Hi

[Ex-TKF]

I wish that I'd found this site earlier this year - hey ho.

A bit about myself, I'm 6,5" and about 148kg - that makes me a tall fat bugger.

I'm new to power chairs.

I got where I am today following surgery to relieve spinal canal stenosis. - No surgery would have meant paraplegia. Surgery could have relieved my symptoms 100% but it didn't, I reckon that I have about 30% recovery - I can walk very short distances unaided, otherwise 50m or so with sticks and then wheel chair, constant pain, ranging from severe aches to crippling pain, don't/can't move stuff which is strange as I have no sensation from the waist down. Also left leg sometimes does it's own thing with no warning, quite interesting when I've no sticks - lumps and bumps all over. I also now have memory problems - short term is a farce and long term is muddled, some is the result of drugs the rest is probably too many GA's - 7 ops in three years or possibly a bit brain damage following problems with the discharge of cerebral fluid. Whatever I am what I am and I get on the best I can - very grateful that I can walk a little - I have massive admiration for para/quadraplegics.

I've been like this for just over 4 years. No chance of recovery, but slow deteriation.

I decided to get a powerchair afer 3 years of a manual chair, with the resulting damage to shoulders, wrists etc.

I have a Handicare Puma my first powerchair and it has been a revelation but with limitations.

I am seriously interested in building my own chairs but it will have to wait until my finances are sorted and also get my workshop sorted (glorified garden shed really) .

That's me, cheers

[nmassaway]

my name is nick.
i live in st.ignace, mi. i am a c-5,c-6 quad. who partied too hard in his younger years. now i am laid back and enjoy trying to get outside to fish and hunt. but none of the power chairs that i have will do the job to my satisfaction.

i am looking for some who can help me build a power chair that will tackle the woods and ice like a monster eats!

spare parts that i have are:
2 whole power chairs. one made in 1994 and the other in 2001. Invacare models. these can be used/traded for the making of the chair. the first is a rear-wheel drive, 2nd is a mid-wheel drive. both have good lay back systems on them. lots of good parts that can be used for many projects.

if you can help me out. message me and i will get back to you.

glad i found the site to make new friends who understand what i am going though. being disabled is not easy nor fun.

nick

[Martin O Refurbisher]

Welcome ex-TKF (?) and Nick.

You will find shedloads of support here.

If I can help with info or parts from UK, just let me know.

If you want to build a BM like conversion, send me your email address and I'll send you back a full set of hte manauls - too big to do via messaging here.

Best,

Martin

[nmassaway]

thanks for wanting to help without saying,"check with manufacturer". or nah we can't do that because it would make it go to fast.

my goal at the present time is:
take one of the 2 old chairs i have and make one that will go through the woods. not looking to make a chair for the stores. rather one that will help me enjoy nature the way it was intended to be enjoyed. well my question would be can i re-program the computer to make it go faster or do i need a new hard drive? also, what type of tire or track system would be better suited for the rough country we have in northern mich.

if you wish to chat with me. i can be reached on yahoo messenger or by e-mail at: nmassaway21504@yahoo.com

hope to chat with anyone who can help me figure out something to do with the old chairs i have taking up space.

[Burgerman]

Problem.

To go outdoors, on anything other than flat surfaces you need at the VERY LEAST the best biggest 4 pole motors available on mobility equipment.
The biggest reprogrammed controller possible. That means 100 or 120 amp modern units.
The best low resistance batteries, in group 24/34 size (minimum) such as the odyssey ones we use now.

That will give very limited OFF ROAD performance for a couple of hours maximum with low 5 or 6 MPH gearing.

Ideally you need Lithium batteries, bigger amp controllers to make any kind of off road battery powered vehicle even slightly practical. All current "off road" battery powered vehicles are frankly useless.

Problem is your existing chairs dont have any of this so best bet to sell and turn into cash. To start with.

This battery and control system will give you the off road performance you need, and why I did it...
battery http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/BM-MK3- ... rchair.htm
Controller http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/BM-MK3-roboteq.htm

You will not get what you want without going to this level. Seriously.
Unless you buy a petrol "quad bike" on ebay and fit a suitable seating system.