CRAIG'S QUICKIE XTENDER WHEELS- Spoke Too Soon Continued Pt #3

April 23, 2016
UPDATE:
We have been waiting to share what has happened since April 15th and now we can. A week ago when they took Craig's wheels into replace the spokes, April 15th, the new spokes that were sent just kept breaking even when they tightened them only a little. Not to mention the night before servicing, a 3rd spoke snapped off in the same spot!
Needless to say, I will be writing a full new article about how the demo wheels he was given to use temporarily, clearly have been improved regarding spoke installation and have not clicked the whole first week of use.
More on all that in the next Spoke Too Soon Article #4 

April 14, 2016 
GOOD NEWS UPDATE: Just now, an hour or so from writing this post, the Quickie folks said the spokes were shipped yesterday and should arrive tomorrow. They said they are still waiting for answers to our other questions. We feel bad for the person answering my lengthy messages!

Okay, it is now April 13, 2016. We are still waiting for some "action" on Craig's Xtender Wheels. It has taken longer to get responses from Quickie/Sunrise, it seems. We want to give them the benefit of the doubt. From what we understand, they had to contact the manufacturer and engineer. We do not know who that is. We now have been told that the spokes are not covered under warranty because they are a wear and tear parts. But, they said, an accommodation is being made. I will paste exactly what they said in their twitter message so I don't misrepresent anyone. (Whoever is responding for Quickie's social media,  the person we have been in communication with via  has been helpful and friendly.  it's out of their hands)
From: April 5, 2016
"Hi Anita and Craig, we apologize for the delay but had to consult with the manufacturer and engineering. Sunrise Medical has been able to source the spokes needed for this particular Xtender wheel. We will order some at N/C and send them to #### to use in the repair of the broken spokes. The remainder should be given to Craig for future needs. This is a one-time accommodation since "wear and tear" items and consumables are not covered under warranty. Hope this helps!"

What is frustrating is that Craig hasn't had any of the three pairs of wheels long enough to give them any wear and tear. In fact, it was the third pair, where the clicking happened again almost right away and he discovered the first semi broken spoke. It was repaired and then in only 2-3 months, two spokes broke completely and are hanging on literally, but the bend in the tip. So as thankful as we are that they are making an exception, providing new spokes, it wasn't his fault to begin with. Why would they even tell us that in light of all the clicking and spoke discovery. It tends to make you feel like you need to plead your case even though whoever made the wheels is at fault or is responsible. My husband doesn't exceed the weight limit. We found out when the problems happened, that there is a 250 pound weight limit on these wheels. My husband is 5'11" and isn't small. But thankfully, he weighs under that by more than a  few pounds. However, to be told they aren't under warranty if he was over 250, after the purchase was made is very bothersome. We now recommend, to ask as many questions as possible when considering buying any expensive devices. It would have caused us to possibly change our minds. 

However,  he does love the wheels in principle, when all is okay, but has been forced to wait regarding recommending them anymore UNTIL he knows for sure, what is being done by the manufacturer, about inspecting each spoke on the previous 2 pairs of returned wheels.  As well new ones, so future customers will not have clicking/spoke issues. Not to mention, to make sure, he is all fixed up. He/we would feel bad recommending them, if the same thing happens. Just looking for reassurance from the companies involved. We are now waiting for a response about that.

Today, April 13, we did contact the vendor and no one has received anything so far in the line of new/extra  spokes. The clicking is increasing because of the 2 broken spokes. Like we showed previously, CLICK HERE, if Craig fiddles with the correct spoke, the clicking temporarily goes away. But the spokes are still broken. It is difficult to trust when things are called into question, such as a wear and tear on spokes, even if they choose to replace them. It wasn't his fault from day one, wheel set #1, #2 and #3.  

Because someone asked us if the clicking issue had been resolved, that they want to buy wheels like these for someone but won't buy these ones if the issue isn't rectified. Wanting to give the company a fair chance, I did just send another message to Quickie to inquire about a more definite time of delivery of these spokes. As well asking them, what is being or has been done, to investigate the last two pair that were returned. 
Clearly, the clicking sounds then, matches what is going on now, so there must have been spoke issues all along, since pair one. But, we want to know for sure, if they found that out and if it will all be taken care of. Whoever the manufacturer is, they must be the ones to take responsibility. Hope it all goes well, so Craig can keep recommending these power assist wheels. Remember to ask lots of questions regarding any purchases like this. We never did, we trusted folks when we should have asked about all that at the time of inquiry/purchase.
On that note, until we know beyond all doubt, that this issue is going to be corrected we have to hold off recommending these wheels to anyone. 

Maybe our expectations are too hight. You decide. We have documented everything, dates included so others can make informed choices. We trust the source company will be able to give us satisfactory answers.
Just understand that it matters to us, what we recommend. And of course making sure my husband's wheels are working they way they are supposed to, we will post what we learn. We trust they will take care of things. They have so far...just taking longer this time.

He still recommends Quickie 2  brand manual wheelchairs, because he is about to get his 5th one and he's never had a problem with them.

Hope this helps anyone out there, seeking information on Xtender Wheels and hopefully, the company who constructs these wheels so they can correct the spoke issue.

Coolness and Camber...

I Learned A New Word! 
Well, the mystery of the clicking wheels may be resolved. Check

past articles, Update #3, Update #2 if you don't know what I am yapping about. The powers that be, Sunrise Medical/Quickie Xtender, have concluded that it is best to replace the last pair of  wheels. It was decided after last week, when Shoppers, under 
Sunrise's direction, removed the camber from Craig's Xtender

Grade 4, My first lilac
'not so cool" wheelchair!

wheels. "Camber?" I said, "What is that? Needless to say, I learned a new word, considering I had my first wheelchair over 40 years ago, I should have known it all along.

Taken from Sunrise Medical

A Word About Coolness
It's about time, I learned that there is a name for what I once thought was the cool guy's wheelchair.  Cool guys wheelchair? Yes, the cool guys and girls, had wheelchairs that had low rise backs and super slanty wheels like the picture I am using from Sunrise Medical, below. If you have  followed WWO, you'll know that I have been using a wheelchair since I was young. See above, my very first one was made from the heaviest clunky metal, coated in shiny silver chrome, with a pretty lilac colour vinyl upholstery.  To a wee girl, that was super pretty. Coolness was an unknown word then. I only used it when I went to school and when distance was too much.
Time For Cool
As my body grew, it was time for a new wheelchair. I was about thirteen years old and no longer was I all about prettiness, but, it was all about being cool. After watching these really muscular guys play wheelchair basketball, what did I covet most? Why a sports wheelchair of course! We had one of those "cool" athletic guys, work at the residence where I lived at the time,  as one of our child care workers. I wanted to be just like him. Well the female version, that is.  
His name was Guy Paquette. He was paralyzed from the waist down, had super frizzy curly hair, long eye lashes, wore fasionable french cut t-shirts (that showed off his biceps!). He only worked at the "home," the year I was in grade seven. 
Guy would do wheelies (The coolest thing a person can do when you use a wheelchair!) without holding his wheels! Really, he did! He'd balance his rear wheels, raising his front wheels off of the ground and just comfortably, cross his arms across his chest. No problem, no tipping over, just sheer coolness. And of course, that was when, I learned how to do wheelies too! Coolness was all I cared about when I was in grade seven. Mind you, my ego was taken down a huge notch, after another one of my favourite,  child care workers, Della, warned me about  how I could hurt myself doing them. Shrugging her off, not wanting her to deflate my coolness, I ignored her heartfelt warning. Suddenly, I heard a thud! There I lay, face up, staring at the ceiling. (Okay, not so cool. Della, was right.) At least no blood!
Murder Ball...
In or out of his chair, Guy, would never stop being cool to me. In fact one time we had the honour of having him play wheelchair rugby with our team. Again, all of my "Guy" memories were during my grade seven year. We actually called it"murder ball," and I played sort of competitively. It was a sport for those, like me, who couldn't throw the ball up into a basket ball net. So here he was, the coolest man I knew at the time. His wheels all slanty, or flared out at the bottom. Which I recently learned is called "CAMBER." Contributing to that cool look, was a really low back to their chair. 
For example, my "nerdy" or standard wheelchair, and my husband's, have a

See almost no back and lots of Camber!!
http://bandageer.info/wheelchair-basketball-league/

back that comes up to about the mid shoulder blade area. Dudes like Guy, had backs as low as maybe with to ten inches high. See the athletes to the left? It makes it possible for them to do fancy twists and turns and provide more manuevarbility for throwing the basket balls up into the basket.

Anyhoo, there he was, Guy playing with us! He was showing us why it was called murder ball. He was going so fast, he actually grabbed someone's chair, flinging himself to the floor (I assumed by accident or showing off :o) and then effortlessly, he just flung himself back into his chair. No injuries, no wincing, nothing...just so darn cool.

I always wanted my wheels to be all slanty, or now I know, "cambered" (hope I am using the word correctly), and to have that really low back. Not practical for someone like me. Oh yah, and the other way to have a cool

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australia_men_wheelchair_basketball_v_Great_Britain_6178.JPG

wheelchair was to not have your anti-tipping wheels on the back of your chair. They prevent your chair from flipping backwards. You know, like I did the day I first tried  my first wheelies and went thunk! Nope, they didn't have anti-tipping casters then. Now they do, and if they are on, you can never do wheelies. Mind you my genius, handsome nephew, did when he would come over and practice the art form in my old manual wheelchair. He was able to keep the front wheels up off the ground and move around, with the anti-tipping wheels on. That I had never seen before. My husband has always been teased by me, because as long as I have known him, he has those safety wheels on. I call them "sissy" wheels just to tease him. 
The Clicking Solution! Craig has never been concerned about being cool. I am glad for that, because safety is a good thing. The one "cool" thing he had up until a few weeks ago, was a slight slant to his wheels. Now I know the word for it. And now we know, slanted wheels don't work with Quickie Xtender wheels. In fact, so far, we believe it is most likely the cause of all the clicking issues. Especially, since it happened as soon as the second replacement pair went on.  Turns out Quickie Xtender wheels are to be installed WITHOUT camber. What matters most is we know, and Sunrise is going to replace his wheels a third time. No point in being upset that we could have avoided all the stress worrying about what was/is wrong with his new wheels. We know now, the new pair will be installed upright, with NO camber.

No camber means, the only cool part to Craig's wheelchair is now gone! Awe, heck, he'll always be cool to me, no matter what. I just like bugging  him. Actually, removing the camber means he can fit through door ways better. It really widens your bottom end! Let's hope and pray, that the camber/tilt thingy is the answer. We'll let you know.

A Step Closer to Cool?
Well,  back to my last day of grade seven. It was a bittersweet one. I cried in my class room, as my most favourite teacher ever, Mr. Lorne Taylor, asked me what was wrong. I didn't know. He suggested I had the out of school blues. Not being taught by him anymore, was the bitterest part. The sweet part? Guy promised if I passed grade seven he would buy me the same kind of cool t-shirt that he wore, a v-neck and capped sleeves. Because I always went home to my family every second weekend and holidays, that last day Della, remember her? Whisked me off to the local mall, with the money Guy gave me to buy a shirt just like his. There I was thirteen, entering summer break to spend it with my parents and sister, looking as cool as possible.
Heart Break
That summer as I waited in our van at my parent's home. I heard on the radio that Guy Paquette was found dead in his motel room. I burst out sobbing until I had no tears left. 
That was when I was 13, a whole 36 years ago and the impression he made on me still remains. 

Research Articles About Camber and Wheelchair Use

The Effect of Wheelchair Camber

Camber, What It Is and Why We use It?