HOMEBREW

My Home-Built Power Wheelchair

By Marcus Brooks

Photograph by Marcus Brooks

ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO I ACCEPTED arthritic degeneration of my hucklebone (hips) as an excuse to build a power wheelchair. It’s a dangerous project that could injure or kill me if I’m not careful. Several components, from the joystick MPU to the rear casters, are used in ways forbidden by manufacturers’ fine print, so follow my example at your own risk!

The chair uses two 500W electric scooter motors to drive wheels meant for a go-kart. Tractor-lug wheelbarrow tires would fit (and be awesome), but non-marking wheelchair tires are more politic. A jackshaft adapts ...

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