A thorough monthly maintenance routine prevents costly repairs and ensures your manual wheelchair remains safe and easy to propel. Use this checklist to keep your chair in peak condition.
Wheels and Tires
- Tire Pressure: Check pneumatic tires for proper inflation; under-inflated tires make the chair significantly harder to push.
- Tire Condition: Inspect for cracks, bulges, flat spots, or excessive wear.
- Spoke Tension: Pluck spokes to ensure they are equally tight and not bent or missing.
- Wheel Alignment: Test if the chair rolls straight on a flat surface; veering more than a foot over a ten-foot distance may indicate misalignment.
Brakes and Casters
- Wheel Locks: Ensure brakes securely engage the tire surface and prevent any movement.
- Caster Inspection: Check that front casters rotate freely and touch the ground evenly.
- Debris Removal: Use tweezers or pliers to remove hair, lint, and dirt from wheel and caster axle bearings.
Frame and Hardware
- Tighten Fasteners: Inspect all nuts and bolts—especially on armrests, footrests, and axles—ensuring they are snug but not over-tightened.
- Frame Integrity: Check for any signs of cracks, stress, or failing welds, particularly at joints.
- Lubrication: Apply a small amount of silicone-based lubricant to pivot points, folding mechanisms, and axle bearings.
Seating and Comfort
- Upholstery Check: Look for rips, tears, or sagging in the seat and backrest fabric.
- Cushion Inspection: Ensure the cushion hasn’t “bottomed out” and still provides adequate support.
- Removable Parts: Verify that legrests, armrests, and backrests release and latch smoothly.