Usage instructions BUDDY 4all & classic
33
22.2 Caster wheels flapping
Uncontrolled swivelling backwards and for-
wards of the caster wheels around their axes
on the caster fork (while moving) is known as
"fluttering".
If the caster wheels start to flutter, imme-
diately reduce your speed to prevent the caster
wheels from jamming sideways and therefore
reduce your risk of falling.
The
speed limit
where caster wheel fluttering
starts,
is reduced by
:
increasing size of the caster wheels
increase weight of the caster wheels
falling load on the caster wheels
decreasing caster length of caster wheels
The following options are available to
coun-
teract caster wheel fluttering in general
:
Fluttering can be reduced by
reducing the
caster wheel diameter
. This means in-
stalling a small caster wheel in a different
wheel position in the caster fork (seat
height therefore does not change) would
be one way of reducing fluttering. Howev-
er, please note that using a smaller caster
wheel makes it more difficult to overcome
obstacles and makes tipping necessary
more often. The smaller the caster wheel
is, the more driving skill is required.
Another option for reducing fluttering is to
use a
lighter caster wheel with the same
diameter
or, as described above,
with a
smaller diameter
.
Figure 76: Caster length
It is also possible to
increase the caster
length
. The caster length is the distance
between the rotary axle of the caster fork
projected onto the floor and the wheel con-
tact point. The wheel contact point of the
caster wheel trails behind the rotary axle
as it were. The caster length has a stabiliz-
ing effect on moving in a straight line. In-
creasing the caster length can be achieved
by mounting the caster wheel in a different
wheel position on the caster fork (in doing
so, the front seat height or the angle of the
seat changes; see Chapter 17.2). Another
possibility is to bend the caster wheel axle
(see Chapter 22.4) forwards in the direc-
tion of travel in the lower area. The angle
of the caster wheel axle can be adjusted
up to approximately 4 mm over the length
of the caster wheel bearing block out of the
vertical. This increases the caster length
and the tendency to vibrate reduces.
Caster wheel for rotary axle
Caster length
Wheel contact
point