FIRST TEAM SPORTS Thunder Portable Series User manual

Bill of Materials
A (1) Portable Base Assembly I (10) 5/16" Hex Nut
B (1) H-Frame Backboard Mount J (1) 3/8"x 1 " Hex Bolt
C (4) Bboard Brace (2 long, 2 short) K (2) 3/8" Flatwasher
D (1) Set of Base Padding L (1) 3/8" Lockwasher
E (16) 5/16"x 1" Mach. Screw M (1) 3/8" Hex Nut
F (2) 5/16"x 2 1/2" Mach. Screw N (1) Set of Rim Height Stickers
G (18) 5/16" Flatwasher O (2) Padding Spacers
H (18) 5/16" Lockwasher P (4) 3/8"x 2 1/2" Hex Bolt
First Team Sports, Inc | Thunder

1. Remove portable base from shipping pallet. For your convenience your Thunder portable basketball
goal has been 95% pre-assembled.
2. Remove both side covers from base of unit and install ballast. WARNING!! Failure to install
minimum required ballast may result in serious injury! A minimum 700 lbs. of counter balance weight is
required in the ballast compartment furthest back on the unit. Solid cement blocks are recommended,
a minimum of (23) 4"x8"x16" solid cement blocks should be placed inside the box compartment
furthest back on the unit. Blocks can be purchased at any home builders supply center. DO NOT
PROCEED WITH ASSEMBLY UNTIL 700 LBS. OF BALLAST HAVE BEEN INSTALLED! As many as
(10) additional blocks (600 lbs.) may be loaded into the mid-section of the unit to provide further
stability.
3. Re-attach side covers.
4. Inside one of the boxes shipped with your unit you should find (1) H-Frame backboard mount, (4)
Backboard Braces, and (1) Bolt Kit. Remove these items from the box.
5. Unpackage and lay your backboard face down on your working surface. Take note of the
backboard's size and composition (tempered glass or acrylic). If your backboard is tempered glass (or
FT222 42"x72" acrylic), check to make sure all four steel grommets are located at the rim holes, if any
are missing look in the box (if grommets are missing and cannot be located do not proceed with
assembly, call First Team immediately). If you purchased an acrylic backboard labeled FT215 or FT220
you should have received two rubber gaskets instead of the steel grommets.
6. Unpack your H-Frame and extend your H-Frame to either 36" or 42" in length depending on the
height of your backboard. You may have to loosend and remove the 1/2" hardware on the side of the
H-Frame to extend or retract H-Frame to appropriate length. Leave 1/2" hardware finger tight for now.
7. Lay the H-Frame down into the backboard aligning the four holes at the top and bottom of the
H-Frame with the center four holes at the top and bottom of the backboard as shown in Figure B. If you
are mounting an acrylic backboard labeled FT215 or FT220, place one rubber gasket between the
faceplate of the H-Frame and the backside of the backboard. You will use the other gasket later during
assembly. Also, if you are mounting an acrylic backboard labeled FT215 or FT220 you will have to
remove and discard the plastic strap located at the backboard frame joint to complete this step.
NOTE: FT222 42"x72" acrylic backboards do not require use of the rubber gaskets and do not have a
plastic strap to remove.
8. Check to make sure the rim hole pattern in the H-Frame lines up with the rim hole pattern in the
backboard, adjust as necessary. When you are satisfied with alignment, attach backboard to H-Frame
at all points along the top and bottom of the board using (8) 5/16"x 1" slotted machine screws, (8) 5/16"
flatwashers, (8) 5/16" lockwashers and (8) 5/16" hex nuts. (Figure B) Also, tighten all 1/2" hardware on
the sides of the H-Frame at this time.
During step 9 remember to place a rubber gasket behind the rim if you purchased an FT215 or FT220
acrylic backboard.
9. Using at least five adults, lift the backboard/h-frame assembly up so that the rim holes in the
backboard/h-frame assembly are in line with the rim holes in the extension arm faceplate. While three
adults hold the backboard/h-frame assembly steady in place, the other two should lift up the rim and
attach it using the hardware provided in the rim box. If you purchased a TEMPERED GLASS
backboard or FT222 42"x72" acrylic backboard, use the (4) 3/8"x 2 1/2" hex bolts provided to attach

rim instead of the 3/8"x 2" bolts provided in the rim box. (Follow rim attachment instructions provided
in rim box) Leave rim bolts finger tight for now, DO NOT TIGHTEN RIM HARDWARE YET!
10. Level the backboard & rim. First, make sure the base of the unit is sitting on a level surface and
also make sure the base is resting on the footpads in front. If the foot pads are not contacting the floor,
lower the base of the unit down by cranking the Wheel Actuator shown in Figure A until the foot pads
are resting on the ground. Next, place a level along the bottom side of the backboard, adjust the
backboard and rim independently until level. (If you cannot move backboard or rim, loosen rim bolts
until you can) Once the backboard and rim are BOTH level you should tighten the rim bolts. DO NOT
OVERTIGHTEN RIM BOLTS!
11. Next, attach Backboard Braces to the Slotted Attachment bracket as shown in Figure A. PLEASE
NOTE: You have a SHORT set of braces and a LONG set. Use the SHORT braces if your backboard
is 54" or 60" wide. Use the LONG braces if your backboard is 72" wide. The bracket on the extension
arm is slotted to accommodate various backboard sizes. Attach braces using (1) 3/8"x 1 ¼" hex bolt,
(2) 3/8" flatwashers, (1) 3/8" lockwasher and (1) 3/8" hex nut. Leave finger tight for now. WARNING: It
is extremely important that during step 11 and 12 you keep in mind that the backboard braces
must be bent in a fashion that allows them to clear the welded ears on the silver inner boom
when the extension arm is lowered to go through a door, etc. (See Operating Your Thunder
Portable Goal) It is best if the braces are bent at the smash line where the flat portion ends and
the tube begins. If the braces are bent improperly it could result in damage to the braces when
folding the extension arm down. If you have questions please call First Team 1-888-884-6677.
12. Using (2) 5/16"x 1" slotted machine screws, flatwashers, lockwashers and hex nuts, attach
backboard braces to backboard using the pre-drilled attachment holes located on the sides of your
backboard. Bend braces as necessary keeping in mind the above warning. Tighten all brace
attachment hardware.
13. Before proceeding check to make sure your tubular backboard braces discussed in steps 11 & 12
do not interfere with the ability to lower down the extension arm. To lower extension arm remove the
knob located on the side of the welded ears connected to the extension arm (Figure A). While holding
on to the bottom of the backboard lift slightly while a second person slides the bolt out releasing the
backboard to come down to storage position. As you CAREFULLY lower the backboard, observe the
backboard braces. Are they clearing the silver ears? If not, re-bend them to compensate until they fully
clear and return backboard to its upright position. Replace bolt and knob.
14. Attach upper and lower padding. Using the 5/16" machine screws, flatwashers and lockwashers,
attach the upper pad and lower pad at their respective attachment points. Note: You must use the
two longer 5/16" machine screws for the bottom attachment on the lower padding. Remember to
use the (2) round tubular padding spacers provided to span the gap between the front side of the unit
and the back side of the padding at the two attachment points lowest on the lower pad. Tighten until
snug. (You must remove side covers in order to complete this step)
15. Re-attach side covers.
16. If you purchased backboard padding for your backboard, attach it now following the instruction
provided in the backboard padding box.
17. Check backboard level again. If it is slightly out of level, moderate adjustments can be made by
slightly raising or lowering the foot pads. Foot pads can be adjusted using a 15/16" wrench.
18. You can now apply the various height stickers to the backside of the Inner Boom. Each sticker can

be positioned next to the Rack welded on the backside of the InnderBoom. Measure the rim height at
each position with a measuring tape and apply the appropriate sticker using the intersection between
the Inner Boom and the Outer Boom as a reference point. (See Figure A)
19. Check over entire unit making sure all hardware is tightened and secure. Assembly of your
Thunder portable goal is complete! Keep these assembly instructions for future reference. Also,
carefully read and follow the instructions provided under "Operating and Maintenance of your Thunder
Portable Goal."
Operating Your Thunder Portable Goal
Adjusting the rim height: Adjusting the rim height is simple. Simply turn the adjustment crank to raise
the goal height, or reverse the cranking motion to lower the goal height. You will notice that there are
two "Lock Brackets" bolted to the unit's gear box. The Lock Brackets have have a hole punched in
them that matches up to the male portion of your adjustment handle. When you have adjusted the goal
to the desired playing height, it is best to stow the handle by inserting it into either the upper or lower
"Lock Bracket" This will prevent any possible movement of the adjustment handle during play.
ATTENTION: DO NOT ADJUST UNIT ABOVE THE 10' PLAYING HEIGHT OR BELOW 6'6"!!!! DOING
SO MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR UNIT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY!
Moving the unit: First, lower the rim height down to approximately 7'. To move the unit, simply crank
the "Wheel Actuator" until you see the front foot pads lift off the floor. Roll unit by pushing on the
backboard directly below the rim and steer the unit by guiding the extension arm left or right. Once, you
have reached the desired location crank the wheel actuator again to return the foot pads to the floor.
Moving unit through / under a doorway: Follow the instructions listed above for moving the unit.
Once you reach the doorway, drop the backboard down by removing the knob and bolt that go through
the extension arm. While holding on to the backboard, lift up slightly and slide locking pin inward
releasing the backboard to come down. Now the unit may be rolled through the doorway. Raise
backboard until locking pin snaps into place and replace bolt and knob. NOTICE: Double-wide doors
are necessary to allow unit to pass through doorway.

Maintaining Your Thunder Portable Goal
Though your Thunder portable goal is designed and coated to withstand the elements, it is not
advisable to leave the goal system outdoors for extended periods of time. If this cannot be avoided
follow these steps to increase the life of the unit.
1. Remove padding when not in use. Rain can have a particularly damaging effect on the base
padding wooden backing.
2. Grease the gear rack welded on the backside of the silver telescoping boom.
3. Grease the wheel actuator screw to insure free movement.
4. Keep unit covered when not in use. Use of a tarp or other waterproof cover similar to a grill cover will
help keep the unit dry and prevent rust.
Additionally, check all bolts and nuts periodically to make sure they are tight and secure. Following
these simple points will keep your Thunder portable goal in top operating condition season after
season.