GRIT GRITJunior User manual

GRIT Junior
Assembly Guide &
User Manual
GRIT Freedom Chair Support | 617-356-8106 | [email protected]

Table of Contents
1 Safety Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1 How to Contact GRIT 4
1.2 Safety First 4
1.3 Intended Operator 5
2 Unboxing & Headset Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.1 Unboxing 7
2.2 Unpacking the Box 8
2.3 Attaching the Fork 9
3 Additional Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.1 Inserting the Axles 13
3.2 Attaching the Rear Wheels 14
3.3 Attaching the Seatback 16
3.4 Adjusting the Seatback 17
3.5 Attaching the Footrest 18
3.6 Fit and Seating 19
3.7 Attaching the Trail Handles 20
4 Disassembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1 Removing the Rear Wheels 23
4.2 Removing the Seatback 24
4.3 Transporting the GRIT Junior 25
5 Riding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.1 Safety 27
5.2 Pre-Ride Safety Checks 27
5.3 Safety When Riding 28
6 Using the Levers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.1 Inserting & Removing the Levers 31
6.2 Propulsion 34
6.3 Maximizing Your Speed and Leverage 35
6.4 Adjusting Your Levers 37
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7 GRIT Junior Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
7.1 Braking 40
7.2 Turning 42
7.3 Reversing 43
7.4 Parking Brakes 43
7.5 Transferring 44
8 Advanced Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8.1 Climbing Hills 46
8.2 Descending Slopes 46
8.3 Curbs 47
9 Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
9. 1 Caring For Your GRIT Junior 49
9.2 Handy Tools 49
10 Common Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
10.1 Inating the Wheels 52
10.2 Chain Tension Adjustment 52
10.3 Parking Brake Adjustment 52
10.4 Changing the Gear Ratio 52
11 Warranty Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
11.1 Design & Support 54
11.2 GRIT limited warranty 54
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1.1. How to Contact GRIT
Congratulations on your new, all-terrain GRIT Junior! This Assembly Guide &
User Manual is designed to help you assemble, ride, and maintain your GRIT Junior. It also
contains important safety information, so please read through this guide before riding.
The GRIT team will never be very far away. If you have questions, need assistance, want to brag to
us about a recent GRIT Junior adventure, or are looking for some information about an accessory
or resource, below are some ways you can reach us:
-Phone: [phone]
-Email: [e-mail]
-Chat Window: www.gogrit.us
- Support Form: www.gogrit.us/support/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/GRITFreedomChair
The GRIT oce is open Monday-Friday, 9AM-6PM EST.
1.2. Safety First
Riding the GRIT Junior requires some practice. It will likely take a few rides before young
riders feel comfortable with the motions. After that, they’ll be able to work on more technical
terrains and maneuvers, build up their strength, and incrementally increase their distance. We
hope that from day one onward, your young rider and family can have a great time with your
new chair.
This guide holds important safety information. Please read through it before starting your rst
ride.
Like with any mobility device, riding the GRIT Junior involves the risk of injury. By choosing
to ride the GRIT Junior, you assume responsibility for this risk, so it’s important for you to
practice safe riding. Safety information can be found in the following formats:
WARNING: Warnings indicate a potentially dangerous situation. Failure to heed these
warnings could result in serious injury or death. For example:
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WARNING: TIPPING IS POSSIBLE, especially when going uphill. One way to prevent
this is for the rider to ALTERNATE lever strokes during ascents, instead of pumping both
levers at the same time. Riders should always wear a helmet and ride with an adult who can spot
them from behind. Total independence in the GRIT Junior may come, but safety must be the
priority.
CAUTION: Cautions indicate a potentially hazardous situation. Failure to heed these
cautions could result in minor or moderate injury. Cautions also indicate unsafe practices and
conditions that may damage your GRIT Junior or void the warranty. For example:
CAUTION: Any fall can be dangerous. Always wear a helmet. Always be aware of your
surroundings. This manual does not cover every possible dangerous situation or improper use of the
GRIT Junior. You and the young rider are responsible for your own safety and accept all risks
associated with using the GRIT Junior.
1.3. Intended Operator
• In order to safely operate the GRIT Junior independently, certain levels of upper body
strength and control are required. Grip strength is required for braking and turning, but
adaptations can be made, such as using Active Hands gloves to pull the levers back for
braking and turning.
• It is your responsibility to determine if the GRIT Junior is right for you. If you are unsure,
consult with your physical therapist or medical advisors prior to riding the GRIT Junior.
• The GRIT Junior can be modied to accommodate riders of dierent shapes and sizes. If
your young rider isn’t comfortable in the chair you’ve received, contact GRIT and we’ll be
happy to help.
• The GRIT warranty covers only the original owner of the chair. Subsequent owners will
have access to the GRIT support team but will not be covered under the initial warranty.
• You can reach out to GRIT directly at [email protected] or 617-356-8106 to discuss what
modications and adjustments can be made to maximize your performance.
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2.1. Unboxing
Your GRIT Junior was hand-packed by our team in Massachusetts. It will arrive in multiple
boxes. Along with any accessories discussed with GRIT, your box contains these parts:
1. GRIT Junior Frame & Seatpan
2. Seatback
3. Footplate
4. Fork & Front Wheel
5. Seat Cushion
6. Rear Wheels
7. GRIT Junior Levers & Axles
8. Trail Handles
9. Footplate Stem Clamp
Depending on the model you have, your parts may look slightly different than the above photo. If you’d like
to confirm the components you received, call GRIT at 617-356-8106.
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2.2. Unpacking the Box
Save the box! The original packaging is used for returns under the GRIT Guarantee. We hope
you love your GRIT Junior, keep it, and end up recycling the box, but it’s helpful to save the
box during the rst 30-day period.
Step 1: Remove the wheels, seatback, levers, footplate, front wheel, and cushion from the box.
Step 2: To remove the main GRIT Junior frame, lift it up to reveal the footplate clamp, which
will be securing one of the cardboard inserts. Remove the clamp by loosening the clamp and
pulling it away from the chair (try twisting it to free it). Remove the cardboard insert and
reattach the clamp. Note: The clamp has a lip on it, so it can only be put on the tube in one
orientation.
Please use the following images to complete these rst 2 steps:
a) The frame is attached to the
bottom of the box.
b) Lift the frame to expose the clamp
holding it in place.
c) Slide o the clamp to free
the frame.
d) Orient the clamp so that the lip
is at the bottom.
e) Slide the clamp onto the frame.
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2.3. Attaching the Fork
Video instructions are available online at https://www.gogrit.us/freedom-chair-support#forkinstall
To attach the fork, you will need the 5mm Allen key provided with your GRIT Junior.
Call us at [phone] or email us at [email protected] with any questions about the following
steps. Written-out instructions immediately below, but refer to the following two pages for
photos that will help!
1. Remove the front wheel components from their plastic baggie and match them to
the photo on the following page (for easy identication, place the parts right onto
the photo).
2. Slide one of the two bearings onto the fork, curved (chamfer) side up.
3. Insert the fork through the headset tube at the front of the chair.
4. Slide the second bearing, curved (chamfer) side down, over the fork tube.
5. Slide the compression ring, cone side down, over the fork tube and push it down
until it contacts the bearing.
6. Slide the bearing cover, at side down, over the fork tube.
7. Separately, on a at surface, put the top cap (cone side down) on top of the
spacer.
8. Put the split washer (either side up) into the hole in the top cap.
9. Insert the screw through the top cap and the split washer. Grab this whole
assembly and put it over the fork. Thread the screw into the fork.
10.Tighten the screw until you start to feel some resistance when rotating the fork.
The fork should rotate 360 degrees without much resistance. The screw should be
ush with the top cap.
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Note: Components of the fork assembly, shown individually for identification purpose.
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3.1. Inserting the Axles
All GRIT Junior wheels ship without the rear-wheel axles inserted. Inserting the axles through
the wheels is easy, and only needs to be done when you’re setting up your chair.
Our wheels come with black caps, which ensure proper spacing. Look at the below images for
reference.
Note: Right side images show proper black caps. The coupling can be seen in the lower images.
Once you conrm the black caps are secure, insert the axles into the rear wheels!
First, slide the axle into the hub from the side opposite the stainless-steel coupling (the
coupling is the wide, silver ring). You’ll have to press the button at the end of the axle to push it
through the hub. Make sure that the black hub caps do not fall o. There should be a black cap
on both sides of the hub. If the caps fall o, simply press them back on. That’s it!
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3.2. Attaching the Rear Wheels
Once the axles are inserted through the rear wheels, attach the rear wheels! Follow the process below.
Note: The side of the wheel with the wide, silver ring (coupling) connects to the chair.
a) Press the quick-release button on the axle inward. b) Align the axles with the axle receiver.
c) Align the grooves on the coupling and insert the
axle.
d) Ensure the push-button on the axle is out and the
coupling is fully attached.
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WARNING: ALWAYS ENSURE THE AXLE BUTTON IS POPPED OUT AND THE
COUPLING REACHES THE FREEWHEEL. Riding the GRIT Junior without the wheels fully
attached could cause a wheel to fall o the chair, causing a crash and fall and may result in serious injury
or death.
Note: If the push-button is depressed and the coupling does not reach the freewheel, the chair is not
safe to ride.
Note: By design, the spacing will be slightly dierentbetween the coupling and the
freewheel on the right and left sides of the chair. This is okay! If unsure about the connection,
try pulling the wheel o to check whether it is correctly locked in place.
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3.3. Attaching the Seatback
The seatback slides into the seat and is secured with bike seat clamps. Slowly insert both
sides of the seatback at the same timeto prevent it from jamming.
CAUTION: Make sure the seatback is fully inserted and the clamps are securely fastened.
Riding the GRIT Junior without fully inserting and locking the seatback could cause damage
to the seat, and may cause risk of injury.
a) Slide the seatback into the receiving sockets on
the back of the seat. Keep the seatback level while
you slowly insert it into the sockets.
c) Fasten the clamps on both sides to secure the
seatback in position.
b) Push the seatback down on both sides to lower it
farther into the sockets.
d) Displayed here is the GRIT Junior seatback after
installation.
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3.4 Adjusting the Seatback
The GRIT Junior seatback can be adjusted both forward-backward and left-right. To make
these adjustments, use a 5mm Allen key to loosen the four bolts at the rear of the seatback (see
below), then slide the seatback forward, backward, left, or right, as desired. Then, retighten
those four bolts.
a) Start on one side of the seatback. Locate the two bolts
at the rear of the seatback clamp, stacked vertically.
b) Loosen the two bolts with your 4mm Allen key. Repeat
on the other side of the seatback. Slide the seatback along the
seatback channels to your desired position. Tighten the
bolts.
If the Seatback Becomes Stuck
Sometimes, the seatback can be hard to insert or remove. This happens when the seatback
tubes are not pushed into the seat simultaneously, if the canes on the seatback are bent, or if
the receiving sockets are misaligned or bent.
To release a jammed seatback: Tap one side of the seatback with the base of your hand
upward or downward. If this is a continuing issue, please contact GRIT at [email protected]
and we will assist.
If your seatback doesn’t insert or align with the receiving sockets: Check for damage to
the top of the seatpan, the canes, and the receiving sockets themselves. Call GRIT at
617-356-8106 or email [email protected] immediately.
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3.5. Attaching the Footrest
The footrest attaches to the GRIT Junior using the same clamp used on bicycle seats. The footrest tube
is inserted into the chair and then the clamp lever is used to lock the tube in place. The tightness of the
clamp can be adjusted with the adjustment nut opposite the clamp lever. See the following page for
photos that will help with attaching the footrest.
CAUTION: If the footrest is loose or sways side to side, the clamp is not tight enough.
The adjustment nut controls the tightness of the clamp. Pull the lever outward to open the clamp so
the footrest can be inserted and removed. Push the lever inward to close the clamp so the footrest is
held in place.
a) Ensure the footrest clamp is open and loose enough
for the footrest to slide in easily.
b) Insert the footrest tube with the footrest facing
forward.
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c) Slide the footrest tube into the frame until it is at an
appropriate height.
d) Lock the clamp in place by pressing the lever down
against the footrest tube.
3.6. Fit and Seating
• Seatbelt
The GRIT Junior ships with a seatbelt included and attached to the seatpan. It may be tucked beneath
the seat cushion. We recommend riding with a seatbelt.
• Foot Straps
The footrest plate has slots to add your own foot straps. You may use these to secure your young rider’s
feet into the footrest. GRIT also has straps available for purchase.
• Leg Straps
Leg straps may be used to hold your young rider’s legs together, which can improve clearance for their
lever strokes. We recommend Neoprene straps, though Velcro also works well.
• Strap-Mounting Holes
The sides of the GRIT Junior seatpan have pre-drilled holes. These holes may be used to add additional
straps.
• A Note On Cushions
- The GRIT Junior ships with a wheelchair-style comfort cushion. The cushion is not a
pressure-relief cushion. Some riders choose to add their own cushions; please consult
with your physical or occupational therapist to see if this cushion is appropriate for you.
- All GRIT Junior models have a 12-inch seat depth. Velcro may be applied to the seatpan
to appropriately secure a third-party cushion.
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