GRIT Freedom Chair, User Manual

Page 1: ...GRIT Freedom Chair User Manual 3 2 support gogrit us ...

Page 2: ... 1 Removing the rear wheels 21 2 3 2 Removing the seatback 22 2 3 3 Transporting the Freedom Chair 24 3 Riding 25 3 1 Safety 26 3 1 1 Pre ride safety checks 26 3 1 2 Safety when riding 26 3 2 Using the lever drivetrain 28 3 2 1 Inserting and removing the levers 28 3 2 2 Propulsion 31 3 2 3 Maximizing your speed and leverage 31 3 3 Braking 35 3 4 Turning 36 3 5 Reversing 38 3 6 Parking brakes 38 3 ...

Page 3: ...2 Replacing the tubes 44 4 2 3 Chain tension adjustment 44 4 2 4 Parking brake adjustment 46 4 2 5 Changing the gear ratio 48 4 3 Warranty information 48 4 3 1 Pride fairness 48 4 3 2 GRIT limited warranty 48 ...

Page 4: ...4 Chapter 1 Meet the Freedom Chair ...

Page 5: ...azards Have a buddy around to lend a hand during your first ride This guide has important safety information Be sure to read through it before starting your first ride Do not ride in a matter that exceeds your ability If you feel unsafe Stop Riding the Freedom Chair involves the risk of injury By choosing to ride the Freedom Chair you assume responsibility for this risk so it s important for you t...

Page 6: ...ting gloves hook style to pull the levers back for braking and turning It is your responsibility to determine if the Freedom Chair is right for you Please consult with your physical therapist or medical advisors prior to riding the Freedom Chair The Freedom Chair comes in several seat width sizes Please ensure that you fit comfortably in your Freedom Chair If you do not fit comfortably please cont...

Page 7: ...7 Chapter 2 Assembly ...

Page 8: ...r adjusting the parking brakes attaching the fork and securing specific accessories and foot plate clamps 2 1 2 Unpacking the box Save the box The original packaging is required for all returns under the GRIT Guarantee We are hoping that you love your Freedom Chair keep it and recycle the box but it is better to save the box during the initial 30 day period Remove the wheels seatback levers footpl...

Page 9: ...rame Figure 2 1 Removing the Freedom Chair frame from the box a Orient the clamp so that the lip is at the bottom and the lever is towards the rear Note that some footplate clamps require an Allen key to loosen tighten b Slide the clamp onto the frame so that the lever is toward the rear over the slot Figure 2 2 Removing the Freedom Chair frame from the box ...

Page 10: ...am Figure 2 3 see next page 2 Slide the first bearing the two bearings are identical onto the fork Make sure the curved chamfer side is facing up 3 Insert the fork through the headset tube at the front of the chair 4 Slide the second bearing curved chamfer side down over the fork tube 5 Slide the compression ring cone side down over the fork tube and push it down until it contacts the bearing 6 Sl...

Page 11: ...11 Figure 2 3 The various components of the fork assembly shown individually for identification purposes ...

Page 12: ... is facing down toward the ground e Put the top cap cone side down over the spacer h Put the top cap spacer and screw on top of the headset and thread the screw into the nut within the front wheel fork c Slide on the compression ring cone side down as far down as you can It doesn t matter which direction the split is pointing f Slide the split washer onto the screw i Tighten the screw with the pro...

Page 13: ...without axles inserted Inserting the axles through the wheels is easy and only needs to be done once when you re setting up your chair for the first time Most wheels come with black caps which ensure proper spacing First slide the axle into the hub from the side opposite the stainless steel coupling the coupling is the wide silver ring Make sure that the black hub caps do not fall off There should...

Page 14: ...connects to the chair Oftentimes the coupling will be misaligned and the wheel will not fully attach i e the axle push button won t push out To fix this rotate the chain until the slots of the coupling and the freewheel are aligned You ll know the wheels are securely attached when the push button on the axle pops out See Figure 2 7 for more information a Push the quick release button inward b Alig...

Page 15: ... correctly attached wheel has the button out and the coupling reaching the freewheel Note that the spacing will be slightly different between the coupling and the freewheel on the right and left sides of the chair If unsure about the connection try pulling the wheel off to check whether it is correctly locked in place 2 2 3 Attaching the seatback The seatback slides into the seat and attaches with...

Page 16: ...e you slowly insert it into the sockets c With your fingers push the spring button inwards on both sides of the seatback while lowering the seatback into the seat b Slide the seatback in until the push buttons reach the holes If the seatback becomes stuck adjust the angle of the seatback and slowly push pull to free it d Continue pushing the seatback all of the way down until the buttons pop out o...

Page 17: ...e footrest attaches to the Freedom Chair using the same kind of clamp commonly used on bicycle seats This clamp comes in two variations one that secures with an Allen key another that secures with a lever The footrest tube is inserted into the chair and then the clamp lever is used to lock the tube in place The tightness of the clamp can be adjusted with the adjustment nut opposite the clamp lever...

Page 18: ...into the frame until it is at an appropriate height b Insert the footrest tube with the footrest facing forward d Lock the clamp in place by pressing the lever down against the footrest tube If your footrest clamp requires an Allen key tighten the bold accordingly Figure 2 12 Attaching the footrest to the Freedom Chair ...

Page 19: ... used to hold your legs together which can improve clearance for your lever strokes We recommend Neoprene straps though Velcro also works well Strap mounting holes The Freedom Chair seat pan has 9 holes pre drilled into the base of the seat These can be seen by lifting and removing the cushion These holes may be used to add additional straps Please contact GRIT to discuss your strapping needs A no...

Page 20: ...ard wheelchair cushions including pressure relief cushions All sizes of the Freedom Chair have a 16 inch seat depth Velcro may be applied to the seatpan to appropriately secure your cushion Some riders have benefited from stacking multiple cushions in the Freedom Chair to achieve a taller rider position Remember though Adding or removing cushions will adjust your center of gravity potentially incr...

Page 21: ...the rider s upper back between the shoulders The pad provides a support to push against during lever strokes The back pad includes a loop to attach a rear bicycle light if desired for improved visibility Figure 2 15 Brace against the back pad during your push stroke to increase your power and reduce your fatigue 2 3 Disassembly for transport and storage 2 3 1 Removing the rear wheels The rear whee...

Page 22: ...r while keeping the button depressed Figure 2 16 Removing the seatback from the Freedom Chair 2 3 2 Removing the seatback To remove the seatback push in both spring buttons while pulling upward on the seatback Be sure to pull both sides of the seatback at the same time to prevent it from getting stuck See Figure 2 17 ...

Page 23: ... on both sides of the seatback b Hold both buttons in while pulling upward on both sides of the seatback c Continue pulling upward on both sides of the seatback until it is released Figure 2 17 Removing the rear wheels from the Freedom Chair ...

Page 24: ...nto the trunk first It is the heaviest part so try to avoid placing it on top of the other parts Place the frame flat to avoid bending the side of the seat See Figure 2 19 avoid having anything press into the sides of the seatpan The footrest does not always have to be removed Keep the chains away from dirt that might be at the bottom of your trunk Dirt and gravel in the chain will impact your rid...

Page 25: ...25 Chapter 3 Riding ...

Page 26: ...h of the levers and pivot reverse as desired 3 1 1 Pre ride safety checks It is extremely important to inspect your Freedom Chair before each ride to make sure it is in trail worthy condition Ensure the wheels are correctly attached and the push buttons are fully engaged Ensure that the tires are properly inflated We recommend 45 PSI for all three tires Check that the seatback is fully inserted an...

Page 27: ...oks of your arms and pulling them toward your body To discuss this technique with GRIT call us at 617 356 8106 Ride with a helmet when using the Freedom Chair Wear high visibility clothing reflectors and lights when riding in low light conditions Urban riding When riding the Freedom Chair in urban areas be mindful of the low height and added length of the device Visibility additions such as flags ...

Page 28: ...esigned the levers to be easy to insert and remove The levers are interchangeable and store on the Freedom Chair when not in use Inserting the levers To insert the levers first retrieve the levers from their storage position on the side of the chair Lift the lever from the front and the back If both hands cannot be used lift the lever from the center as close as possible to the brake tube Then ins...

Page 29: ... is visible rotate the coupling b If the lever hole is inaccessible rotate the coupling Figure 3 2 Rotate the coupling toward the back of the chair by pushing down on the back of the coupling with your hand or the lever ...

Page 30: ...til the brake is over the wheel Right lever counterclockwise left lever clockwise b Insert the lever into the hole until the pin reaches the bottom of the slot d Make sure the brake is over the wheel and that it doesn t rotate when the lever is pulled back Figure 3 3 Inserting the levers into the Freedom Chair ...

Page 31: ...and to alternate the levers on hills and rough terrain WARNING TIPPING IS POSSIBLE This is especially true when going uphill One way to prevent this is to ALTERNATE lever strokes left then right then left etc during ascents rather than engaging both levers simultaneously On severe inclines lean forward if possible to adjust your center of gravity Always wear a helmet Always ride with a buddy who c...

Page 32: ... the lever away from the wheel b Rotate the brake bar toward yourself c Pull the lever out of the coupling d Insert the brake into the lever holder Figure 3 4 Removing and storing the levers on the Freedom Chair ...

Page 33: ...33 Figure 3 5 Push forward on the levers to move forward You may push the levers together or alternately Once the levers are forward pull them back to reset for the next stroke ...

Page 34: ...34 Figure 3 6 How to use the lever drivetrain Remember When going UPHILL it is safest and most effective to ALTERNATE lever strokes rather than engaging both levers simultaneously ...

Page 35: ...t with the tire The brakes work by coming into contact with the tire It is normal for this to wear out the powder coat on the brake tube It will not wear down the tires in fact the levers will wear down first While worn off powder coat isn t a problem please contact GRIT if you wear away a hole in the lever itself For added braking force pull backward on the levers from the top of the lever This p...

Page 36: ...Turning Turning the Freedom Chair is similar to turning a rowboat To turn apply the brake on the side of the chair toward which you d like to turn To turn right apply the right brake and push on the left lever To turn left apply the left brake and push on the right lever The harder you pull against one lever the sharper your turn will be ...

Page 37: ...rce enabling easier stopping and turning especially when the wheels are wet a To turn right apply the brake with the right lever and push the left lever forward b To turn left apply the brake with the left lever and push the right lever forward Figure 3 11 Turning the Freedom Chair ...

Page 38: ... you would a regular wheelchair 3 6 Parking brakes CAUTION You ll have to adjust the parking brakes when swapping wheel sets Check out section 4 2 3 Parking Brake Adjustment for step by step instructions The Freedom Chair features unique parking brakes designed to be stronger and more reliable than standard wheelchair brakes Pull the parking brake lever upward to engage the parking brake Push the ...

Page 39: ... swing both legs over to the transfer side of the chair before making the transfer Grab the seat or the wheels to help with transferring The footrest may be lowered prior to transferring to make room for you to pull up your chair The front tube is a useful grab point when transferring from low positions or the ground You may use your own cushion in the Freedom Chair or stack your cushion on the pr...

Page 40: ... Freedom Chair is beginning to tip Become comfortable with the tip angle of the Freedom Chair by practicing a wheelie without the levers before riding hills If you tip backward lean forward to regain balance and to protect yourself in case of a fall Always ride with a helmet 3 8 2 Descending slopes Pull backward on the brake levers to descend slopes at a safe speed Here are some tips for descendin...

Page 41: ...o safely ride off of it Watch out for traffic pedestrians and obstacles If possible use the levers to lift the front wheel up just before dropping off of the curb This helps you land on your rear wheels first WARNING NEVER RIDE OFF CURBS AT AN ANGLE Riding off of a curb at an angle will cause the Freedom Chair to tip and may result in a fall causing serious injury and damaging your Freedom Chair N...

Page 42: ...42 Chapter 4 Maintenance ...

Page 43: ...curred 4 1 2 Tools to bring We don t know where you re going but we want you to be prepared when you get there Here is a full list of the tools you may find yourself wanting Phillips screwdriver The first tool in adjusting chain tensioning Tip size 2 will work but tip size 3 is best A 3 shank or longer will allow you to access the tension screws Adjustable wrench This is the second tool you ll nee...

Page 44: ...n the rear wheels is very similar to replacing the tubes on a bicycle A Google search or visit to a bike shop will provide you all of the information you need This tutorial is also very good http tinyurl com hya9y98 Pneumatic front wheel Instructions for replacing the tub on the front wheel can be found here http support gogrit us knowledge setting up your freedom chair front tire tube replacement...

Page 45: ...urn these setscrews clockwise to tighten the chains Both must be rotated the same amount Periodically check the chain tension while turning the setscrews d Once the chains are at an appropriate tension use a 3 or any available Philips screwdriver to tighten the setscrews until the desired chain tension is reached c This chain is too loose It can be squeezed together more than half an inch a This c...

Page 46: ...e one of the bolts is facing backward you ll have to rotate it the opposite way to loosen it 2 Once the clamps are loose enough rotate each brake to its desired position We typically adjust the brakes so they are one finger width away from the wheel when not engaged Tighter brakes will provide more braking force to hold the wheel in place However they will require more force to apply Looser brakes...

Page 47: ...d to the desired position b Loosening and tightening the right parking brake clamp d We usually adjust the parking brakes so that a finger fits between the parking brake and the wheel when the parking brake is in the disengaged position as shown Figure 4 5 Adjusting the parking brake on the Freedom Chair ...

Page 48: ...nty The specific warranty covering your GRIT Freedom Chair mobility device is governed by the law of the state or country in which it was purchased and applies only to mobility devices purchased directly from GRIT or from Authorized GRIT Retailers GRIT frames and manufactured parts are warrantied by Global Research Innovation and Technology Inc against manufacturing defects in materials and or wor...

Page 49: ...rmal wear and tear is not covered Every GRIT mobility device has a useful product life cycle Use in trick riding ramp riding jumping aggressive riding riding on severe terrain riding in severe climates riding with heavy loads commercial activities and other types of nonstandard use can dramatically shorten the useful product life cycle of a GRIT mobility device that would not be covered by this wa...

Page 50: ... allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or warranties so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that a certain provision of this limited warranty does not apply such determination shall not affect any other provision of this limited warranty and all other provisions shall remain in effect ...