Let's put it like that: Yes, when you see 60 HF in the Diagnostic screen it means you are sending -60 so the Stabi Function you setup is active, and your tail gyro is operating in Heading Hold mode with gain of 60.
So, if you were not seeing the behaviour you expected, it's probably about how you setted up the Spirit.
What are you trying to achieve exactly? "Stabil mode" does not say much.
And your phrase "she spun and would not go back to normal" does not mean much. Stabi functions have nothing to do with motor spinning or not, or "normal mode", whatever you personally mean with that.
That said, also not clear to me how you set it up and why you need a center value with 0? Using a three way switch?
So please explain what you are trying to achieve, attach your Spirit config file... and maybe read this guide about the DX9 with Spirit (post #16 is about setting up Rescue with DX9):
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=643997