Rio Mobility Firefly 2.5 User manual

Electric Wheelchair Attachment
FireflyTM 2.5 User Manual
Ver 1.4.4 04/11/2023
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.riomobility.com

IMPORTANT!
Consult with your health care professional to determine if the FireflyTM2.5 is
appropriate for you.
FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN YOUR WHEELCHAIR USER MANUAL.
DO NOT OPERATE THIS EQUIPMENT WITHOUT FIRST READING AND
UNDERSTANDING THIS MANUAL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT INITIAL
SETUP OF THIS HANDCYCLE BE PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED
TECHNICIAN, SUCH AS A WHEELCHAIR OR BICYCLE MECHANIC. TO
OPTIMIZE SETUP IT IS SUGGESTED THE CUSTOMER BE SEATED IN
THE WHEELCHAIR DURING INITIAL INSTALLATION.
AS WITH ANY THREE-WHEELED VEHICLE, SIDE-TO-SIDE STABILITY
IS DECREASED COMPARED TO A WHEELCHAIR ALONE, SO USE
CAUTION WHEN TURNING.
The FireflyTM 2.5 is intended for general recreational use only and is not
intended as an exclusive means of mobility nor is intended for use in
competition. The operation of an electric wheelchair attachment
involves a certain level of risk and the potential for serious bodily injury.
Follow local vehicle and wheelchair regulations.
Keep fingers and hands away from moving parts of the FireflyTM 2.5.
Children and young adults under the age of 18 years should not be left
unattended while using the FireflyTM 2.5.
Do not carry anything that obstructs your view ahead or interferes with the
operation of the controls on the handlebar.
Do not carry any additional weight on the frame (objects or people).
RIO MOBILITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY
DUE TO MISUSE OF YOUR WHEELCHAIR ATTACHMENT.
1. Wheelchair Requirements

1. Wheelchair Requirements
The FireflyTM 2.5 fits most wheelchairs, but our mounting clamps will not fit onto some wheelchairs.
Consider these five items to determine whether your wheelchair is compatible with the FireflyTM 2.5:
1) Seat width: Must be between 9 and 23 inches (23 to 58 cm).
(measured center-to-center between the vertical tubes where the mounting clamps are installed)
2) Tube diameter: Currently supported wheelchair tube diameters are:
(measured where the mounting clamps are installed)
•7/8 inch (22.2 mm)
•1 inch (25.4 mm)
•1.125 inches (28.6 mm)
•1.2 inches (30.5 mm)
•1.25 inches (31.8 mm)
3) Tube clearance: To attach the mounting clamps, 1.25 inches (32 mm) of vertical clearance along the
wheelchair tube is needed. Two inches of clearance extending horizontally both outward to the sides
and towards the rear of the wheelchair is also needed, from the point on the wheelchair tube where the
mounting clamps are installed. Diagrams of tube clearances are shown on the next page.
4) Tube angle: Ideally the wheelchair tubes should be vertical or close to vertical. Installation can be
done on tubes that taper as well, however, the larger the taper angle the more challenging it is to attach
and remove the FireflyTM 2.5 from the wheelchair. Diagrams on the next page show where the mounting
clamps on wheelchairs with tapering tube angles should be installed.
5) Footrests on folding chairs: Folding or removable footrests can interfere with our mounting clamps.
Diagrams on the next page show examples of wheelchairs with non-rigid footrests. Never mount our
clamps directly onto removable footrests as they were not designed to withstand such riding forces.
Anti-Tips
&
Seatbelts
When seated in the wheelchair, your center of gravity must be far enough
forward to make “wheelies” or tipping backwards difficult. IMPORTANT: If
the chair is set up such that “wheelies” are easy, it may be unstable while
attaching or removing the FireflyTM2.5. Anti-tips MUST be installed on
your wheelchair. A seat belt is also strongly recommended.
Wheel Locks
Wheelchairs must have wheel locks installed.
Weight
Combined wheelchair and user weight must be less than 130kg/280lb.
printable ruler - wrap around wheelchair tube to measure tube diameter

All our devices require 1.25 inches (32 mm) of vertical clearance on the wheelchair tubes where the
mounting clamps are installed. The mounting clamps should be installed about 2/3 of the distance from
the floor to the wheelchair seat. The mounting clamps also require two inches (50 mm) of horizontal
clearance from the wheelchair tubes extending outward away from the sides of the wheelchair and two
inches (50 mm) of horizontal clearance extending backward toward the rear of the wheelchair.
Compatibility Guide for Rigid Wheelchairs
Compatibility Guide for Folding Wheelchairs
Ideally the mounting clamps should be installed above where the folding or removable footrests attach.

2. Components of the FireflyTM 2.5
Visit our website for the FireflyTM 2.5 installation video: www.riomobility.com
Handlebar
Stem
Quick-release frame clamp
Locking headset
Coupler plate
Kickstand
x2
Quick-release
Crossbar clamp
Fender
Brake caliper
Frame
Motor/wheel
Disc/rotor
Light
Controller
Battery
Battery key lock
Battery on/off switch
Connector cover
Display wtih power button
Shims
Shims
Mounting clamp
Mounting clamp
Torque key with bits
Quick-release
Stem clamp
Pins
Pins

3. Installing the Firefly
Place foam blocks
Place the black foam blocks under the
wheelchair’s caster wheels while the
wheelchair’s parking brake is on. A wooden
block or stacks of hardcover books two inches in
height can be used in place of the foam blocks.
Installation must be done with the caster wheels
raised off the floor to provide safe clearance
while using the Firefly.
Install mounting clamps
The Firefly attaches to the wheelchair using two
mounting clamps installed onto the wheelchair’s
vertical tubes. Each clamp is secured using two
horizontal pins, onto which the Firefly attaches
using coupler plates. Attach the mounting
clamps onto the vertical tubes of the wheelchair
using the shims that provide the best fit
between the clamp and the wheelchair tube.
The clamps should be placed roughly 2/3 of the
distance up from the floor to the wheelchair
seat, on a straight section of tubing. Shims of
four different thicknesses are provided to
account for various diameter tubes, ranging from
7/8 in (22.2 mm) to 1.25 in (31.8 mm). The shims
must sit flush onto the wheelchair tubes, and
the clamps must sit flush onto the shims. Make sure the pins are facing outwards, away from the
wheelchair. The clamps must not obstruct the wheelchair’s parking brakes.
Level mounting clamps
Make sure the mounting clamps are level with each other by placing a long level on top of the two
clamps. If you don’t have a level that spans the distance between the two clamps, place a broom stick or
other rigid object on top of the two clamps, with a short level or mobile phone with a level app on top.

Align mounting clamps
Place a long level or other rigid object against the front surface of the two clamps. Rotate the mounting
clamps so that they sit flat against the flat surface of the level or rigid object. This ensures that the pins
of both mounting clamps extend exactly perpendicular away from the wheelchair.
Tighten mounting clamps
Tighten the mounting clamps evenly using the supplied torque T-handle with six-millimeter hex bit. Twist
the torque handle clockwise until you hear a “click” sound and feel the torque handle release pressure.
Make sure to use the torque handle to tighten all four mounting clamp bolts.
Adjust U-bar
Next adjust the U-bar with coupler plates to fit the wheelchair. The U-bar consists of five tubes which
can be slid and rotated relative to each other to change its width, length, and angle relative to the
wheelchair. For initial installation, the tightness of the clamps should be adjusted so that the tubes can
all rotate relative to each other but are also able to hold up their own weight. Not too tight, not too
loose. First rotate the coupler tubes so that the coupler plates are facing inwards towards the wheelchair
and the Firefly logo on the coupler tubes is facing up and outward away from the wheelchair.
The U-bar can be adjusted to fit on wheelchairs with tubes as little as 9 inches apart or as much as 23
inches apart (measured center-to-center between the tubes, where mounting clamps are installed). To
adjust the U-bar to fit wheelchairs with tubes less than 15 inches apart, flip the L-tubes around. To do
this, remove the coupler tube, pull the L-tube out, flip it around, and re-assemble. You can remove some
of the padding on the corners of the L-tubes to make the U-bar even narrower.
Install stem and handlebar
Next install the stem onto the Firefly frame. Pull open the frame’s quick-release clamp at the top of the
frame. Insert the stem with the bend facing away from the battery and push the quick-release clamp
closed. Position the middle of the handlebar into the stem's quick-release clamp. Insert the quick-release
screw, tighten the nut, and close the lever to secure the handlebar to the stem. Adjust the telescoping
stem using the frame’s quick-release clamp as needed for comfortable handlebar height.

Install Firefly frame
Open the quick-release crossbar clamp by rotating the red safety latch to the “up” position. Then open
the clamp (1), and attach the U-bar, with the U-bar fitting securely into the horizontal slots in the clamp
(2). Close the clamp, making sure both quick-release screws are tight. When the screws are properly
tightened, a strong but not excessive force from the palm of the hand is needed to close the clamp (3).
Make sure the U-bar is level by checking with a level placed on top of the L-tubes. You can also check
with a ruler that both sides of the U-bar are the same height off the ground. Use the supplied torque
handle and the 5 mm hex bit to tighten all 12 bolts on the 6 clamps on the U-bar. Twist the torque
handle clockwise until you hear a “click” sound and feel the torque handle release pressure.
Install kickstands
The FireflyTM 2.5 comes with two optional “kickstands” with small roller wheels, which support the
Firefly when removed from the wheelchair, and make attaching and removing the Firefly easier.
There are two ways to install the kickstands. The Firefly will be most stable when removed from the
wheelchair if the kickstands are installed with the bend facing rearward towards the wheelchair (A).
When installed this way, the kickstands may interfere with the caster wheels, and can instead be
installed with the bend facing forward away from the wheelchair (B). In either orientation, the kickstand
clamps must be placed next to the coupler tube clamps and not near the coupler plates that attach to
the mounting clamps (C). Using the 4mm hex wrench, tighten the four screws on the kickstand clamp.
Tighten the screws labeled 1 to 4, each a little at time, in the order as shown in (C). If the clamp pulls too
close on one side, loosen the screw that is pulling it close and tighten the remaining screws with more
tension. Finish by gently tightening the center set screw, labeled 5, with the 2mm hex wrench.

Attach FireflyTM 2.5 to wheelchair
First apply the wheelchair's wheel locks. Next
lock the Firefly's steering by twisting the
headset clockwise until the line on the bottom
of the headset turns red. A red line on the
bottom of the headset means the steering is
locked, convenient for installing and storing the
Firefly. A green line on the top of the headset
means the steering is unlocked.
With the Firefly's steering locked, lift it by the
handlebars, and gently position the rear hooks
of the coupler plates so that they contact the
rear pins of the mounting clamps (1). Push the
middle of the handlebar forward with one hand
until the caster wheels lift fully off the ground,
then use the other hand to rotate the coupler plate's locking lever forward to a horizontal and locked
position (2). Now switch hands to hold the handlebar forward with the opposite hand and rotate the
second coupler plate's locking lever forward to a horizontal and locked position (3). Check that the green
curved line is visible on the inner surface of each coupler plate, showing that the hooks on the coupler
plates are fully closed and secure on the pins of the mounting clamps. Unlock the steering by twisting it
counterclockwise until the line on the top of the headset turns green (4).

IMPORTANT! The locking levers must be fully closed and secure before the FireflyTM 2.5 can be safely
used. A curved green line appears on the inner surface of the coupler plate when it is fully closed and
locked onto the pins. Do not use the FireflyTM 2.5 if you cannot see this curved green line.
To remove the FireflyTM 2.5 from wheelchair
To remove the Firefly from the wheelchair, following the same procedure as attaching it to the
wheelchair but in reverse. First lock the steering by twisting the headset clockwise until the line on the
bottom of the headset turns red. Apply the wheelchair's wheel locks. Push the middle of the handlebar
forward with one hand, then pull one of the coupler plate's locking lever rearwards to the unlocked
position. Next push the middle of the handlebar forward with the opposite hand, maintaining enough
force to keep the caster wheels lifted off the ground, then pull the other coupler plate's locking lever
rearward to the unlocked position. Now gently lower the caster wheels to the ground by slowly reducing
pressure on the handlebar.