More Creaky Seat Solutions

More Creaky Seat solutions are available in this post: http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2013/10/fixing-creaky-seat.html 
--Elizabeth

From Sheron in the U.K.:

I too have had creaky seat syndrome .... it took a while to find exactly the source of the creak, partly because the noise resonates through the wooden seat making it difficult to pinpoint ...... but after a while & using a screwdriver against my ear it became obvious what it was.  The pillar underneath the seat (the one that slides & clamps into the top yoke fitting) had moved slightly & the top of it was rubbing against the metal bracket under the seat.
-  Just take the seat off & loosen the hex nut that clamps the pillar to the underside of the seat.
-  Extract the pillar, cut a small piece of rubber to match the internal circumference of the tube that the pillar slides into & slide it down the the tube.
-  Push the pillar back in to the tube, but don't let it go right to the end stop, then tighten the clamp as tight as is humanly possible.
The offending seat pillar takes the entire weight of the rider & over time will slip till it reaches the end of the tube, then it's metal against metal & will creak ..... unless the piece of rubber is in place to stop that happening.

If done properly it'll be a permanent fix.

As a footnote, I've always found silicone grease to be the best lubricant -- not much money & found in your local plumber store.

UPDATE:

Sheron says he used a standard thick rubber washer with 26mm OUTSIDE DIAMETER (that's a fraction over an inch) and they were an absolute perfect fit.

This is one place you could get them from:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M6-Rubber-Washers-Choose-from-13-different-sizes-/141091949368?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&var=&hash=item20d9bc4b38

I ordered from the same seller, but through the U.S. eBay site:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M6-Rubber-Washers-Choose-from-13-different-sizes-/141091949368?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&var=&hash=item20d9bc4b38

10/24/13 update: I've just noticed the eBay listing on my link has ended. The link below is good for 21-days (ends 15th November)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M6-Rubber-Washers-Choose-from-13-different-sizes-/141091949368?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&var=&hash=item20d9bc4b38

They're showing the 26mm Outside Diameter are out of stock.  No problem, the 25.5mm will do just as well.

From Peter in Australia:

I had the same trouble with noise coming from my seat on my TravelScoot about 2 years ago  It was terrible when I was in a small place like a lift. After a lot of searching I realized it was coming  from below the yoke. I cut some flat rubber the same size as the tube of the yolk, and then placed 2 pieces, one under each tube.

UPDATE:

Peter replied that the rubber he used was about 1/8" thick from an old motor car tire. He said you should be able to get some from a Motor tire repair shop, but any old thin rubber should be okay.

From the Heart

I recently received this email from Margaret.  Big welcomes to Margaret, and I know I'm not the only one looking forward to hearing about her adventures!

Hi Elizabeth,

I've read every post on your TravelScoot blog. Your blog has been so helpful to me. I know I've needed mobility help for several years as my ability to go out and enjoy excursions has decreased, but I always was reluctant. I too am I woman of size (and tall also) so I figured that any scooter small enough that I could load it in my car couldn't possibly carry my weight. And I was just plain stubborn, and a little embarrassed. When I read about your experiences as well those of the others on your blog I began to feel so hopeful! You have no idea what it means to me to read that others have had their lives returned to them by having a truly portable mobility scooter. The price is high for the TravelScoot, but so is the price of confinement in my house. Yesterday, I spoke with Tony and ordered my TravelScoot! I can't wait to have it, to do simple things like go to the mall...

Thanks you so much.

From the heart,

Margaret

Fixing a Creaky Seat

More creaky seat solutions are available in this post:
http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2013/10/more-creaky-seat-solutions.html
--Elizabeth

My friend Melissa has been having a problem with her seat creaking since she got her TravelScoot, and we've just never taken the time to diagnose the problem and fix it.  Last weekend we held a "scooter clinic" at our house to fix the problem, and I thought you'd enjoy reading about it.

These are my TravelScoots.  The previous design is on the left, and the new model is on the right.  (The fabric triangle isn't on the one on the right.)

This adds Melissa's TravelScoot to the lineup.  That's a Peterboro basket she uses, like Peggy recommended in this post: http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/search?q=peterboro 

Alan, my 'scooter wrangler', is trying to diagnose what is causing the creaking.  We couldn't tell exactly where the sound was coming from, but me, Melissa and Greg were all putting in our two cents on how to fix the problem.

The seat is off and Alan is lubricating various parts that might be contributing to the problem.  He uses LPS2 for lubrication.  Hardy Huber told me once that he uses vaseline but Alan's an audiophile and has the LPS2 for his audio equipment. It seems to work great on the scoot too.

This is Greg on the floor, trying to see if he can hear where the creaking is coming from.  So far the lubrication isn't working.

One of the things Alan tried was swapping out the metal parts on 2 seats, to see if the problem was the seat itself.  It wasn't.  

Here he is putting the correct metal part back on the correct seat.  

The solution for this problem ended up being that the clamp at the top of the yoke (that's the curved metal bar over the battery) needed to be loosened AND it needed lubrication.  After Alan did that we had a very quiet seat, and a very happy scooter owner!

Basket on Back

Can anyone help answer Fern's question?  I don't use the back basket, so I don't have personal experience with it.  Hopefully Mary Ray will have input too.  You can either post by writing a comment here, or by sending me an email, elizabeth@ifisher.com.  -- Elizabeth

From Fern:

Elizabeth,

Thanks for starting and keeping up the blog. That's how I found and fell in love with my Scoot.

I've had my basket on the front for years. It recently got hit and the bracket broke off. I either have to get it welded (or otherwise fixed) or put it on the back instead.  I see Mary Ray has hers on the back.

So...here's my question(s): Does it make it more difficult to get to the battery to remove it for charging with the basket there?  And does the basket swing around if it is only tied down in one spot?  If the answers are no and no, I may try it.

Again, thanks.

Fern

Cynthia at the State Fair

I wanted to share a photo of my latest adventure with my TravelScoot, the South Carolina State Fair.  Thanks to my Scoot we were able to see the entire fair without having to stop every time we saw a place to sit.  I even got to enjoy my once-a-year treat of a deep fried Snickers bar.

Now, I have a question - does anyone else's scooter creak and pop?  It makes me nervous when I'm riding it.  Is this normal?  I've checked it over and can't see anything that would cause this.

Cynthia in SC

Bob the Cat and Mary Ray's TravelScoot

Bob the Cat

From Mary Ray

This is Bob the Cat, whom I first saw in the window at Recycle Bookstore in Campbell, California (http://recyclebookstore.com/cats.html). I went in to greet him because, of course, I was missing my cat (Smudgie the Cat), who was bravely guarding the home territory while we were away. Bob came right over to me, nuzzed my proffered fingers, purred very loudly, and jumped onto my scoot in hopes of going for a spin. Turns out he has a habit of trying to hitch rides in strollers, too! Many thanks to you, Bob the Cat, for the much-needed kitty fix!  — in Campbell, CA.

This is also a good photo of a back basket.  It's attached with a yellow cable tie.

Have TravelScoot, Will Travel!

From Laurie:

I just wanted to share a photo of the license plate I have on my TravelScoot.   I just got back from a trip to South Africa and my scoot went with me on safari!