Sports Wheelchair Maintenance Workshop - Handbook

IntroductionTo ensure that a sports wheelchair maximises performance and to reduce the chance of the wheelchair becoming unusable when you need it most, maintenance is vital.

This WheelPower sports wheelchair maintenance workshop will enable you to learn the skills and techniques necessary to ensure that sports wheelchairs are safe and suitable for use.

This handbook will be your guide to understanding chair maintenance, giving step by step guides on all facets of the chair including wheels, frame and upholstery.

Also included are handy tip sheets with guidance on what to check, when and how frequently to check, the equipment you will need to maintain the chair and where to purchase this from.

Proper and effective wheelchair maintenance is crucial to ensure not only the safe use and longevity of the chair but also the enjoyment of the user.

For further information on other courses run by WheelPower, future events or anything related to wheelchair sport please contact the sports team on:

Office Tel: 01296 395 995 Email: info@wheelpower.org.uk

ContentsEquipment required for maintenance 2-4Stages of disassembly 5-6Upholstery removal & maintenance 6-7Stages of disassembly 8Cushion 9

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Casters 10Frame cleaning 11Wheels 12Maintenance checklist

13-14 Notes 15

Equipment required for maintenance

2 x 4mm Allen Keys Essential for maintenance

Socket Wrench Essential for maintenance

19mm Socket Piece Essential for maintenance

Rim Tape Replace old tape every year or when flat tyre occurs

2 x Inner Tubes Replace when flat tyre occurs

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Electrical Tape Essential for maintenance

2 x Spare Tyres Replace/flip tyre when worn

Spoke Key Essential for maintenance

Bearing Lubricant Essential for maintenance

6 x Bearings Replace on a yearly basis or when broken. Identify broken bearings by listening for a clicking when caster or main wheel is spun

Cable Ties (small bag)

Essential for maintenance

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Stanley Knife Essential for maintenance

Sand Paper Useful for when a part of the chair frame is worn to a sharp edge

Bike Pump Essential for maintenance

Tyre Levers (x 2) Essential for maintenance

Adjustable Spanner Essential for maintenance

This equipment can be purchased from a variety of different stores locally and online. The prices given are a rough guide as to what can be expected to be paid for the tools and miscellaneous equipment necessary for proper wheelchair maintenance.

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In some cases the tool needed to maintain a chair may be bespoke. In this instance it is best to contact the chair supplier if this tool has not been supplied with the chair already.

Higher specification or custom chair parts such as bearings and tyres can be bought to suit the needs of the participant and activity being taken part in. The fitting of these parts to the chair will be the same however there may be a higher cost implication.

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Stages of Disassembly Disassembly is an essential part of sports wheelchair maintenance, involving the action of breaking down the chair in to its component parts. This allows you to quickly identify problems and issues with the equipment, maintain the longevity of the equipment and effectively repair and maintain the chair.

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Removal of Strapping:

1. Identify straps to remove2. Remove D-Ring attachments (if

removable)3. After removal, roll straps to

prevent damage or loss4. Ensure the strapping is in a good

and safe condition for use

Removal of Casters:

1. Remove protective cap from caster housing

2. Use socket wrench and 19mm socket to undo the nut in the caster housing whilst gripping the caster wheel and casing

3. Remove caster including wheel and reattach the nut

Removal of Wheels:

1. Push central button on wheel hub2. Hold button down and remove

wheel including pin from the wheelchair frame

Upholstery Removal & MaintenanceMaintenance of the upholstery is important for both the comfort and safety of the wheelchair user. Types of upholstery and fitting differ from chair to chair but all follow a very similar structure. The diagrams below detail a step by step guide for how to properly remove and maintain a wheelchairs upholstery.

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1. Remove cushion if not already complete during disassembly

2. Lift material connected to the seat plate

3. Fold this in half to prevent it reattaching to

1. Facing the back of the chair, open the back rest by lifting the back panel up

2. Lift this panel and fold it over the chair towards the seat plate removing the

1. After exposing the back rest guards open the loop and fasten middle supports

2. Open the Velcro loops at the base and in an upwards motion to release the guards

1. Turning the chair upside down you will be able to see how the seat plate fabric attaches to the chair

1. Start to open the Velcro strapping under the chair ensuring that it does not reattach after removal

1. Carefully remove the seat fabric

2. Reattach the Velcro to keep in a good condition

3. Now the upholstery is

Removal of Cushion:

1. Remove cushion from frame by lifting the front of the cushion and pulling towards the back rest of the chair.

2. The cushion will normally be stuck down with Velcro

Stages of Disassembly

Removal of Anti-tip:

Removal of Axle pin:

Removal of Foot Plate:

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1. Turning the chair upside down you will be able to see how the seat plate fabric attaches to the chair

1. Start to open the Velcro strapping under the chair ensuring that it does not reattach after removal

1. Carefully remove the seat fabric

2. Reattach the Velcro to keep in a good condition

3. Now the upholstery is

1. Turn the chair upside down 2. Unscrew caps on underside of anti-

tip3. Slide the anti-tip out from the chair

housing 4. Reattach the caps to the anti-tip

1. Push the axle pin cap in the centre of the wheel hub

2. Using your other hand push in through the hub

3. Remove and clean the pins with a dry cloth removing all grease and dirt

1. Remove foot plate using 4mm Allen key check for damage including cracks and excessive wear 2. Remove strapping and check for damage 3. Grease bolts and reattach foot plate securely

CushionThe cushion of a sports wheelchair is often the part that is thought about the least when concerning maintenance, upkeep and specialisation to suit an individual’s needs. The cushion and its component parts can be vitally important to ensuring a participant can engage effectively with activity and participate to their full potential. Cushion components can come in up to four sections detailed below, all of which require some form of maintenance.

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Step 1 - Outer Casing:

1. Remove outer casing from inner padding using zip or Velcro at the rear of the cushion

2. Check outer casing for tears, pulls, marks or other wear

3. Assess cushion for repairs or replacement

Step 2 - Padding:

1. Padding can come in many forms including foam, air cushion or gel

2. Check for damage including splits, stains or in the cast of air cushions; holes

3. Assess padding for repair or replacement

Step 3 - Moulded Inner:

1. The moulded inner provides support, stability and structure to the user

2. Check for cracks, wear, compression and size

Step 4 - Wedge:

1. The wedge provides stability to the user often used by individuals with a spinal cord injury

2. Check for wear, bending and compression

Casters

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1. Remove the nut from the top of the caster pin using wrench and 19mm socket, clean and lubricate nut and thread

2. Separate and remove bearings, clean, open and lubricate bearings using Stanley knife and lubricant

3. Separate and remove spacers and clean

4. Clean caster pin and lubricate thread

5. Remove pin from caster wheel using 2 x 4mm Allen/Hex keys turning opposite ways

6. Clean the pin and lubricate the bolts and threads

7. Remove spacers from inside caster housing either side of the caster wheel, also removing the caster wheel in the process

8. Clean the spacers and any debris from the caster wheel

9. Remove the bearings from the caster wheel using the flat end of the Allen/Hex key by placing one end inside the caster wheel and pushing against the inside of the bearing

10. Clean, open and lubricate the bearing using the Stanley knife and lubricant

11. Place bearings back inside caster wheel, lining up the spacers push the

Frame cleaningCleaning of the chair allows time to check for potential issues that may affect performance and use. These issues include; cracks, sharp edges, bent components and dents. Dependant on the material the frame of the chair is made out of; cleaning can also help to prevent rust build up, increasing the longevity of the chair. The cleaning methods for chairs vary dependant on their use and what they are made from. Sand paper

Using sandpaper, rub any part of the chair that looks worn or has come in to constant contact with other chairs. This is to remove any sharp edges that may have been cause by impact or general use, it also helps with the removal of flaking paint and rust.If the chair being maintained is painted, ensure to only rub down the areas such as the bumper to maintain the overall look of the chair and the quality of the paintwork.Cloth

Using a cloth rub down the sanded areas of the chair to remove paint and metal residue. Turning the cloth to create a new surface; rub over the rest of the chair, ensuring to check for cracks, bends, dents and corrosion. Take your time to remove any dirt or grease deposits that have built up through use.Make a note of any issues that have presented themselves using the checklist at the back of the book. Decide on a course of action for maintenance and future use.

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Wheels

Checklist

Maintenance Checklist 12

Tyre

Inner Tube

Rim Tape

Wheel Rim

Spokes

Wheel Hub

Stages of wheel maintenance & repair:1. Remove the tyre using the

two tyre levers. This is done by lifting the wall of the tyre up and over the wheel rim

2. Remove the inner tube taking care to undo the nut holding the valve in place on the inside of the rim if necessary

3. Remove the old rim tape and wipe around the now bare rim hub with a damp cloth then a dry cloth

4. Use this opportunity to gently tighten the push-rim. A quarter turn will be appropriate to stop the wheel from buckling. This can be done with the adjustable spanner

5. Tighten the spokes if loose using the spoke key. Turn the spoke key one half turn per spoke to prevent the wheel from bucking until the tension is strong and there is little to no flex in the spokes

6. Clean the wheel hub and check the bearings for signs of breakage or corrosion. Lubricate the bearings by opening the bearing with the Stanley

Rebuild:

1. Re-tape the wheel rim using a plastic or fabric rim tape ensuring the valve hole is still visible

2. Place the new inner tube valve through the hole on the rim and slightly inflate

3. Place the rim of the new tyre on the opposite side of the rim from you

4. Using your fingers start to push the inner tube under the new tyre

5. Once complete use the tyre irons to lift the remaining side of the new tyre on to the rim and inflate

Keeping a checklist can help to give structure to your maintenance, ensuring that things are not forgotten or missed. The maintenance schedule table aims to give structure and a timeframe to this maintenance detailing when each section of the chair should be maintained and how long to leave between maintenance sessions. The maintenance checklist table details what maintenance should be carried out and give a platform to list any issues with the chair that can then be resolved at a later date. Regular maintenance is key to increasing the longevity of the chair and ensuring it is suitable for use.

Maintenance ScheduleThe maintenance schedule is a guideline for maintenance across a given time frame. It is suggested however that a thorough equipment check should be completed before the chair(s) are used in a practical session to ensure they are safe to use.

Date &

Chair Numb

er

Wheels

Frame

Cushion Casters

Strapping

Foot Plate

15/12/17

Chair 1

Spokes tightened & tyres pumped

Suitable for use

Tear on back rest, noted for repair. Temporary fix applied

Hair cleaned out of casters and oiled

All complete and suitable for participant to use

Secure and fit for use

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Maintenance Checklist

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Notes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………WheelPower-British Wheelchair SportStoke Mandeville StadiumGuttmann RoadStoke MandevilleHP21 9PP

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