signs of wear.
9.5. Rear wheels
Properly adjusting the rear wheels improves the stability of
the wheelchair. It will also allow you to use less energy to
move the wheelchair.
• Make sure that the wheels can move freely without any
friction.
• Make sure there are no irregular edges on the rear
wheels.
9.6. Front wheels and front castor forks
The front wheels and front forks must move and turn freely
to ensure a smooth ride.
• Make sure the nut onf the front fork is not too loose
or too tight. When the nut is too loose, the wheels will
rotate but the ride will be uncomfortable. If the nut is
too tight, the chair will be difficult to steer because the
bearings are pushed in such way the balls cannot move
freely.
• Make sure the front castor forks show no signs of wear.
9.7. Upholstery
It is important to regularly check the condition of your wheel-
chair upholstery. Torn or worn upholstery will no longer sup-
port human weight and this can create dangerous situations.
Check the textile lining for holes, cracks and worn areas.
Check the upholstery-mounting grommets to make sure that
they are all correctly aligned and secure.
9.8. Cleaning
It is important to clean your wheelchair regularly.
• Clean the upholstery, chassis and plastic components
on the wheelchair regularly with mild soap and water.
Never use abrasive cleaners because they can damage
the scratch the wheelchair structure. Also never use
steam or high pressure cleaners.
• Wax the varnish of the chassis regularly. Never use sol-
vents, abrasive waxes, caustic chemicals or spray sili-
cone.
• Dry your wheelchair after cleaning. Also dry your wheel-
chair after you have been using it during a rainstorm.
g
Tip:
You can also use a car shampoo to clean the wheelchair. This
cleans, protects and gives a beautiful gloss to your wheel-
chair. Sand and sea salt can rust and corrode the wheelchair
structure. Clean the chair well after exposure to these fac-
tors. If the wheelchair is going to be used by another occu-
pant, all the parts that entered into contact with the prior
patient must be cleaned with a disinfectant.
