Broken wheelchair due to dropped curb not dropped all the way - advice?

Lum

bluelight wrote: »

As a matter of interest, what make is the wheelchair? The makes I have had dealings with are fairly robust. The NHS use wheelchairs supplied by a company called Wheeltech, who also supply powerchairs and scooters. In my experience, Wheeltech seem fairly robust. Let me know, would you, please, as the make you have may be one with known issues.

It's a Küschall Champion fitted with Alber e-motion M15 power assisted wheels.

Annoyingly, since the accident and repair it now seems to be pulling to the left too

bluelight

Right. The make is not one I am familiar with. The pulling to the left suggests damage to the gearbox on one of the power-assisted wheels or one of the axles is bent. Other things it might be is damage to the keyway on one of the axles (a slot in the axle over which the wheel fits and is held in place with a metal "key", hence, its name).

If the front castors were repaired, did whoever repaired it check the alignment of the hangers (what the front castors are mounted upon). If they are out of alignment, it will make the chair "pull" to one side.

Please be aware that I am not an engineer and the above should not be taken as an authoritative opinion. Always consult a qualified technician or engineer.

Lum

I've just been told it's not going to be the wheels as it only does it when coasting, not when they're providing power.

So it's either the castors or uneven tyre pressure. We're going to get a pump during the week and check. If it's not the tyre pressure I guess we're going back to Farnborough.

Oh, and just to add to the woes, one of the front brake discs on her car has cracked so while we wait for a new one to arrive she has to use my 22mpg gas guzzler that normally only goes to shows and tracks and the like.

paddedjohn

Just being nosey but why doesnt your oh use the petrol tank aswell on the car? it does have one doesnt it?

Teabagz

Hi
Just a suggestion from a fellow wheely who has had the same wheelchair (I was told it broke because it is "only meant for occasional use":rotfl: and I was using it 24/7 as I am a single parent of 2), have you tried getting either a different car from Motability OR an adaption called an Autochair - it takes the chair from the side of the car onto the roof therefore avoiding any lifting. There are also other solutions such as one that puts the chair into the boot. I have tried the first one and it was ok but again I used it too much so I now have a massive van and an amazing chair - the best EVER called a Dragon which can put you at any height and where the company helps you out whatever the situation - they come to you or you go to them in Cambridge for details of the chair search kc mobility (other companies are available but they are very helpful).

As far as the petrol stations are concerned - sue them for disability discrimination if they refuse to help! It is a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act and DDA!

Hope the above info helps!

Lum

The car issue has been discussed already, she wont be giving up her current car until it becomes impossible to manage with it, or it rots into the ground. I'm not sure the autochair thing will fit to a 200SX.

For those who don't know the car, it's this one, only she's replaced the wheels with black ones since that photo was taken:



As for motability, that assumes that her DLA application is actually sucessful. Despite the fact that we spent the entire xmas break on it, and produced a 22 page 10,000 word document full of supplimentary notes, and we know for a fact that the GP is onboard, who knows if they'll actually give us anything.

Even if we get higher rate care and mobility, it's still going to take a year to pay off this chair and the wheels. Some might say that it was stupid of us to take this risk, but the alternative is she becomes unable to go to work, and as she's the main earner in this household that is an even worse situation to be in.

rotoguys

Lum wrote: »

It's a Küschall Champion fitted with Alber e-motion M15 power assisted wheels.

Annoyingly, since the accident and repair it now seems to be pulling to the left too

Maybe the answer is to lean to the right a bit?? LOL