Tyres; Brakes; Cross Brace; Rear Wheel - Excel 100 Technical Manual

7.1

Tyres

Examine tyres periodically for wear and replace them as needed.
Pneumatic tyres should be checked weekly for correct tyre pressure, which is recommended on the tyre, with a
standard car or bicycle tyre pressure gauge. If tyres do not have equal pressure, the chair will seem to pull to the
side of the tyre with less pressure. This may also harm the driving comfort and will mean you have to exert more
effort to move the wheelchair.
More and more often wheelchairs are equipped with puncture-free or polyurethane tyres. These tyres have the
advantage that they do not need to be pumped up and can not be punctured. This type of tyre looks like a
pneumatic tyre but can also wear. Check periodically to see if the tread is still deep enough. The puncture-free
tyres can be recognised easily because they do not have a valve.
Warning:
When tyres are not fully inflated this may cause bad functioning of the brakes and make the chair
move when not intended.
7.2

Brakes

Inspect every manual brake for sharp rims. If these happen to be on your brakes, we advise you to replace them.
Ensure that the parts are in the right position and fasten them secure. Ensure that the tyres are pumped up
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well to control the brake adjustment.
Ensure that the mechanism is functioning smoothly. If it is not functioning smoothly put some oil at turning
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points with one or two drips of WD40 oil or Teflon. Remove surplus oil and dirt.
Ensure the brakes do not come into contact with the wheels as you are moving.
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7.3

Cross brace

The cross-frame of the wheelchair has to be in a good condition. The cross brace is the basic frame of your
wheelchair.
Make sure the wheelchair can easily turn and do not catch
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Make sure the wheelchair travels in a straight line whilst moving
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Make sure the cross frame is not bent and no wear shows
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When one of the exceptions noted above occurs, please contact a qualified Van Os Medical UK Ltd dealer to inspect
your wheelchair.
7.4

Rear wheel

A good adjustment of the rear wheel improves the stability and allows you to use less energy to move the
wheelchair. Ensure that the wheels move freely without touching anything. If an adjustment is necessary, it is
recommended to do this through a qualified Van Os Medical UK Ltd dealer/ authorized service point.
7.5

Front castor and front castor fork

The front fork must move and turn freely to ensure a smooth ride. Adjusting the front fork nut varies by the sum of
power needed to swing round the wheels. 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 of the bearings getting pushed so
the balls can not move freely. If the swing wheel front fork castor needs replacement, please contact a qualified
Van Os Medical UK Ltd dealer.
For the maximum tyre pressure we direct you to chapter
5, adjustments and assembly precautions.
© 2008 VAN OS MEDICAL UK LTD., Corunna House Business Centre, 42-44 Ousegate, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 4NH
Tel. +44(0)1757 701177, Fax +44(0)1757 706011, E-mail: sales@vanosmedical.com,
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Excel 100 basic Technical
www.vanosmedical.com