BEFORE BUYING SHOCKS: there are some black plastic bushings that MUST to be present for this to work!! more info here - - - brokenwheelchairs.com/page-24/
I got my F3 about 2-3 years ago, it came with the roam filled tires. After a day of riding over uneven terrain my back was shot. I replaced the tires with pneumatic tires and the ride is 100% better.
@@TotallyNormal- yeah, I had an extra set of rims that I put the foam filled tires on so I keep a “spare” in both cars… I have an F3 that I got 2020, do you think if I put a set of shocks from an F5 that would improve ride?
f5 shocks will help.. ALSO the aggressive tread tires have a much softer compound filling them.. makes for a better ride as well. i got my F3 shipped with those installed :^)
There is an alternate shock mount location on the rear caster arm under the plastic. It appears to change the wheel travel to shock travel ratio about in half. Roughly from 1:1 to 2:1. Softening the effective spring rate. It lowers the static ride height about 1/2" at the casters. The shock goes under the rear tie down rather than over it. The clearance is close, but everything fits if you swap ends of the shock and add a little preload, except the cosmetic plastic caster arm covers don't go back on unless modified. It was easier to put the whole chair up on a 4x4" wood block and remove the rear shock and entire caster arm prior to removing the plastic covers.
If you take those shocks off for some reason I would swap the spanner type adjuster for the newer ones with black holes. I think the pitch of the shocks look the same. Fender gaps, why not use some Lowes' or Home Depot foam door seal to fill it? you know the kind that has tape on one edge.
I just drove around again on my old F5, compared to my new f3. I can definitely say f5 is a much better ride. A rock feels like driving over floor to carpet transition, the opposite is true for f3 shocks. Will all f5 shocks fit f3?
Hi I was curious if you ever messed with any amy-systems chairs? I have an r3-all track I want to modify to do better in the grass and a battery or generator upgrade since I run it dead almost daily, dead to the point some days I'm afraid I won't get up my ramp, lol. Great channel good to see someone else with a curious and creative mind.
this video shows the process :^) ua-cam.com/video/sa0kdiGgPao/v-deo.html turns out the same tires fit directly onto the 2017 versions of the F3! haven't tried it on the newer chairs though
I just noticed that your USB power module is installed on the side rail but on my 2021 M3 I have a mounted on the underside of my armrest where I have my ram mount cell phone connected and then I just bought a small USB a to USB lightning cable and that’s how I charge my phones but just interesting method that you have a mounted on your side rail but I have mine mounted on the underside of my arm rest questions
ive got different arm rests on my chair, they're a lot narrower and don't have the rails. that was the easiest spot to put the charger, and be able to reach it when needed :^)
What’s up Mr. Wheelchair wizard. I appreciate your videos. Anyway long story short I was looking to purchase a wheelchair because I hate My Permobil F3 that get stuck on speed bumps but anyway so right I tried the Invacare of Aviva the suspension was totally crap literally on a 1 1/2 inch sidewalk. I am super small I am 4 feet 11 and I wanted to know if you have any recommendations for a very narrow wheelchair with suspension that at least goes 8 mph
Hello, I recently got a new f5, and the turning speed, take off speed, ECT. Are all pitiful. I was wondering if you might know where a guy could get one of those "Dongles" (RNET control programmer) from? Have you ever made those types of changes to a permobil? can it be done without the programmer? Grate videos you put out there. I came across one of your videos when trying to find out more about my new chair. (glad I did) you are a excellent teacher, thank you for sharing your know-how. 1 more quick question, are the c300, c500, f3, and f5 all the same tire and rim size? thanks again. Frank
the older permobils use 4 wheel bolts, and the newer ones typically use 3.. but they're all the same size tires as for the USB Dongle - theyre around on ebay occasionally.. but not cheap. if ya just got the chair though, i'd talk to the dealer / DME and get them to make the adjustments. the stock programming is unusable IMO lol but part of getting a new chair, is them getting things adjusted and setup correctly for ya! :^)
i filmed a few pointers on how to mount just about anything to the side-rails, or other places on the chair.. should be in a video soon :^) it would be nice though to have some stuff that's ACTUALLY rail compatible to use!
@@TotallyNormal- checkout quokkabag.com/shop/ that’s what I use mounted to a thigh pad mount to attach to the Unitrack. I think I sent you photos of my mount a while back. Can send again if you want.
I have a permobile c350 with 2 year old batteries I took them out and fully charged both to even them up back was lower put them in raised and lowered seat almost dead I think there is a short, because when hooking up batteries if you touch frame on neg.terminal it sparks. I need to know how to trace short? Any advice will be welcome. Thanks Butch
power chairs are completely isolated.. the battery terminals should NEVER come in contact with the chassis of the chair! that can very quickly fry control modules and other electronics in the chair! after charging the batteries individually, was the voltage close to the same on both batteries? usually one battery goes bad before the other, and will have a lower voltage
@@TotallyNormal- both batteries were same don’t remember exact but was like 12.8 somewhere in this ballpark. I though since totally isolated should not have any voltage to frame to make contact? Should I see if there is a volt reading or continuity. Where should I go from here?
connecting battery ground to the chassis will fry things - if it hasn't already.. (even though the modules are isolated, voltage can still find a path to places it shouldn't be) id make sure the batteries are known good - 2 years is typically the service life for the average wheelchair battery in a lot of cases. batteries aren't cheap - but they are the one thing that has to be 'known good' to diagnose other problems.. what was the original reason for taking them out and charging up individually?
@@TotallyNormal- I took them out because when I powered the seat up and down the charge light would go from full green to red thought they might be out of balance. I am not going to ground anything but when tightening the neg. Post wrench accidentally touched the chassis and sparked. Thought that should not be hot .l plan to load test battery’s. And see where to go from there. Just thought it might have short since the chassis had to be hot since the neg.sparked I thought the chassis was isolated it should not be hot. Thanks Butch
I'm waiting for the dme to get the parts, then my entire shocks & suspension system is being swapped out, I'm still on the original set, even with over 5595km, in just under 3yrs.
I have been trying to go through all of your vlogs to see which chair you like best. I think it's an F3. my tech that came out s trying to get me to choose a Quantum 4front, because I'm outdoors terrain is rough. so what do you prefer? Thank you.
hey! my daily chair is an F3.. works great for me! i had a 4front about 2 years ago.. but didn't have a good experience with it at all.. kept needing repairs and constantly had errors on the joystick.. maybe they've fixed some things in the new version by now...? personally im not a fan of Quantum.. but there are people out there that like them :^)
I do love my F3 way better than my m300 because the suspension now if I can get me 4 new shocks it will be like a Cadillac. Yet I think every chair should fit the needs of the user but idk love to research product before Inake my order because It’s a part of my body and it has to last me but that’s just my view point. I highly recommend the F3 if it has features to fit your needs.
Thankfully you cleaned off the dirt! It was bothering me into you did. I don't think there is anything in the shocks. I think it's just a container and it's completely spring operated. My opinion anyway…
So sorry I’ve been out of conta with you and the community for some time . Interesting that since I got my new F3 I’ve had a Squeek that wa bugging me really bad like make my skin crawl because it’s brand new and it should be quite not making bad squeek sound every time I go over a bump or slightly do weight shift. After 8 months of pull my hair out I finally found the offending squeek that I suspected it to be the set connection rubbing metal to metal making that classic rrrraaatttt Rrriiiaaattt like fingernails on chalk board to this person and without any more long winded bad grammar for the grammar police . The offending sound was a over tightened suspension bolt for my shock to the rear link arm of course only one link arm on the F3. So I’ll make sure when I upgrade to the better shocks from some guy selling them under his trench coat I’ll make sure it’s not over torque so I don’t have to live with that annoying sound I got from Permobil factory and I don’t trust the DME to touch my body so for community for new 2021 F3 squeek from small movements and bumps check the rear shock bolts for being over tightened!! Take care everyone I hope the framer police don’t fine me to much.it’s all in good purpose especially when deal with annoying sounds that drive you up a wall no pun intended.
WOW yeah you would think companies would think how NOT to get dirt into places! Why not just make it one piece? lol So dumb! Its like they dont ask wheelchair uses and wheelchair techs to looking at it saying nope not gonna work!
I just drove around again on my old F5, compared to my new f3. I can definitely say f5 is a much better ride. A rock feels like driving over floor to carpet transition, the opposite is true for f3 shocks. Will all f5 shocks fit f3?
BEFORE BUYING SHOCKS: there are some black plastic bushings that MUST to be present for this to work!! more info here - - - brokenwheelchairs.com/page-24/
Never bored watching your video’s bruv! Learned so much from you over the years.. keep up the bad work Dan 🤘🏻
Oh by the way thank you for everything you do and teach on your channel
I got my F3 about 2-3 years ago, it came with the roam filled tires. After a day of riding over uneven terrain my back was shot. I replaced the tires with pneumatic tires and the ride is 100% better.
agreed! air-filled tires do provide a much better ride quality! just gotta deal with flats is the only downside :^/
@@TotallyNormal- yeah, I had an extra set of rims that I put the foam filled tires on so I keep a “spare” in both cars… I have an F3 that I got 2020, do you think if I put a set of shocks from an F5 that would improve ride?
f5 shocks will help.. ALSO the aggressive tread tires have a much softer compound filling them.. makes for a better ride as well. i got my F3 shipped with those installed :^)
Id love to try that power soccer. I used to play soccer when I was younger but I'm in a wheelchair now.
There is an alternate shock mount location on the rear caster arm under the plastic. It appears to change the wheel travel to shock travel ratio about in half. Roughly from 1:1 to 2:1. Softening the effective spring rate. It lowers the static ride height about 1/2" at the casters. The shock goes under the rear tie down rather than over it. The clearance is close, but everything fits if you swap ends of the shock and add a little preload, except the cosmetic plastic caster arm covers don't go back on unless modified. It was easier to put the whole chair up on a 4x4" wood block and remove the rear shock and entire caster arm prior to removing the plastic covers.
Nice mod! Does look like the fender cutout was designed for your replacement.
Sweet mod Dan!
If you take those shocks off for some reason I would swap the spanner type adjuster for the newer ones with black holes. I think the pitch of the shocks look the same.
Fender gaps, why not use some Lowes' or Home Depot foam door seal to fill it? you know the kind that has tape on one edge.
I read this comment after installing right shock but before left shock. Can confirm the F3 adjusters fit the C500 shocks.
I just drove around again on my old F5, compared to my new f3. I can definitely say f5 is a much better ride. A rock feels like driving over floor to carpet transition, the opposite is true for f3 shocks. Will all f5 shocks fit f3?
Hi I was curious if you ever messed with any amy-systems chairs? I have an r3-all track I want to modify to do better in the grass and a battery or generator upgrade since I run it dead almost daily, dead to the point some days I'm afraid I won't get up my ramp, lol. Great channel good to see someone else with a curious and creative mind.
How to put 3.50 tires like on steampunk chair? I know they're little taller. How to offset fenders? Knobby tires would be wild.
this video shows the process :^)
ua-cam.com/video/sa0kdiGgPao/v-deo.html
turns out the same tires fit directly onto the 2017 versions of the F3! haven't tried it on the newer chairs though
Hey Dan where get tool from for Power Wheelchair
I just noticed that your USB power module is installed on the side rail but on my 2021 M3 I have a mounted on the underside of my armrest where I have my ram mount cell phone connected and then I just bought a small USB a to USB lightning cable and that’s how I charge my phones but just interesting method that you have a mounted on your side rail but I have mine mounted on the underside of my arm rest questions
ive got different arm rests on my chair, they're a lot narrower and don't have the rails. that was the easiest spot to put the charger, and be able to reach it when needed :^)
What’s up Mr. Wheelchair wizard. I appreciate your videos. Anyway long story short I was looking to purchase a wheelchair because I hate My Permobil F3 that get stuck on speed bumps but anyway so right I tried the Invacare of Aviva the suspension was totally crap literally on a 1 1/2 inch sidewalk. I am super small I am 4 feet 11 and I wanted to know if you have any recommendations for a very narrow wheelchair with suspension that at least goes 8 mph
Hello, I recently got a new f5, and the turning speed, take off speed, ECT. Are all pitiful. I was wondering if you might know where a guy could get one of those "Dongles" (RNET control programmer) from? Have you ever made those types of changes to a permobil? can it be done without the programmer? Grate videos you put out there. I came across one of your videos when trying to find out more about my new chair. (glad I did) you are a excellent teacher, thank you for sharing your know-how. 1 more quick question, are the c300, c500, f3, and f5 all the same tire and rim size? thanks again. Frank
the older permobils use 4 wheel bolts, and the newer ones typically use 3.. but they're all the same size tires
as for the USB Dongle - theyre around on ebay occasionally.. but not cheap. if ya just got the chair though, i'd talk to the dealer / DME and get them to make the adjustments. the stock programming is unusable IMO lol but part of getting a new chair, is them getting things adjusted and setup correctly for ya! :^)
Do know how long these shocks are? Would some atv/bike shocks fit on the f3?
I have a friend who tried to put ATV shocks, on his 2021 FEW, to epic fail.
oh.. i guess i should have measured them at some point! hmmm ill do that, then post measurements in description :^)
F3 shocks 155mm center to center full extended, 123mm fully compressed 12mm bushing ID, 14mm shock eye diameter and width.
Where did you get that side pouch? Is it mounted to the Unitrack?
its a random thing from goodwill, and just zip-tied on :^)
@@TotallyNormal- LOL. I’m always interested in new side bags and that it was a new option. Thanks!
i filmed a few pointers on how to mount just about anything to the side-rails, or other places on the chair.. should be in a video soon :^)
it would be nice though to have some stuff that's ACTUALLY rail compatible to use!
@@TotallyNormal- checkout quokkabag.com/shop/ that’s what I use mounted to a thigh pad mount to attach to the Unitrack. I think I sent you photos of my mount a while back. Can send again if you want.
@@davey52876 I do that with my tool kit
I have a permobile c350 with 2 year old batteries I took them out and fully charged both to even them up back was lower put them in raised and lowered seat almost dead I think there is a short, because when hooking up batteries if you touch frame on neg.terminal it sparks. I need to know how to trace short? Any advice will be welcome. Thanks Butch
power chairs are completely isolated.. the battery terminals should NEVER come in contact with the chassis of the chair! that can very quickly fry control modules and other electronics in the chair! after charging the batteries individually, was the voltage close to the same on both batteries? usually one battery goes bad before the other, and will have a lower voltage
@@TotallyNormal- both batteries were same don’t remember exact but was like 12.8 somewhere in this ballpark. I though since totally isolated should not have any voltage to frame to make contact? Should I see if there is a volt reading or continuity. Where should I go from here?
@@TotallyNormal- I have a 2000 amp load tester should I see if battery should pass load test,also have a 100 amp tester if 2000 is to much.
connecting battery ground to the chassis will fry things - if it hasn't already..
(even though the modules are isolated, voltage can still find a path to places it shouldn't be)
id make sure the batteries are known good - 2 years is typically the service life for the average wheelchair battery in a lot of cases.
batteries aren't cheap - but they are the one thing that has to be 'known good' to diagnose other problems..
what was the original reason for taking them out and charging up individually?
@@TotallyNormal- I took them out because when I powered the seat up and down the charge light would go from full green to red thought they might be out of balance. I am not going to ground anything but when tightening the neg. Post wrench accidentally touched the chassis and sparked. Thought that should not be hot .l plan to load test battery’s. And see where to go from there. Just thought it might have short since the chassis had to be hot since the neg.sparked I thought the chassis was isolated it should not be hot. Thanks Butch
I'm waiting for the dme to get the parts, then my entire shocks & suspension system is being swapped out, I'm still on the original set, even with over 5595km, in just under 3yrs.
I would run a bead of black hot glue in the groove to stop dirt from getting in between the plastic pieces Just a idea
3d Carbon Fiber Custom Fenders 👍
I have been trying to go through all of your vlogs to see which chair you like best. I think it's an F3. my tech that came out s trying to get me to choose a Quantum 4front, because I'm outdoors terrain is rough. so what do you prefer? Thank you.
hey! my daily chair is an F3.. works great for me! i had a 4front about 2 years ago.. but didn't have a good experience with it at all.. kept needing repairs and constantly had errors on the joystick.. maybe they've fixed some things in the new version by now...? personally im not a fan of Quantum.. but there are people out there that like them :^)
I do love my F3 way better than my m300 because the suspension now if I can get me 4 new shocks it will be like a Cadillac. Yet I think every chair should fit the needs of the user but idk love to research product before Inake my order because It’s a part of my body and it has to last me but that’s just my view point. I highly recommend the F3 if it has features to fit your needs.
😁😍😁
could always cover it with some black electrical tape
Thankfully you cleaned off the dirt! It was bothering me into you did. I don't think there is anything in the shocks. I think it's just a container and it's completely spring operated. My opinion anyway…
Hi
So sorry I’ve been out of conta with you and the community for some time . Interesting that since I got my new F3 I’ve had a Squeek that wa bugging me really bad like make my skin crawl because it’s brand new and it should be quite not making bad squeek sound every time I go over a bump or slightly do weight shift. After 8 months of pull my hair out I finally found the offending squeek that I suspected it to be the set connection rubbing metal to metal making that classic rrrraaatttt Rrriiiaaattt like fingernails on chalk board to this person and without any more long winded bad grammar for the grammar police . The offending sound was a over tightened suspension bolt for my shock to the rear link arm of course only one link arm on the F3. So I’ll make sure when I upgrade to the better shocks from some guy selling them under his trench coat I’ll make sure it’s not over torque so I don’t have to live with that annoying sound I got from Permobil factory and I don’t trust the DME to touch my body so for community for new 2021 F3 squeek from small movements and bumps check the rear shock bolts for being over tightened!! Take care everyone I hope the framer police don’t fine me to much.it’s all in good purpose especially when deal with annoying sounds that drive you up a wall no pun intended.
they look like mountain bike shocks
WOW yeah you would think companies would think how NOT to get dirt into places! Why not just make it one piece? lol So dumb! Its like they dont ask wheelchair uses and wheelchair techs to looking at it saying nope not gonna work!
I just drove around again on my old F5, compared to my new f3. I can definitely say f5 is a much better ride. A rock feels like driving over floor to carpet transition, the opposite is true for f3 shocks. Will all f5 shocks fit f3?