Wheelchair Maintenance
Tips for a smooth trouble-free ride
The age of your chair, your local climate and frequency of use affects the condition of your chair. Three key things you can do to keep your chair in great working order are:
• Prepare an emergency repair kit. An ideal kit is made up of items that travel around with you and items kept at home.
• Develop a maintenance routine. Weekly and monthly checks will help keep your chair in great working order and identify broken or worn out parts that may need to be fixed or replaced.
• Know how your chair works. Understanding how your chair operates enables you to better describe the problem in detail to your technician.
Here are a few handy checklists to keep you rolling.
Emergency Repair Kit Checklist
Carry around with you..
o A tire pressure gage and portable air pump
o Tire irons
o Phillips and flat head screw driver
o Allen key set
o Tire repair kit
o Cell phone
o Umbrella
o Money for a wheelchair accessible cab
o A plastic bag to cover your joy stick, if you use one
o Your current ODSP number, if you have one
o Your ODSP worker’s name and phone number, if you’re on ODSP and you need to make a claim
o Your dealer/technician’s emergency call number
Leave at home…
o Tweezers for cleaning your casters
o Touch up paint
o Spoke wrench
o Lubricant (check your manual for the right type for your chair)
o Spare tubes, spokes, bearings, bolts
o Back-up wheels. You may want to consider solid wheels on your back-up set – easy care,
good for travel.
o Back-up chair – keep this in good working order. A back-up chair with two flats isn’t much use.
o Your wheelchair owner’s manual
o Your charger, if you use one. You should charge your power chair every night.
Develop a Routine Checklist
Manual Chairs
Weekly
o Wipe down your chair, especially after rain or snow
o Check your tire pressure. The correct pressure is usually written on the side of the tire.
Monthly
o Clean hair, dirt, and dust out of casters. Check your casters for wobble and alignment.
o Clean your axle housings and around the bearings
o Check your brakes
o Check for loose nuts and bolts
o Check your chair frame for cracks or rust
o Check solid tires for wear and tightness to the wheel (there shouldn’t be any slack)
o Replace air tires when the tread becomes worn or cracked
o Check your wheels – make sure they spin easily and stop smoothly and you don’t veer to either side
o Check spoke tension
o Check your cushion and back rest for sagging or torn upholstery. Replace if they have stretched, sagged, or deflated. ADP will replace cushions every two years.
Every few months
o Make sure your chair opens and folds easily. Apply lubricant where necessary.
o Lubricate all pivot points and bearings
Power Chairs
Monthly
o Check joystick wires – make sure they don’t have any nicks
o Check battery connections
o Check cables and terminals for corrosion
o Check tires: no squeaks, good air pressure, not too much wear
o Check your castors. If they are getting smooth you may need to replace your bearings.
o Check your cushion: no holes, no leaks, wash the cover if necessary. ADP will pay for a new cushion every two years.
o Check your foot plates. They should sit tightly at the right angle for you.
Tips for an emergency
o Know how to put your chair in manual mode
o Know the type of chair you drive and the name of the model
o Make sure you can describe the problem in detail to your technician
o Develop a good relationship with your technician