Like every other tool or piece of equipment you have at home, wheelchairs will also require some regular maintenance work and repair periodically. It is easier to maintain and repair a wheelchair if you already have replacement parts at hand. There are parts that get worn out due to continuous use and repairs should be done every now and then.
Preemptive Response
A good tip to repair a wheelchair is to immediately inspect it at the slightest sign of a possible breakdown. Squeaky parts, funny sounds, parts that don’t feel right, or any other type of symptom that shows at the onset should immediately catch your attention. It is better that you address the issues preemptively before a simple problem regarding a wheelchair gets worse.
Things You Can Do
You don’t have to take your wheelchair to the shop to get it fixed, especially if the damage is something that routinely breaks down. Like changing a flat tire, you should always be ready with a spare just in case the inevitable happens to a wheelchair. What you should do is to assemble your own wheelchair repair kit beforehand. A repair kit will not only include spare parts but will also contain all the necessary tools you will definitely need to repair a wheelchair.
The very first set of tools you should have in your kit is screwdrivers. You should have both a flat head screwdriver and a Philips head screwdriver. Another indispensable tool you should include in your kit is a wrench. Along with that throw in a pair of pliers and other equipment that you might find handy when changing a tire or other parts.
One of the most common things you have to fix is a loosened strap, which should only require a bit of an adjustment. Another common trouble point is the axle. These will usually have fibrous materials stuck in them like strands of hair for instance. Dismantle the caster axles using wrenches. This should become a part of a routine maintenance job on how to repair a wheelchair.
Take note that any moving part of a wheelchair is subject for possible wear and tear. All you have to do is unscrew it using pliers or wrenches and clean up the part you removed before reassembling it. The seat upholstery is one thing that will also require replacement over a period of time. You can dismantle the sling seat and take out the worn out upholstery and replace it with a new one.
Take note that you should not attempt to fix an electric wheelchair, unless of course you’re a certified technician. You are better off calling in a repairman to repair a wheelchair of this type than attempting to fix it on your own.
