Hello from a Newbie to this Sight

[Bob Hepple]

Hi All
just joined the forum i have read a lot on Wheelchair Driver

a bit about myself

I have interest in cnc machining (teach myself) Model Engineering

RC modeling from cars to heli's to tanks - although as I get older don't do so much now

rebuilt my manual chairs and converting a rigid frame chair Quickie GP-S to my needs

Have a Balder f80 electric which I bought second hand and cleaned up

Acquired a Quickie f55 second hand and in the process of doing it up which will go in my Wheelchair accessible van when it arrives

Been in a chair for all of my life (now 51)

[Burgerman]

Also 51... Not good.
Welcome!

[ex-Gooserider]

Welcome Junior - I'm 54, 2+ years post-injury.... Glad to hear about your skills, sounds like you'll do well here.

One thing that will help is if you can go to the "User Control Panel" near the top of your screen and fill in your location info - it helps all of us on this international board give more location appropriate suggestions when needed...

ex-Gooserider

[Phil Esgate]

Welcome Bob - I'm 53 lol and 6 years post injury...... 50+ seems the age to be!

[Bob Hepple]

Thanks for the warm welcome to this sight Appreciated

[redandwhite]

Hi Bob,

Gosh I feel really old after reading the above posts, I am the grand old age of 55 and 4 years post injured.

I have recently got my F55 back which I paid someone to modify to BM2 spec for me. I wouldn't do it again as it took considerably longer and cost more than originally agreed. Good luck with your rebuild.

I am about 15 miles from you in Bishop Auckland.

Colin

[Burgerman]

I wonder who that was...

[Fulliautomatix]

I have recently got my F55 back which I paid someone to modify to BM2 spec for me.

Is it done well?

[redandwhite]

Yes BM you're absolutely right, it was MO. I was told 6-7 weeks but it took 18 months and the fixed price quoted counted for nothing at the end with alot of discussion taking place on the final price causing bad feeling on both sides. The issue was resolved by both of us compromising.

Fulliautomatix
I bought two, the quality of the first one was ok, but not in the same league as BMs. Initially it drove like pig so it was reprogrammed which improved it a lot but it still was not right. I eventually traced the problem to the freewheel box. It obviously had not been tested before delivery. Now that the problems have been resolved I am pleased with it.

As for the second one, which I haven't had as long, the paint finish and overall build quality does seem a lot better and I am happy with it. The only problem is that they could not grasp that I wanted the central footrest the same as BMs so I eventually said to send it with the stock footrests and I would make it myself. Unfortuneatly since receiving it I went on holiday then came back and caught neumonia so had to spend a week in hospital so have not had time yet. The stock footrests are too short to give support under my thighs so I have not had chance to use it yet, but hopefully I should be able to sort it this week.

[Burgerman]

I wish you luck with those wheel adapters with grub screws... No way that will work for long.

Keep your eye on them because the wheels will develop backlash fast, and the adapters will come loose, and you will get the clunk clunk and jolting turning left/right. Then the wheels will come loose and could fall off. Check the first one when you can.

[redandwhite]

Thanks for the warning. Is there a solution without changing the adaptors, or is it just a case of keep checking them?

The first one is only going to get very light use, maximum of 5/6 weeks per year and will only be driven gently as there will always somebody walking with me which is probably about 4 mph so hopefully should last a while, fingers crossed.

It is kept in Turkey and replaces my TDXSP which although I thought was a good chair this is so much more comfortable on the many cobbled roads they have and also gives me access to the beach. Thank you for the inspiration and the overall design, I would never have done it without your website.

[Burgerman]

No, its the desaign of his adapters. You need to make new ones using either the taperlocks I used, or the new wheel adapters that come with a set of stock wheels. Which is preferred. Or some from ANY chair with a 20mm output shaft and a 6mm key. There is likely lots of these.

[Fulliautomatix]

The 'original' spec that I recall reading called for 2 (3?) 6mm grub screws to locate in the 6mm keyway of the gearbox shaft.
This has some merit but should the screws loosen the shaft is free to turn (screws shear off) and slide out of the hub (wheel falls off).
The example we saw presented had 2 x 2mm grub screws! http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1745&p=26540&hilit=hub#p26533
These would provide a much smaller 'holding wheel on and resisting shaft turning in hub' force than the 6mm screws as they cannot be done up anywhere as tight and if the shaft did slip it will accelerate in the hub before suddenly stopping as the screws meet the other side of the keyway. I can't be bothered doing the calculations of torque vs shearing a 2mm screw as I suspect it would not take much and am certain that a couple of forward / reverse movements with a loosened screw would do the trick.
The taperlock fixing has been widely used in machines and agricultural applications and is proven by design and experience to work well in excess of its specified torque rating and not come loose. It is probable that you could do one up and remove the locking screws without it loosening (for a while!) as you have to drive the taper apart to remove the fixing from the shaft.
I have had 2 hubs made from BF12 'bolt on' hubs by simply removing the 'bolt on' flange and tapping wheel mounting holes in the hub part. Spacers are required to set the wheels lateral position. So far this has cost about $100 + donated labour.
http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2162&p=28675&hilit=hub#p28618
The spacer could probably just as well be a stack of washers but since there is a lathe going...

[Fulliautomatix]

The spacer could probably just as well be a stack of washers but since there is a lathe going...

Disclaimer A stack of washers is a bad idea for many reasons - Don't do it!