Wheelchair Basics: The Parts Of One - Wheelchair Skills - Basic Repairs and Maintenance Videos

parts Of A Wheelchair

Using A Wheelchair

Wheelchair Skills

Spoke  Issues

Replacing Wheelchair Bearings

Replacing Wheelchair Tires/Tubes

wheelchair tires 24x1 3/8"

Installing Flat Free Inserts

How To Build A Bicycle Wheel

Wheelchair Maintenance: Spoke Tightening

Not sure how I figured this out back in the late 1970s but I did. Spoke tightening. Yes, wheelchair wheels/tires require maintenance. Just like bicycle tires need spoke tightening and even replacing at times. Maybe that is where I got the idea to check out my spokes and tighten them. It was long before the internet. I just plunked my fanny on the front steps and somewhere learned to check and tighten my spokes.

On that note, recently, my husband was believing his new wheels have some loose spokes. Out of concern, when I saw what he was about to do with a pair of humongous vice grips, I stopped him and said let's look up the subject. After all, his wheels are brand new. The clicking hasn't returned and we want to leave it that way. Much to my disappointment though, he did say that there is a different sound coming from his new wheels and when he fiddles with some of the spokes, it goes away. Frankly, I don't hear it, nor does it make sense. Between you and me, I think the months of clicking are imprinted on his brain!

Glad he put down the jurassic park like, dino teeth tool and watched this helpful, well done video with me. We learned that tightening spokes properly, is akin to tuning a guitar. Something I remember my Dad doing often with his. We never knew about strumming the spokes to listen for specific pinging tones, and tightening until they are "true." Here, I just use to torque my little whatever tool, until they seemed taught.  

This video was useful and a good resource to have and share.
Needless to say, Craig put his ginormous vice grip pliers away and stopped what he was about to do...attack his spokes until we have a proper tool.

Watch The Helpful Video Here

SURPRISE! NOT JUST TACKS CAUSE LEAKS...

If you use wheels for legs like we do, then you know all about the potential for flat tires. It's why I opt for "no-flats." After one too many flat tires on my power chair, it seemed like the best solution. However, they only work if you can handle feeling every single bump and crack. Craig's pain is amplified by bumps and cracks, so pneumatic (air) wheels work best for him. For the last year however, he has had one rear tire that springs a leak far too often. Even more mysterious, the leak is

always near the same spot on the tube.

Surprise!
This video is about looking for the reason behind the annoying leak. Lo and behold, he discovered something we never would have known about if he didn't look for a cause. It wasn't a tack, a pin, piece of glass or a nail...watch and see. We figured we should share the discovery, incase it happens to you or someone you know. Then you won't have to go through the repeated frustration we did. Even better we are trying a solution to stop it from happening again.

You may be surprised at what caused his leak.

Take a look.
If you have had this experience, let us know. If you have any questions about wheelchair maintenance, we'd love to hear from you. Between Craig and I, we have over 50 years experience of using power and manual wheelchairs. So we know a little bit that can help.