1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. GRIT Manuals
  4. Wheelchair
  5. Freedom Chair
  6. User manual

GRIT Freedom Chair User Manual

Hide thumbs Also See for Freedom Chair:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
GRIT Freedom Chair
User Manual:
3.2
support@gogrit.us

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Freedom Chair and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for GRIT Freedom Chair

Summary of Contents for GRIT Freedom Chair

  • Page 1 GRIT Freedom Chair User Manual: support@gogrit.us...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Maximizing your speed and leverage………..………………...31 Braking………..………………………………………………….35 Turning………..………………………………………………….36 Reversing………..………………………………………………...38 Parking brakes………..…………………..………………………..38 Transfers………..…………………..………..………...………….39 Advanced techniques………………..………..…………………….39 3.8.1 Climbing hills………………..………..…………………….40 3.8.2 Descending slopes………………..………..…………….…40 3.8.3 Curbs………………..………..…………………………...41 Maintenance………………..………..……………………………..42 Caring for your Freedom Chair………………..………..……………...43 4.1.1 Regular maintenance ………………..……………………….43 4.1.2 Tools to bring………………..………………………………43 Common adjustments………………..……………………………..44 4.2.1 Inflating the wheels………………..……………………….44...
  • Page 3 4.2.2 Replacing the tubes………………..……………………….44 4.2.3 Chain tension adjustment………………..……………..……44 4.2.4 Parking brake adjustment………………..………………….46 4.2.5 Changing the gear ratio………………..……………………48 Warranty information………………..……………………………..48 4.3.1 Pride & fairness……………………………..………...……48 4.3.2 GRIT limited warranty………………..………………………48...

  • Page 4: Meet The Freedom Chair

    Chapter 1 Meet the Freedom Chair...

  • Page 5: How To Contact Grit

    We also want you to know the GRIT team isn’t ever far away. Feel free to reach us anytime—no question is too big or too small, and we want to make sure you’re getting the best out of the Freedom Chair experience. Here are some ways you can reach us: Call us at 617-356-8106 Email us at support@gogrit.us...

  • Page 6: Intended Operator

    (hook style) to pull the levers back for braking and turning. It is your responsibility to determine if the Freedom Chair is right for you. Please consult with your physical therapist or medical advisors prior to riding the Freedom Chair.

  • Page 7: Assembly

    Chapter 2 Assembly...

  • Page 8: Unboxing

    Remove the wheels, seatback, levers, footplate, front wheel, and cushion from the box. To remove the main Freedom Chair frame piece, lift it up to reveal the footplate clamp. Remove the clamp by pulling it away from the chair, twisting it loose, if necessary. Remove the cardboard support and reattach the clamp. Note that the clamp has a...
  • Page 9 Figure 2.1: Removing the Freedom Chair frame from the box. (a) Orient the clamp so that the lip is at the bottom and the lever is (b) Slide the clamp onto the frame so that the lever is toward the rear, towards the rear.

  • Page 10: Attaching The Fork

    Please read all of the attaching instructions and review the figures on the next few pages before starting. To attach the fork, you will need to use the 5mm Allen key provided with your Freedom Chair. If you get stuck on this step, don’t worry! Give us a call at 1-617-356-8106 or email us at support@gogrit.us. We’ll get back to you...
  • Page 11 Figure 2.3: The various components of the fork assembly, shown individually for identification purposes.
  • Page 12 Figure 2.4: Attaching the front wheel to the Freedom Chair...

  • Page 13: Serial Number

    Serial number Your Freedom Chair Serial Number is located at the rear of the seat, beneath the cushion. Please record this ID number in a safe place. The ID number is necessary for all warranty repairs and helps us provide you customized service by email and telephone.

  • Page 14: Attaching The Rear Wheels

    Make sure that the black hub caps do not fall out. There should be two black hub caps per hub, one on the inside and one on the outside. A missing hub cap could cause the wheel to slip out of alignment during use and may result in a crash and damage to your GRIT Freedom Chair.

  • Page 15: Attaching The Seatback

    ALWAYS ENSURE THAT THE AXLE BUTTON IS POPPED OUT AND THE COUPLING REACHES THE FREEWHEEL. Riding the Freedom Chair without the wheels fully attached could cause a wheel to fall off the chair, causing a crash and fall and may result in serious injury or death.
  • Page 16 CAUTION: Make sure the seatback is fully inserted and the push buttons are sticking out. Riding the Freedom Chair without fully inserting and locking the seatback could cause damage to the seat, voiding your warranty, and may cause you to fall out of the Freedom Chair.

  • Page 17: Attaching The Footrest

    Attaching the footrest The footrest attaches to the Freedom Chair using the same kind of clamp commonly used on bicycle seats. This clamp comes in two variations—one that secures with an Allen key, another that secures with a lever. The footrest tube is inserted into the chair and then the clamp lever is used to lock the tube in place.
  • Page 18 (c) Slide the footrest tube into the frame until it is at an appropriate height. (d) Lock the clamp in place by pressing the lever down against the footrest tube. If your footrest clamp requires an Allen key, tighten the bold accordingly. Figure 2.12: Attaching the footrest to the Freedom Chair...

  • Page 19: Fit And Seating

    Strap-mounting holes The Freedom Chair seat pan has 9 holes pre-drilled into the base of the seat. These can be seen by lifting and removing the cushion. These holes may be used to add additional straps. Please contact GRIT to discuss your strapping needs.
  • Page 20 The Freedom Chair seat is sized to accept standard wheelchair cushions, including pressure-relief cushions. All sizes of the Freedom Chair have a 16-inch seat depth. Velcro may be applied to the seatpan to appropriately secure your cushion. Some riders have benefited from stacking multiple cushions in the Freedom Chair to achieve a taller rider position. Remember, though:...

  • Page 21: Disassembly For Transport And Storage

    Back pad The Freedom Chair features a unique back pad. This pad is designed to rest in the rider’s upper back, between the shoulders. The pad provides a support to push against during lever strokes. The back pad includes a loop to attach a rear bicycle light, if desired, for improved visibility.

  • Page 22: Removing The Seatback

    (a) Grab the wheel by the spokes near the hub. (b) Push the button inward. (c) Pull the wheel straight away from the chair while keeping the button depressed. Figure 2.16: Removing the seatback from the Freedom Chair 2.3.2 Removing the seatback To remove the seatback, push in both spring buttons while pulling upward on the seatback.
  • Page 23 (a) Simultaneously push the buttons in on both sides of the seatback. (c) Continue pulling upward on both sides of the seatback until it is (b) Hold both buttons in while pulling upward on both sides of the released. seatback. Figure 2.17: Removing the rear wheels from the Freedom Chair...

  • Page 24: Transporting The Freedom Chair

    Transporting the Freedom Chair The Freedom Chair was designed to be easily disassembled and transported by car. We’ve packed Freedom Chairs into sedans, pickup trucks, minivans, SUVs, and almost literally everything in between! If you’d like advice for packing the chair into your specific vehicle, give us a ring at 617-356-8106.

  • Page 25: Riding

    Chapter 3 Riding...

  • Page 26: Safety

    The Freedom Chair, like riding a bike, takes a bit of practice to get used to. It is extremely important that you practice riding the Freedom Chair on smooth flat ground until you get the hang of it . Be sure you have enough space to safely experiment with the controls.
  • Page 27 When riding the Freedom Chair in urban areas, be mindful of the low height and added length of the device. Visibility additions, such as flags and reflectors, may be appropriate to ensure that you can be seen in the Freedom Chair by cars and cyclists.

  • Page 28: Using The Lever Drivetrain

    Trail riding The rules-of-thumb for riding the Freedom Chair on the trail are the same as hiking on the trail: Bring plenty of water, some snacks, and a friend. Tell others where you are going and when to expect you to return. Bring your cell phone. Do not ride the Freedom Chair alone in the woods.
  • Page 29 (a) If the endcap is visible, rotate the coupling. (b) If the lever hole is inaccessible, rotate the coupling Figure 3.2: Rotate the coupling toward the back of the chair by pushing down on the back of the coupling with your hand or the lever.
  • Page 30 (c) Rotate the lever until the brake is over the wheel. Right lever (d) Make sure the brake is over the wheel and that it doesn’t rotate when counterclockwise, left lever clockwise. the lever is pulled back. Figure 3.3: Inserting the levers into the Freedom Chair...

  • Page 31: Propulsion

    Then pull them out of the couplings. Store the levers on the side of the chair. Note: You can store the levers vertically or horizontally in the lever holders. With the levers removed, the Freedom Chair can be used by pushing on the wheels, just like a normal wheelchair.
  • Page 32 (a) Push the lever away from the wheel. (b) Rotate the brake bar toward yourself. (c) Pull the lever out of the coupling. (d) Insert the brake into the lever holder. Figure 3.4: Removing and storing the levers on the Freedom Chair...
  • Page 33 Figure 3.5: Push forward on the levers to move forward. You may push the levers together or alternately. Once the levers are forward, pull them back to reset for the next stroke.
  • Page 34 Figure 3.6: How to use the lever drivetrain. Remember: When going UPHILL, it is safest and most effective to ALTERNATE lever strokes rather than engaging both levers simultaneously.

  • Page 35: Braking

    It will not wear down the tires—in fact, the levers will wear down first! While worn-off powder coat isn’t a problem, please contact GRIT if you wear away a hole in the lever itself. For added braking force, pull backward on the levers from the top of the lever . This provides more braking leverage and much better brake performance.

  • Page 36: Turning

    Figure 3.9: The brake bar engages by coming into contact with the tire. Turning Turning the Freedom Chair is similar to turning a rowboat. To turn, apply the brake on the side of the chair toward which you’d like to turn. To turn right, apply the right brake and push on the left lever.
  • Page 37 (a) To turn right, apply the brake with the right lever and push the left (b) To turn left, apply the brake with the left lever and push the right lever forward. lever forward. Figure 3.11: Turning the Freedom Chair.

  • Page 38: Reversing

    This prevents the rider from rolling backward down a hill! As a result of the hill lock, however, the Freedom Chair is unable to move with the levers inserted. We designed the levers to be easy to remove. Remove the levers to roll backward. Depending on the scenario, you may be able to remove a single lever, pivot on that wheel, and then re-insert the lever to propel forward.

  • Page 39: Transfers

    The Freedom Chair is a high-performance mobility machine. There are a number of advanced techniques we’ve learned from riders in the field and will share with you here. Just like any machine, the Freedom Chair takes some time to get used to. And just like many activities, practice makes perfect.

  • Page 40: Climbing Hills

    Resist the urge to make long strokes. Remember: Use short, alternating strokes. The Freedom Chair’s hill-hold feature will engage if the chair rolls backward more than a couple of feet (depending on the lever position). Use this to rest your arms between push strokes, but do not allow the chair to build up backward momentum.

  • Page 41: Curbs

    3.8.3 Curbs It’s possible to ride the Freedom Chair down curbs, as long as the chair is ridden straight off the curb and not at an angle. Here are some tips: • Ride straight off of the curb, not at an angle.

  • Page 42: Maintenance

    Chapter 4 Maintenance...

  • Page 43: Caring For Your Freedom Chair

    After a beach trip: If you ride your GRIT Freedom Chair at the beach or near the ocean, hose it down with fresh water to clean off the salt and sand from the frame, chain, and wheels. Grease the chain after hosing it down. Dry your chair with a clean towel.

  • Page 44: Common Adjustments

    The Freedom Chair uses standard bicycle chain. Chain stretch is normal, and you should expect to have to periodically tighten the chain over the lifetime of your Freedom Chair. Riders have to make this adjustment early on (new chains stretch the most) and then a couple of times per year, often after heavy use.
  • Page 45 Philips screwdriver to tighten the setscrews until the desired chains. Both must be rotated the same amount. Periodically chain tension is reached. check the chain tension while turning the setscrews. Figure 4.3: Adjusting the chain tension on the Freedom Chair.

  • Page 46: Parking Brake Adjustment

    The parking brakes are secured using bike seat post clamps, one for each side of the chair. To adjust the parking brakes, use the 4mm Allen key shipped with the Freedom Chair to loosen the clamps. Note that since one of the bolts is facing backward, you’ll have to rotate it the opposite way to loosen it.
  • Page 47 (d) We usually adjust the parking brakes so that a finger fits between the parking brake and the wheel (when the parking brake is in the disengaged position as shown). Figure 4.5: Adjusting the parking brake on the Freedom Chair.

  • Page 48: Changing The Gear Ratio

    …We are proud, but we are also human beings. If you have any issues with your Freedom Chair, you can contact us directly at support@gogrit.us or 617-356-8106.
  • Page 49 GRIT to distribute GRIT mobility devices. Returns of Freedom Chair Pro models come with a 15% restock fee, even when returned within the first 30 days of ownership. Refurbished Freedom Chairs and accessories are not eligible for refunds and are nonreturnable. They are sold as-is and do not fall under the terms of the 30-day trial period.
  • Page 50 This Limited Warranty gives the consumer specific legal rights. The consumer may also have other legal rights which vary from state to state or country to country. Some states and countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or warranties, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

Table of Contents