Another wheelchair braking question...

[teesieme]

Okay, this an endless problem for my son's chair. He has a Boing and there are only two brake types available, the scissors and a rather large lever type. Neither will hold his chair in place. The old type brake they had worked but his dad had to modify them by making an extension for them to stay out of the way and still reach, holding it is place well...and within six months the bolt holes have worn out.
The suggestion was made through Colours to try a type of brake used for inclines, from the following website: http://www.edmond-wheelchair.com/grade_aids.htm

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of these type brakes or any suggestions again?

I think my son is active enough in and out of his chair constantly that he is just plain old wearing it out in one way or another every six months or so, thus he needs a braking system out of the way and strong enough to not need this constant readjustment, replacement.

[SCI-Nurse]

Grade aids or hill-holders are not brakes. They are a device that you flip into place when going up hill that prevent your chair from going backwards. We call them thumb squishers as they often do just that if you are not careful, and many remove them for this reason.

Have you considered hub locks like the D's Locks (http://www.spinlife.com/products/Wheelchair_Scooter_Accessories/Wheelchair_Locks_69876.cfm) discussed in the previous thread?

(KLD)

[teesieme]

Ouch! $$$ price~ http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

But then again if one keeps wearing out the average type brake available or is in need so often maybe insurance would be able to justify their "need"...

[teesieme]

Originally posted by SCI-Nurse:

Grade aids or hill-holders are not brakes. They are a device that you flip into place when going up hill that prevent your chair from going backwards. We call them thumb squishers as they often do just that if you are not careful, and many remove them for this reason.

Have you considered hub locks like the D's Locks (http://www.spinlife.com/products/Wheelchair_Scooter_Accessories/Wheelchair_Locks_69876.cfm) discussed in the previous thread?

(KLD)

TY for the information, I wondered about them looking at the website pics!

[This message was edited by SCI-Nurse on 10-06-04 at 09:32 PM.]

[fuentejps]

i run colours chairs exclusivly, and i ran a new boing for a year, then back to eclipses. the only brakes that hold are quickie reverse lock scissor brakes w/ the short block. those w/ primo all terrain tires and he will be very happy. what happens w/ colours brakes iws they flex when applied. these dont. im 6'2 220 and they hold for me. call sportaid and ask for them. they mount under the seat.

[-scott-]

how about some disc brakes?

http://www.accessibledesigns.com/newebrakes.htm

http://accessibledesigns.com/images/new/ebrakes/discbrake.jpg http://accessibledesigns.com/images/new/ebrakes/brakeswitch.jpg http://accessibledesigns.com/images/new/ebrakes/brakelever.jpg

[jimnms]

Originally posted by SCI-Nurse:

Grade aids or hill-holders are not brakes. They are a device that you flip into place when going up hill that prevent your chair from going backwards. We call them thumb squishers as they often do just that if you are not careful, and many remove them for this reason.

Have you considered hub locks like the D's Locks (http://www.spinlife.com/products/Wheelchair_Scooter_Accessories/Wheelchair_Locks_69876.cfm) discussed in the previous thread?

(KLD)

D's locks are only available on certain wheels. I have Spinergy wheels and I was told they don't fit Spinergy's. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif

_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.

[teesieme]

Some good ideas here. I will check into them! I often wondered about the Boing flexing, if that could be part of the problem, makes sense~ thanks for the help. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[fuentejps]

Originally posted by teesieme:

Some good ideas here. I will check into them! I often wondered about the Boing flexing, if that could be part of the problem, makes sense~ thanks for the help. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
no its not the boing flexing, its the brake flexing. i tried every brake out there, mechanical wise. then i stumbled on the quickie brake. i would never spend big bucks on a brake. the brakes mentioned below are a novel concept but not practical for a high performance ultralight. i think the quickie brake and block is 110.00.

[teesieme]

I see. Yes, I noticed at the seating company, the Quickies brakes were similar to the older style of Colours, and with some modification they should work for now...but will check out as advised here otherwise~ Thanks!

[fuentejps]

Originally posted by teesieme:

I see. Yes, I noticed at the seating company, the Quickies brakes were similar to the older style of Colours, and with some modification they should work for now...but will check out as advised here otherwise~ Thanks!

the biggest issue w/ the newer colors brakes(last 5 yrs) is the block they use, its big, allowing the scisor brake to flex and move. the quikie brake uses a block thats half the size of the colours unit. that is why they work so well. also there is no mods needed at all. i can snap a pic if u like

[wheeliegirl]

D's locks are THE BEST! I just ordered a new Quickie Titanium, and wouldn't order the chair without them!

My current chair is a "Terminator". I had all kinds of problems with the brakes slipping, and almost landed on the ground a few times!

When it rained, my chair used to slip away from me when transferring from my car.... NO MORE! Even with bald tires!

They are easy to maintain and remove and install onto another chair as well.

They cost around $300, but are well worth their price!

Once, I needed a replacement part and it was Fed Ex'd to me at no charge. They really stand behind their product. I highly recommend these brakes for any wheelchair user. You will be happy.

[fuentejps]

Originally posted by HSB:

D's locks are THE BEST! I just ordered a new Quickie Titanium, and wouldn't order the chair without them!

My current chair is a "Terminator". I had all kinds of problems with the brakes slipping, and almost landed on the ground a few times!

When it rained, my chair used to slip away from me when transferring from my car.... NO MORE! Even with bald tires!

They are easy to maintain and remove and install onto another chair as well.

They cost around $300, but are well worth their price!

Once, I needed a replacement part and it was Fed Ex'd to me at no charge. They really stand behind their product. I highly recommend these brakes for any wheelchair user. You will be happy.

whats their web addy

[wheeliegirl]

Originally posted by fuentejps:

Originally posted by HSB:
D's locks are THE BEST! I just ordered a new Quickie Titanium, and wouldn't order the chair without them!

My current chair is a "Terminator". I had all kinds of problems with the brakes slipping, and almost landed on the ground a few times!

When it rained, my chair used to slip away from me when transferring from my car.... NO MORE! Even with bald tires!

They are easy to maintain and remove and install onto another chair as well.

They cost around $300, but are well worth their price!

Once, I needed a replacement part and it was Fed Ex'd to me at no charge. They really stand behind their product. I highly recommend these brakes for any wheelchair user. You will be happy.

whats their web addy Hi. I've been looking around and I can't find it anymore. They are listed on Spinlife.com, however. They are in San Diego, CA.

[wheeliegirl]

Hi again. Response to jimnms on D's locks: I ordered my new chair w/Spinergy wheels and was concerned when I saw your post stating that the locks wouldn't fit them.

I called the ownder of D's locks and asked him about this, and he said their locks will now work with Spinergy wheels.

I forgot to ask him if I could put his number here, but if you want it, send me an e-mail and I'll call him and ask him if it's okay. He's in San Diego. You can also order them through Spinlife.com. The D's locks web site is not currently working. I don't know if it's a server problem or if they took it down.

[jimnms]

That's good to hear that they'll work on Spinergy's. How do they mount to the chair? I used to have a .pdf I downloaded from the site, and I couldn't really tell. It looked kind of like you have to replace the hub of the wheel though.

_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.

[wheeliegirl]

The aluminum hub is mounted to the wheel. The piston housing is mounted onto the frame. A cable goes from the piston housing to the levers, which can be mounted anywhere, but usually on the front frame, just under the seat. When the levers are pushed, the cable pushes the piston out of the housing, which then engages into one of the holes on the hub. The opposite happens when the levers are pulled. Special set ups can be made for only one lever if a person only has use of one hand. The levers are very easily pushed and pulled and can be done with only one finger!

When the brakes are engaged the chair does not move at all. There's a picture of them on the spinlife.com web site.

[SCI-Nurse]

Here is their website:

http://www.dslocks.net/

(KLD)

[teesieme]

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif The Quickie brakes fit on the Colours chair easy enough!!! No parts to make~ work really well. THANK YOU!

[fuentejps]

Originally posted by teesieme:

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif The Quickie brakes fit on the Colours chair easy enough!!! No parts to make~ work really well. THANK YOU!
great teesieme, is he happy w/ them

[teesieme]

Yes, so far he is. Muah!...where is that smiley giving a kiss and hug? THANK YOU!

[fuentejps]

Originally posted by teesieme:

Yes, so far he is. Muah!...where is that smiley giving a kiss and hug? THANK YOU!
every so often tighten the nuts and bolts that hold the brakes together, if they get loose the brake doesnt work as well.