Why does my mid-wheel drive chair feel so tippy?

Theophania · 08-03-2005, 01:33 PM

So, I just got this chair....and it does mini-wheelies A LOT. When going up the sloped aisle at a movie theater yesterday it even did one. Its very scary. Is this normal for mid-wheel chairs? I really don't feel safe.

Jeff Sirko · 08-03-2005, 03:12 PM

What model is your chair?
Some mid-wheel drive chairs can be a bit tippy. Due to wheel placement your center of gravity may be more forward than you are used to.
For me wheelies are great! When I had power chair I would back up at full speed then quickly jam it forward--instant wheelie

I never fell over at all.

Liz321 · 08-03-2005, 03:18 PM

Did you demo this before purchase?

Tweetybird · 08-04-2005, 10:07 PM

I found that my TDX3 by invacare had a tendency to leap up in the air if it was going over a small threashold until I had the torque adjusted. It then worked well except that I had to be careful. I have had the tippy sensation a couple of times. I think its not that great an outdoor chair, but its good for inside it good because it makes tight turns well. I found it took some getting used to after a rearwheel drive.

Theophania · 08-05-2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz321

Did you demo this before purchase?

yeah for a weekend. it wasnt tippy then. maybe tweet is right and i just need the torque adjusted.

Theophania · 08-05-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Sirko

What model is your chair?
Some mid-wheel drive chairs can be a bit tippy. Due to wheel placement your center of gravity may be more forward than you are used to.
For me wheelies are great! When I had power chair I would back up at full speed then quickly jam it forward--instant wheelie

I never fell over at all.

Storm TDX

Davey · 08-05-2005, 04:09 PM

Man, something doesn't sound right with that chair. The stability lock should keep it from doing very large wheelies. I've got a hill at my house that I road up on my wheelie bars in my Storm 3G Arrow, but the wheels hardly raise on the front of my TDX5 on the same hill. This also may be a side effect of the very high seat system that you've mentioned in another thread. I hope you can get this worked out. I hate getting stuck with something that's not right, but they try to make us live with it the next 5 years.

Theophania · 08-05-2005, 04:23 PM

yeah i dunno whats up. i have an appt with the seating clinic aug. 23rd.

i talked a wc repairman on weds and he said that "slight" tipping is normal, but itll never tip (usually). he said the 2 back wheels and 2 front wheels act as a balancing team since the weight on a midwheel is directly under your ass.

angus · 08-06-2005, 11:19 AM

The TDX will tip a little. The front and rear wheels act as shocks and will travel upto 2". The 2" travel is to help going over uneven terain. Ask the Invacare rep if you can tighten the shocks on them to decrease the rocking motion.

08-03-2005, 01:33 PM	#1
Theophania Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,803	Why does my mid-wheel drive chair feel so tippy? So, I just got this chair....and it does mini-wheelies A LOT. When going up the sloped aisle at a movie theater yesterday it even did one. Its very scary. Is this normal for mid-wheel chairs? I really don't feel safe.

08-03-2005, 03:12 PM	#2
Jeff Sirko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 501	What model is your chair? Some mid-wheel drive chairs can be a bit tippy. Due to wheel placement your center of gravity may be more forward than you are used to. For me wheelies are great! When I had power chair I would back up at full speed then quickly jam it forward--instant wheelie I never fell over at all. __________________ Jeff Sirko Live Well Medical Supplies "We care because we've been there!"

08-03-2005, 03:18 PM	#3
Liz321 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NY Posts: 5,584	demo Did you demo this before purchase?

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08-04-2005, 10:07 PM	#4
Tweetybird Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Berkley, MA 02779 Posts: 562	I found that my TDX3 by invacare had a tendency to leap up in the air if it was going over a small threashold until I had the torque adjusted. It then worked well except that I had to be careful. I have had the tippy sensation a couple of times. I think its not that great an outdoor chair, but its good for inside it good because it makes tight turns well. I found it took some getting used to after a rearwheel drive.

08-05-2005, 04:09 PM	#7
Davey Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 313	Man, something doesn't sound right with that chair. The stability lock should keep it from doing very large wheelies. I've got a hill at my house that I road up on my wheelie bars in my Storm 3G Arrow, but the wheels hardly raise on the front of my TDX5 on the same hill. This also may be a side effect of the very high seat system that you've mentioned in another thread. I hope you can get this worked out. I hate getting stuck with something that's not right, but they try to make us live with it the next 5 years.

08-05-2005, 04:23 PM	#8
Theophania Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,803	yeah i dunno whats up. i have an appt with the seating clinic aug. 23rd. i talked a wc repairman on weds and he said that "slight" tipping is normal, but itll never tip (usually). he said the 2 back wheels and 2 front wheels act as a balancing team since the weight on a midwheel is directly under your ass.

08-06-2005, 11:19 AM	#9
angus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: saratoga springs, ny Posts: 187	The TDX will tip a little. The front and rear wheels act as shocks and will travel upto 2". The 2" travel is to help going over uneven terain. Ask the Invacare rep if you can tighten the shocks on them to decrease the rocking motion.