Storm 4 Xplore retrofit

[rover220]

Are we sure that the REM550 DX2 Colour joystick actually works with the brushless controller? Its not an option on the form.

To quote a supplier:

You can have the rem550 for a £200 up charge (subject to any incompatibility with the TT motors but I'm pretty sure there isn't)

100 percent works.

[Burgerman]

100 percent works.

Thanks for the info. Wonder why its not on the options list for july 2016?

[rover220]

100 percent works.

Thanks for the info. Wonder why its not on the options list for july 2016?

No idea tbh.

[terry2]

I'm going to look at a second hand version of this chair. Can the seat go all the way back?
I need it back so it fits when I get on a bus.

[Burgerman]

As you buy one no. It is how it is. Miles long! You can only move it back with surgery... Smaller casters so to allow a central footplate, and a drill...

[ex-Gooserider]

My expectation is that there would be two different versions of the controller (if not more) as you would have one version for brush DC motors and one version for GB motors.... When ordering a new chair they presumably wouldn't put the two versions on the order form, as which one you get would be dependent on the motors chosen... (I'd deliberately NOT put the choice on the order form just to keep some DME from ordering a brush controller to go with GB motors or vice versa....)

I'd also suggest getting the parts books for the chairs downloaded, as I find that looking at the pictures is really helpful in deciphering the part number jargon....

Note that you may need several different books - i.e. one each for the base, electrical stuff and seating system....

BM - Are there any Invacare dealers near you? Even if you don't buy from them, it is possible that you could get them to help you figure out the order form in terms of saying what you want and having them translate it to the appropriate items on the form....

ex-Gooserider

[Burgerman]

My experience of dealers, is that they don't have a clue.

I trust what Rover220 said and he says it works. Out of interest I asked Invacare UK directly today. They have no idea, even after escalating the question and about 5 call backs! They say that I have to fill in a special prescription, and that they will send this to Germany and they will reply and around the houses we go. So I lost interest in Invacare who are ignorant and seem more interested in getting rid of you off there phone than figuring anything out. So after being told they don't know, I then called dynamic. Who said that (after being told that I couldn't talk to an engineer, and being redirected to a high street dealer with zero clue and had to produce business references) that yes it will work fine. Why would I think it wont? So I pointed him to their own web page that says its not compatible. This was from a guy that understands their systems. He also said that he couldn't understand why it wasn't on the Prescription form and that they (Invacare) were crazy as it (REM550) was their top of the line controller... Of course it works!

The more I talk to, and learn about the whole mobility industry, the more ignorant and useless they appear to be. I asked about the footplate too. I want a centre plate. There is one. But they cant tell me anything about it. And no idea how to order it. And to just add a note to the order via my mobility dealer that hasn't any clue.

It leaves you bewildered.
I know what's available.
I know exactly what I want.
Invacare haven't a clue and only want to talk to (completely clueless) dealers. Who have no idea what is available or what works together!

It prevents me ordering anything because there isn't anyone that knows what you must know to make the correct choices ANYWHERE!

What a joke.

[rollingcowboy]

I am not sure if this will help you or not but I don't think I have shared it before now.
This last summer I was in my local rehab getting the OK for a new cushion. I happened to meet a rep from Invacare and he was interested in me because he had never seen a custom made chair.
My chair is
GBHD MK5 mounted in a modified Jazzy 600 frame that has been shortened and narrowed and I have a handmade scissors lift made from an Invacare seat tilt - no wonder he had never seen one!
I asked if he knew if the GBHD motors would work with the MK6 - he had no idea but he made a call to the guys in the back room and got me the answer - yes, all of the GBHD motors are interchangeable between the MK4,5,6. This is good news for me since I have many spare motors but I was out of spare power modules. I was told that the MK6 joystick/controller has the program for both gearmotor and brushless so all I need for a spare is a gbhd power module since I had an MK6 joystick/controller from a craigslist $80 gearmotor chair.
since then I picked another craigslist find - a MK6 GBHD arrow with seat tilt for $100. so now I have lots of spare parts again.

I have a programmer that I got for $150 on ebay - had to watch for a while to find one at that price.

the only downside of the gbhd for me is the noise of the brake. I am planning a get around in the next week or 2. We are going to open the back of the motor and jumper the terminals of the limit switch that opens when the disengage lever is actuated. this will allow me to operate the chair with the lever engaged and should result in less or no noise since the brake is clamped open and the piston is not slamming back and forth. I will still be able to push the lever open and the chair will operate just as it does now.

I will let you know if this works the way I think it will.

I will post a pic of my "Rat Chair" following.

[rollingcowboy]

here is my Rat Chair - still going strong!

also some pic's of a GBHD motor with the back off showing the limit switch

and here is the back plate of the brake and the disengage lever

[Burgerman]

Interesting pics. And info. Thanks!

[shirley_hkg]

the only downside of the gbhd for me is the noise of the brake. I am planning a get around in the next week or 2. We are going to open the back of the motor and jumper the terminals of the limit switch that opens when the disengage lever is actuated. this will allow me to operate the chair with the lever engaged and should result in less or no noise since the brake is clamped open and the piston is not slamming back and forth. I will still be able to push the lever open and the chair will operate just as it does now.

.

You are CRAZY !

[Burgerman]

By which I think he means it will roll away down slopes when you release the stick... Or if power fails. Possibly to very high speed or off a cliff if you are unlucky! And you cannot stop it. When powered and moving it will be fine. If a trip or fuse pops, or it turns off panic!

[Burgerman]

http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/12x3 ... -3410.html

These should fit the storm4 chair if you want to go black tyres. And are 6mm wider. The rear rim needs widening for 90 or 100/80 tyres... Will figure that out later! May need to make a wheel.

[rollingcowboy]

the only downside of the gbhd for me is the noise of the brake. I am planning a get around in the next week or 2. We are going to open the back of the motor and jumper the terminals of the limit switch that opens when the disengage lever is actuated. this will allow me to operate the chair with the lever engaged and should result in less or no noise since the brake is clamped open and the piston is not slamming back and forth. I will still be able to push the lever open and the chair will operate just as it does now.

.

You are CRAZY !

when I am outside I release the disengage lever and the brakes operate just as they do now

[rollingcowboy]

http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/12x35-tire-activecare-prowler-3310-3410.html

These should fit the storm4 chair if you want to go black tyres. And are 6mm wider. The rear rim needs widening for 90 or 100/80 tyres... Will figure that out later! May need to make a wheel.

these are for 6" rims -? the motors are 8" dia - I have measured them at 2.75" wide - my 4.0-8 with tubes work just fine.

[Burgerman]

The storm4 uses 6 inch rims on its casters with 300 x 6 tyres in institution grey.
And the usual 300 x 8 rear tyres.

Now... Tubes are crap. Tiny puncture and the hole expands and releases the air. You don't get home. Puncture seal seldom works in tubes either. All my chairs are tubeless. But if you just want a new grey tired storm 4 to have black tyres, with tubes, then the ones I link to will do the front casters.

my 4.0-8 with tubes work just fine.

Those fit. But the correct rim size for a 4 inch tyre is around 3.5 wide. And if you want a tyre that is literally puncture proof you need to lose the tubes! And go tubeless. A tubeless tyre with quality off road puncture seal can survive hundreds of small punctures, and even a few 3/8th inch holes in it and stay inflated and get you home.

Its why I used tubeless tyres here, on 4 inch wide rims on 5 inch wide tyres. download/file.php?id=4326&mode=view THESE will fit over your motors. They are 10 inch rims. 16.3 overall. Same as you have now.

And tubeless tyres here, but these are also K-Sheild or a mix of aramid and kevlar puncture proofing woven into the carcase. http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images- ... /hegar.jpg

[rollingcowboy]

I was just looking at the Invacare UK parts info - is this a new version of the brushless motor?
in the the drawings it doesn't look exactly like my GBHD motors.

[Burgerman]

Yes newer. Supposed to give much better levels of torque at low speeds.

[shirley_hkg]

:)
Good to see more people are going to use Invacare GB, hoping that someone will retrofit a 48V RoboteQ version eventually .

For those who want to run it with 8" tubeless , please be advised that the outer rotor of the motor forms half of the split rim. New rim is to be attached to it in order to go tubeless , and the next bigger one will be 10" .

If you go 10" tubeless , you lost torque significantly .

Unless … …

If anyone succeeded in fitting an 8" tubeless on this motor, please let me know . You will have bunch of followers .

[Burgerman]

you can fit the 10 inch alloy tubeless rims and 130/70 tyres. Same diameter 4.00 x 8 inch tyre. 16 inches. As on my green chair. The ewer motors have better torque apparently...

[Burgerman]

you can fit the 10 inch alloy tubeless rims and 130/70 tyres. Same diameter 4.00 x 8 inch tyre. 16 inches. As on my green chair. The ewer motors have better torque apparently...

You would go from a 14 inch tire to a 16 one. Thats 7/8th of the torque. So you lose 11.x percent. That should not matter if the new motors are better?

[shirley_hkg]

What I can't figure out is , this motor can only take a tubeless rim that is bigger than 8" .

[Burgerman]

That may be true. I dont have one to look at. Why cant you make or use a tubeless rim?

Or http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-VES ... xydlFS~zQ1 make adapter?

http://www.minibikecraze.co.uk/shop/whe ... less-3-5j/

http://www.minibikecraze.co.uk/shop/whe ... -5j-wheel/

[shirley_hkg]

To mount the tubeless rim onto the motor , the inside diameter of that rim must not less than 8" .

[rover220]

The rim is not traditional 2 piece. It uses the motor as one half and then the other half bolts to it.

[Burgerman]

Any pic of its wheel/motor half?

[Burgerman]

I see. Designed by an idiot with no flexibility... So 10 inch or spacer for width is all thats possible. So its got to be spacer and a wider low profile tyre, and a tube or tubeless with some seal between halves and no bead lock. Many tubeless 8 inch don't use a bead lock bump anyway. So it may still be possible.

[terry2]

As you buy one no. It is how it is. Miles long! You can only move it back with surgery... Smaller casters so to allow a central footplate, and a drill...

Thank you. I'll give it a miss then.

[rollingcowboy]

pictured is a standard 3.0-8 wheelchair tire.
I stated earlier that the width of the rim was 2.75" - that was bad memory on my part - width is 1.75" so a spacer would be needed to mount wider tires.

[rollingcowboy]

a long time ago I was just playing with a 12" golf cart wheel and tire with gb motor inside

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