Mobility Scooter Maintenance in 5 Easy Steps

A mobility scooter is a big investment, both financially and for your independence. So, it needs to be properly maintained to ensure you get the best out of it.

Other than a regular service (which we will come back to later) there are a few things you can do to ensure your mobility scooter remains in tip-top condition.

To help you out, let’s run through our 5 easy ways to keep your mobility scooter in great shape.

Regular Cleaning

As you can imagine, regular use of your mobility scooter will, over time, cause a build-up of dirt and debris.

There is a simple fix for this though. After completing a journey, just pay a little attention and wipe it over as soon as possible. For those harder to reach areas you can use a grabber and cloth.

Don’t worry if you have no access to specialised cleaning products though – a bar of simple soap and a cloth will work fine.

It’s also important to avoid unnecessary moisture. Getting caught in the rain can be unavoidable, but there is a range of inexpensive waterproof equipment to protect you and your mobility scooter.

Warning, driving through puddles (while fun) when there is another route is unnecessary and may encourage rust to form on the underside. This could also flood the battery connections, causing damage.

Battery Maintenance

One of the most important aspects of your mobility scooter is the battery. Looking after this will keep it reliable, extend its lifespan, and improve performance – making sure you get maximum mileage from a single charge.

Aim to charge your battery for a minimum of 8-10 hours at a time or overnight is always a good option. Batteries have a regulator, so will not overcharge – clever little things, aren’t they?

Their performance during cold weather can also be affected and as you probably won’t be using your mobility scooter as much, it’s very important you still give the battery a regular charge. Too much inactivity will harm battery capacity.

So, keep it topped up and ready for action and, if possible, try to store the battery off the scooter at room temperature.

Keep an Eye on those Tyres

Mobility scooter tyres generally fall into two categories:

• Solid
• Pneumatic (air-filled)

Each set offers different benefits, but what they do have in common is wear & tear.

Just like you would on a car, keep an eye on the tyre tread and signs of a puncture (on air-filled or pneumatic tyres) and check that they don’t need inflating.

Running a mobility scooter or powerchair with underinflated tyres can damage them and make the battery work harder.

Not sure what tyres you have? Get in touch, one of our mobility professionals may be able to help.

Top Tip: Check your mobility scooter tyres regularly.

Comfortable Seating

You’re going to be spending a lot of time on your mobility scooter, so seating comfort is important.

Keep an eye out for any rips in the seat cushion and backrest. A seat that loses the foam inner can affect seating posture and if ripped may let in moisture.

Top Tip: Also check that the seat is still at the best height for you and that the tiller is at the right distance away.

Mobility Scooter Servicing

To make sure your hard work with all the above isn’t in vain, you should get a yearly mobility scooter service or one every 6 months where heavy use is involved.

During your mobility scooter service, a professional engineer will carry out a full check using the latest diagnostic machines to make sure everything is in safe working order.

They will also fully test the battery to ensure it’s working in optimum condition.

Once it has been given the ‘Okay,’ you can get on with planning more adventures.

Top Tip: An interim service is advised in November, especially if you are using it throughout winter and then again in spring for summer.

We hope you found these top tips for maintaining your mobility scooter helpful. This just general advice, however, always check the manufacturers manual first.

You can find more information on our comprehensive mobility scooter servicing here. Alternatively, please call 02392 255 600 to arrange a suitable time.