A nicely restored chair

[Pete]

Some pics of his restored chair posted over on alt.support.wheelchairs by Burgerman, It looks bloody nice.

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-powerchair/1.jpg
http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-powerchair/2.jpg
http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-powerchair/3.jpg
http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-powerchair/4.jpg
http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-powerchair/5.jpg

[Sharupa]

Where did you get your power chair restored?[

Looks like brand new to me.

I know if all else fails, I can get my Quantum 1122 refurbished for Tom.

[Patricia]

Now that's one BAD A$$ looking chair.

Matches nicely with the shiny black van too.:dft012:

So what kind of chair was it before it got pimped out?

[Wired]

Sweet!

[Wheelin Rev]

Awesome!

[Pete]

Where did you get your power chair restored?


It's not mine, it was built by an English guy that goes by the nick of Burgerman over on the alt.support.wheelchairs usenet forum, he's a bit of a wiz when it comes to engineering etc, i was so impressed by it i thought i'd post some links to the pics. His website is www.wheelchairdriver.com and www.powerchair-review.fsnet.co.uk

[Pete]

Now that's one BAD A$$ looking chair.

Matches nicely with the shiny black van too.:dft012:

So what kind of chair was it before it got pimped out?

I think matching with the van was the idea, The chair is a Quickie F55s.

[amyk]

the quickie f55 is available in europe (only, i think), so if youre curious the details are here: http://www.sunrisemedical.co.uk/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444187 8159&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474395301959&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395297629&bmUID=1199288444476&bmLocale=en_GB

[Ric]

Now that's one BAD A$$ looking chair.

Matches nicely with the shiny black van too.:dft012:

So what kind of chair was it before it got pimped out?


Oh boy, here we go. First it was cars and motorcycles, now wheelchairs. Custom this, and custom that. As long as you take the Jay Leno approach to collecting cars, which is to buy them beautiful, then drive them into the ground, and get the restored again.

I can see it now, at the next disabilities expo, people set up in the parking lot with their pimped out, tricked out, chromed out, and electronics glorified wheelchairs and scooters.

[Pete]

Why not Ric, I think a custom tricked out chair would be great, upgraded motors, higher amperage power module, Li-ion or metal hydride batteries, custom paint. It sounds like a great idea to me.

Why should AB Hot Rodders have all the fun.

[Wheelin Rev]

As soon as my warranty expires on the Q6000, I have BIG plans for some "upgrades" to pimp my chair. :D

[Ric]

Why not Ric, I think a custom tricked out chair would be great, upgraded motors, higher amperage power module, Li-ion or metal hydride batteries, custom paint. It sounds like a great idea to me.

Why should AB Hot Rodders have all the fun.

Your 100% right Pete, it is a great idea. And these pictures are the start!

Dave when you do your chair, DO IT RIGHT! Hide the wiring harness, etc. make her a clean 6000! Use that engineering degree you have :)

[Wheelin Rev]

Dave when you do your chair, DO IT RIGHT! Hide the wiring harness, etc. make her a clean 6000! Use that engineering degree you have :)

You can count on that! BTW, I was really shocked to see the huge number of wires on the Pride Q6000 versus my older Invacare Pronto R2. Time to install fiber optics and put everything on a data bus. Better yet, perhaps use Bluetooth technology and get rid of all the interconnecting cables. LOL

[Burgerman]

I'm the guy that built the chair, saw the forum in my server logs so thought I would say hello!

Burgerman

[Ric]

I'm the guy that built the chair, saw the forum in my server logs so thought I would say hello!

Burgerman

Burgerman - Nice that you would grace us with your presence! Welcome my friend, I'm Ric, and run this board along with KiwiJenn. If there is anything we can do for you, do not hesitate to ask.

And your chair is fantastic! So clean, I now want to mod my Quickie 646 SE. If anything it needs drag racing wheelie bars, as the chair loves to ride out wheelies. But its a pretty Blue Opal finish.

Once again, Welcome!

[Pete]

I'm the guy that built the chair, saw the forum in my server logs so thought I would say hello!

Hey Burgerman, It's good to see you drop by, hope you didn't mind me posting links to your pics, I was impressed with your chair so thought i'd show it to those here, WCF isn't exactly /. (http://slashdot.org/) so i doubt it'd hose your server.

[Burgerman]

Thanks for the welcome. And the compliments!

For anyone interested it has:

a) all (and I mean all!) parts stripped and powdercoated.
b) all fasteners replaced by stainless polished cap heads (allen) bolts/washers/nuts
c) all unessasary brackets and "extras" removed ot cut off. Like lights, original footrests etc. less is more!
d) rear suspension replaced by lock up bars and rose joints because I adrive from it far too fast and the suspension is not what you need!
e)seat moved rearwards so my head touches the wall first when reversing and so it can have most of the weight on the rear wheels.
f) totally reprogrammed at the engineering level bigger controller.
g) bigger four pole motors and taller gearing.
h) black tyres because they look better and dont dry out and crumble away like grey ones.
i) fronts have old treads cut from old tyres inside to prevent any punctures. Not that that matters now due to the rearward c of g - I can drive about quite happily even without a front wheel!
j) tubeless bigger rear tyres fitted to comercial trailer wheels on my one off hubs. because they are cheap, easy to get, and unlike tubed tyres dont suffer punctures. At least not easily. Think balloons and pop. Thats what tubes do! And I cant walk home, and solid or foam/green tyres are horrible in both ride and battery range.
k) narrower smaller one off footplate and mounting because those heavy bulky swing away ones I cut off stop me manoevering in tight spaces and also make transfering dificult.
l) Optima batteriues (spiral cell AGM - I sell these) because they are smaller and lighter and can produce the extra amps the bigger motors and controller need to wheelie and lift the front up kerbs etc. (Heavy kerb climber that was useless removed and binned...)

So now its faster, less puncture prone, more manoeverable, more controllable and doesent turn into a pile of corroded junk as soon as it sees some wet salty roads! Why dont they make them like this? Completely beats me.

As it came it was barely controllable, front heavy, hard to steer, slow and too big to turn in public loos and other small areas (like my van) etc. Now its very compact, much shorter than any other full size full range 6 or 8 mph chair. And a quick rinse with some soapy water should have it looking brand new after a years use. Hopefully!

Now I am doing another one with much wider rear tyres and wheels from a small quad bike. Total width will still be the same. Battery tray and chassis will be moddified to move the motors in.

Anyway got to go to bed! Goodnight!


(Pete, compared to the bandwidth my 25 or so somewhat busy sites it wouldnt even be noticed! No worries.)

[Wheelin Rev]

Burgerman,

Welcome to Wheelchair Forums!

As for your chair; awesome work! Simply a beautiful classic.

My best to you.

Dave

[Burgerman]

Thanks Dave!

Thats not all, the next ones getting on board petrol generator power for endless outdoor range as well as all the same mods as the black one seen earlier. It will also be black though. I like to confuse! see the second page of this old chair build, - actually 2 years ago - the honda power will go on the newest wide tyred version I am starting now... Enjoy!

http://www.powerchair-review.fsnet.co.uk/USED-f55s-sunrise.htm

http://www.powerchair-review.co.uk for the root. If you like mods check out the 4x4 rxperimental powerchair base I built for fun! Should amuse a few of you! (on the menu on the left - 4 pages)

Regards Burgerman.

[KiwiJenn]

DAM!!!! That's one freakin awesome looking chair!! Love the wheels.

I'd love a sporty-racing- pimped powerchair..starts dreaming now

[Wheelin Rev]

Burgerman,

Keep the info coming. That is awesome stuff. I for one am really glad that your web stats picked up the link to here. It is really cool what web stats can tell a webmaster. I is one too. ;) LOL

If you need any alpha testers, here I am! LOL

What I really need is a van for my wife that can transport my Q6000 around in. Do you have any red metalic pimped vans for alpha/beta testings? I'd be glad to help you out on that effort. ;) LOL

Enjoy the stay. Just keep in mind that we are easy going, laid back, full of jokes type folks. You're gonna love of zoo. Lots of different specimens rolling around here. :027:

Dave

[Burgerman]

No need to dream!

Buy an old but suitable tatty chair on ebay or from some local paper etc.

You need the design to be basically what you want but dont worry too much because you will be throwing much of it away!

Strip it totally and modify the frame/seating/footrests etc and motor mounts to suit whatever you have in mind.

Get all the parts you are going to keep stripped of paint/rust etc. Send them to the powder coaters! Do every bracket and widget. Its harder wearing than paint, doesent go dull and scratch easily, and can just be washed down to reveal the clean parts after much abuse. Looks good too.

Throw away all the manky overweight and unwanted parts. That amounted to a big heavy pile of stuff in my case including a multitude of brackets and lights, footrest and swing aways, suspension units, etc.

Build, buy, or have built your new bits to your design.
In my case this was new footplate and mountings, new rear suspension lock up struts, different adjustable seat mounting plates, new wheel mounting hubs and machined parts, new motors, controllers, batteries, upholstery, plastic plugs for pipe ends, 100 pounds (200 dollars) worth of polished stainless steel bolts/washers, tyres, rod ends or rose joints, and a few other bits.

Build clean and better than new to your modified as required design and grease everything with coppergrease so it will come apart as easily as it goes together after several winters and take much care! When you finish you have a much better chair than any mass produced effort. It will work better, last longer and look better for longer. Gives you a chance to build another for when you will need it!

And the total cost is about a third of a new (inferior) chair. But it takes a little effort and planning and possibly experience. The black one in the pictures earlier in this thread isnt quite finished (as can be seen in the pics) but was 500 uk pounds or 1k dollars plus 2k in one off parts and powder coating etc. A very cheap chair!