by Burgerman » 26 Sep 2020, 19:50
OK... Dont let your brain explode!
The SALSA I bought is really the forunner of the Q700R its basically a freshen up and has front suspension added. Same motors, electrics etc. Different name. I bought a new salsa quick in case they stopped making them. Its a terrible chair as stock like all rear drive chairs. But a few minor changes transform it.
Thats why I said read carefully. I looked at almost every rear drive chair and theres lots in the UK/EU to look at over the years. EVERY LAST ONE has the seat located too far forwards. This is for two reasons. To prevent tipping rearwards on a steep slope and while accelerating with stock programming. And because most of those rear drive chairs traditionally sold with 2 seperate swing away or powered footrests. You must sit forwards over the caster wheels in order that the front caster wheel swinging around in a circle esp when reversing misses your heels. So as you enter a room its here comes my feet. Here comes me.
The net result is a chair thats doesent steer well as much of the weight is over the front casters instead of the rear drive wheels, which are now too far behind you... So its stalls the motors when doing a zero speed turn, heads down to the lowest point when travesing a cambered foorpath or road edge. You can fight it by steering against the curb and that murders the range, battery, and heats up and wears out everything... And then of course theres control on uneven surfaces. Say as you get to the top of a ramp, uneven tree roots, or whatever. The REAR wheel leaves the ground while the heavily loaded casters stay in contact. But the rear wheel steer and propel you... Or rather you spin around or lose control.
So... On all my rear drive chairs I move the CG back, by moving the seat back. May involve existing holes/bolts, or a drill... But one way or another its essential. But to do that you now need a CENTRE FOOTPLATE as small as poss, so your heels can sit further back between the front casters and not be hit by the tyres. And that means you need the wider caster arm spacing on the Salsa, the V4 magic chair, or the Dietz chair. To give adequate space. Then instead of turning like an oil tanker you are sat on the drive wheels and its 6 inches shorter... And now it eats less power turning or trying to go straight along a roard edge, and it has better range, doesent stall on zero turns and doesent eat batteries every 9 months...
The 700R has its caster arms a couple of inches closer. So cannot be done. Theres 1001 compromises on powerchairs.