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Brainstorming some crazy monster garage style ****

SilvaMan61

SilvaMan61

GPFs Sexy Ginger.
I'm going to start by saying if you came in here to be an asshole GTFO. No trolls, no problem.

I've been thinking of taking on what I hope will be a seriously crazy, mostly custom, project. it has nothing to do with my prix or myself really. I want to build a wheel chair. One capable of being launched ten feet in the air and landing safetly and softly on it's wheels. What I have in mind is more like a single person buggy built to own skate parks and ****. For now I'm thinking of keeping it manual, maybe later retrofitting some sort of motor, electric most likey.

Now as you guys have probably figured out, I am not a mechanically inclined person. I'm no engineer. But you guys are. I respect and value your opinions, so hopefully we can discuss this maturely. All opinions are welcome and needed, I'm starting mostly from scratch here.

As of now I'm thinking I buy a simple used manual wheel chair with a metal frame. I'd want to lower the seat, and probably push it forward so that it is in front of the axle. Then I'd need to get another two wheels mounted in front. I'm thinking I'll hack some wheels and axles off of some bikes. Some negative "camber", if you will, hopefully will make sure this thing lands on it's wheels every time. When it does land I'd need it to be as soft as a baby cadilac though. This will probably be the hardest part. Finding and rigging up an effective yet light suspension. I'm undecided on steering. at this point my main thought process is can it be done and can it be safe, relatively of course.

Again this **** isn't my forte, if you're already frustrated or humored by my lack of understanding just tune out. But remember this isn't for me. Im not benefiting from this.
 


That^^ You can also start by checking out how they build chairs for racing/sports/events in the Olympics too...lightweight...sturdy stuff.

Something negative camber like this? LOL

zephyr_pic_05.gif


Good luck man, was this for your buddy you devote plenty of your time too that you've talked about on here before?
 
wow silvaman...i was just talking about how awesome an epic wheelchair with tons of power would be!! even though im not handicapped i would use it to tool around campus...
i looked it up and theres some guy who makes gas engine powered wheelchairs using a 70cc honda.
you would have to get a wheelie bar or some other stabilizing option because it WILL go backwards when you hit the throttle.
you would need to have a strong enough frame that can take this launching into the air and beating as well.
 
Exactly blue. That is what I have in mind for the camber.

Yes this is for my little cousin. He is starting to realize some of the limitations that come with his handicap. All of his friends are really into skateboarding and he is left out. This is my solution.
 


ctracer said:
wow silvaman...i was just talking about how awesome an epic wheelchair with tons of power would be!! even though im not handicapped i would use it to tool around campus...
i looked it up and theres some guy who makes gas engine powered wheelchairs using a 70cc honda.
you would have to get a wheelie bar or some other stabilizing option because it WILL go backwards when you hit the throttle.
you would need to have a strong enough frame that can take this launching into the air and beating as well.
Click to expand...

That'd be pretty cool. But I am thinking of just keeping it manual for now. He's only 9 so it may not be best to give him the wheel in something like that. He's completely fine cognitively, no mental handicap. Which is why he'd end up up side down on fire lol. For now he should be content with my busting my ass pushing him off of kickers and funboxes
 
I'd say maybe use cross mounted dirt bike, like a smaller 50-100cc, shocks. I'd extend the main drive wheels out wider definitely to accommodate the camber and for an easier landing. Also why the shocks need to be cross mounted.
 
you also need to make sure the weight is balanced because you want to get at least a little bit of airtime right? you dont want him to go tipping forward while in the air. put some form of seatbelt in it as well. maybe even have inflated tires instead of the regular ones?
 
Tbh.... wheelchairs are fun just how they are. If you wanted to get really crazy, make the wheel locks act as steering, but in a different concept. Instead of applying pressure to the wheel, it would actuate a rack and pinion esque?
 


CT brings up another point, balance. The hardest thing to successfully do would be to learn how to properly take off and land that beast without killing yourself.
 
ive seen this guy before, his chair looks to be like a basketball sports chair, and he looks like hes having a blast.

fast forward a bit past his bad rapping.

 
i should have specified earlier. my cousin has type 2 SMA. to put it very basically, he has very little muscle mass. he can move but not with a lot of strength, to give a bit of perspective, for him to write a paragraph is physically exhausting. so any form of propulsion has to be external. i planned on getting off my lazy ass and literally pushing him over the jumps or obstacles, for now at least. id really like for him to be completely independent with it. but that would take the use of motors, like he has on his power-chair, and electronic throttle/steering controls. that, to be completely honest ,would put me hopelessly in over my head with this project, if im not already. plus the fact that his daily power chair cost more than a CTS-V leads me to believe that the motors like those wont come cheap.

about the seat belt comment. i do plan on utilizing a good solid 5 point harness, leg belts, and i was about to look into something for his head. im thinking a helmet anchored to the seat. i believe they use something like that in nascar. i do plan to have this vehicle fully en-caged as well, just in case it does flip i could hopefully just flip him back over, tell him to suck it up and push him off something else lol.

the balance will definitely be a huge factor. thats something ill really have to pay attention to when i get going.

negative, why do you say the bike tires will be unstable? i used to ride my bmx all day at 25mph+ and popping quite a bit into the air. a dirt bike wheel would be ideal but thatd be less cost effective and more weight.
 
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your going to need a 2 stroke chain saw engine or something and a axle from a 3 wheel bike or some kind of axle with a sprocket i guess. steering is another issue too with even a small amount of power, being that you would normally just hold a wheel to make it turn, a live axle may make that hard to do.
 


Scott...I know you are saying chair and aiming toward skateboarding and some air time. I'm trying to wrap my head around something light, agile, able to jump/get air in the type of situation you are describing and am having trouble. It did bring back some memories of going ATVing with a couple of guys who were paralyzed. At the time, there was no power steering on ATV's, now there is. Not sure where I'm heading with this.. thinking aloud though.

With his limited muscle mass, is he able to get moved around a decent amount w/o it draining or hurting him?

Guess I'm kinda thinking of starting with something along the lines of an ATV and building upon that. The cost is probably an issue as most of them aren't cheap. But it seems like a way to potentially bridge the gap of him doing stuff at a reasonable cost.
 
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