fails to re-arm – after a period of prolonged use the trap fails to re- arm itself and is found to be stalled (may also be making a humming sound) then this is an indication that the battery is depleted, and the voltage has fallen too low to operate the trap. Disconnect the battery immediately and recharge (or fit a replacement fully-charged battery).

A depleted battery may appear to have recovered if left unused. The trap should not be used any further than necessary to make it safe as continued operation of a depleted battery at low voltage may cause damage to the motor, battery or other electrical components.

Trap fires by itself: Disconnect any external cable and switch the trap back on. If the trap arms normally then the command cable is faulty. If the trap continues to fire, switch the machine off and disconnect the battery. Check the roller switch is moving freely and an audible click can be heard when it is moved. Re-test the machine. If the machine still fires by itself then the Roller switch is faulty and must be replaced.

Circuit breaker has operated: The battery may have been incorrectly fitted (terminals reversed) or an excessive amount of current was drawn either due to a fault or obstruction within the trap. Check for obvious faults or obstructions and reset the circuit breaker. If the fault persists seek advice from Promatic.

WARNING: If the circuit breaker has tripped due to an obstruction DO NOT ASSUME THE TRAP IS SAFE it may still be armed with the obstruction holding back the energy from the spring – carefully clear the obstruction whilst remaining in the safe area behind the trap BE AWARE of the path of the throwing arm AND the debris that may be ejected.

Positioning the machine

Clay Target Launchers must be situated on firm level ground in a position that will allow unrestricted access to rear of machine.
There must be no obstructions to the path of the throwing arm.
Ensure that the power supply can be easily disconnected and cables cannot become tangled in any part of the mechanism.

Firing the machine

Turn the ON/OFF or switch (if fitted) to the ON or position and set the ARM/DISARM switch to the ARM/LOAD position. The machine will move automatically and arm itself ready to launch a loaded clay.
Press the FIRE button on the command cable to throw a clay.
The machine will fire every time the FIRE button is pressed and will automatically rearm itself, until disarmed and switched off or disconnected.

Disarming the machine (Safe Mode)

To disarm the machine push the ARM/DISARM switch upwards to the DIS-ARM position and immediately release (long enough for the trap to fire, but not giving the machine a chance to rearm).
Turn the ON/OFF or switch (if fitted) to the OFF or position and disconnect the battery.

WARNING: Ensure the machine is stable on firm-level ground before use. Bolt the machine to a solid base or the Optional Trolley Base.

ALWAYS disarm the machine before any loading, adjustment or maintenance.
ALWAYS load clays from rear and ONLY if the machine is disarmed and safe.
NEVER approach the machine from the front or sides. ALWAYS from the rear.
NEVER allow children or untrained persons to approach or touch the machine.
NEVER move an armed/loaded machine. ALWAYS disarm and disconnect battery.
REMOVE the main throwing spring before Transport in a vehicle.
BE AWARE of the fall zone of both broken and unbroken clays and that a change in wind direction will affect this.

Transit Mode Procedure

Warning: Stand at rear of machine only.

Disarm the machine by flicking the ARM/DISARM switch upwards towards the DISARM position and immediately releasing (long enough for the trap to fire, but not giving the machine a chance to rearm). The Gearbox block (A rectangular block attached to the gearbox shaft) should stop in a position pointing towards the front of the machine.
If the Gearbox block is pointing directly towards the front of the machine, push the ARM/DISARM switch momentarily in direction of DISARM/NUDGE just enough to allow the block past its forward pointing position.
If the block has gone too far, rearm the machine and then disarm again until the desired position is achieved.
Disconnect the battery/power source from the machine once the block is in the correct position.
With the Gearbox block now pointing just past the forward pointing position, the throwing arm can be pushed slowly, USING THE PALM OF THE HAND ONLY, around counter clockwise .
As the throwing arm gets to the firing position (pointing direct to the back of the machine) the spring will take over, moving the arm onto the drive bolt on the gearbox block. This will stop the arm and prevent it from firing. Further jog-ging should now see the throwing arm follow the drive bolt. If not, repeat the procedure but jog the gearbox block slightly further round before pushing the arm around. Once the arm is locked onto the drive pin disconnect the battery.

This is TRANSIT MODE the arm is now trapped between the drive bolt in one direction and locked on the one-way bearing within the trap, it cannot move or release again until power is applied and the ARM/DISARM switch is operated.

WARNING: ALWAYS disarm the machine before carrying out loading, adjustment or maintenance.

Adjustment Elevation

Setting Elevation angle

Trajectory of clays are from approximately 26 – 50 degrees.
Loosen handwheel nut as shown, tilt to desired angle, and re-tighten handwheel.

WARNING: Be aware that if machine is already tilted upwards when the hand-wheel is subsequently undone the machine will jolt forward. Support the weight of the machine from the top of the clay hopper when adjusting the elevation angle.

Adjustment: Plunger Mechanism

As the arm rotates, the plunger presses gently on the outer rim of the remaining clay stack to hold it as the bottom clay is released from the iris plates. With the trap at rest and the clays pushed towards the two rear hopper rods there should be a visible gap between the second clay up in the stack and the red polyurethane plunger tip. The plunger gap should be around 2mm (1/16″) and can be adjusted if required using two 10mm spanners/wrenches. Holding the half nut (located against the back of the brass plunger) adjust the rear locking nut clockwise to increase the gap or anti-clockwise to decrease it.

WARNING: ALWAYS disarm the machine before carrying out loading, adjustment or maintenance.

Adjustment: Spring Tension

PROMATIC-Hobby-Clay-Target-Launcher-FIG-9

Spring adjustment is always easier if the spring attachment point is at its rearmost position, this relieves the spring of a large proportion of it’s tension making adjust-ment much easier as well as reducing wear on the spring adjustment mechanism. To achieve this, first perform the Transit Mode Procedure (see page 6) to put the machine into transit mode and then nudge forward until the throwing arm projects forward from the front of the machine. At this point stop nudging and disconnect the battery.

Decrease tension: Using the handwheel loosen spring to desired position. Hand tighten inside nut to back of frame and clamp with a further turn of the handwheel.

Increase tension: Loosen handwheel one turn, then adjust the inner nut to allow the spring room to pull back. Using the handwheel tighten spring to desired position. Hand tighten inside nut to back of frame and clamp with a further turn of the handwheel.

Important

leave 30mm (1 3/16”) thread length between inside nut and spring coil. Increasing spring tension up to full length of thread will seri-ously detriment the performance of the machine and will cause spring damage or failure.

WARNING: BEFORE ADJUSTMENT (Arm timing)

Part of this procedure requires you to work very close to the trap – before proceeding be sure you understand and have practised the procedure for putting the trap into transit mode (this can be found on page 6 of this manual) and fully understand when the trap is safe and when it is not.

Adjustment: Throwing arm timing

PROMATIC-Hobby-Clay-Target-Launcher-FIG-11

Perform the Transit Mode Procedure found on page 6 of this manual. To correctly time the machine, the Crank Arm must be pointing directly forwards with the bolts on the crank arm and gearbox crank touching (see diagram below). In this position the throwing arm will be pointing towards the rear of the machine. Repeat the Transit Mode Procedure until this is achieved. This is to prevent the arm firing. (If in any doubt, perform the safe mode procedure and remove the spring. Then perform the transit mode procedure). Disconnect the battery at this point. Loosen the arm clamp block and rotate the arm clockwise until the front of the yellow friction strip lines up between the centres of the two bolts to the rear of the machine. Re-tighten the arm clamp block firmly. Your trap is now correctly timed. Re-assemble if necessary and test.

Spare Parts List

For parts not listed please call Promatic or you local dealer/service agent.

PROMATIC-Hobby-Clay-Target-Launcher-FIG-12

CE Marking Consultants

Barclay Phelps CE Marking Consultants, 29/8 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar 646, Europe

CERTIFICATE & DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY FOR CE MARKING

Company contact details

Promatic Intemational Ltd.
Station Works, Hooton Road, Hooton, S Wirral, CH66 7NF, United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)151 327 2220
Fax: +44(0)151 327 7075
email: info@promatic.co.uk

Promatic International Ltd. declares that their

Clay Target Launchers listed as the following models Elite, Hawk, Superhawk,Harrier, Harrier ABT/Wobble, Eagle, Eagle Battue, Hobby / Merlin, Ranger 8, Osprey/All American Ranger, Ranger Battue, Ranger ABT/Wobble, Sporter 400TT, Sporter 400TT ABTWobble, Super Sporter Battue, Super Sporter, Super Sporter Downhill Thrower, Super Sporter ABT/Wobble, Rabbit, Squirrel, Ranger Chondel, Chondell, Hunter Wobble, Huntsman, Huntsman XP Fieldsman, Club Skeet, Pro Skeet, Int Skeet, Olympic Trap, Club 275 DTLATA International DTUATA Pro ABTWobble, Auto Trap DTLIATAVABTWobble, International Doubles DTLIATAWobble and Sporter Doubles DTL/ATAWobble

are classified within the following EU Directives

Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2004/108/EC

and further conform with the following EULHarmonized Standards