Pride Mobility Sidekick User Manual
Owners Manual
Exeter, PA
St. Catharines, ON
1-800-800-8586
www.pridemobility.com
SAFETY GUIDELINES
Read and follow all of the instructions in this manual before you attempt to operate your scooter for the first time.
If you are unable to understand any of this information or require additional assistance for set-up, contact your
local Pride Provider or call the Pride Tech Service Department at 1-800-800-8586.
The following symbols will be used throughout this Owners Manual to identify warnings and
cautions. It is very important for you to read and understand them completely.
WARNING! Failure to heed the warnings in this owners manual may result in personal
injury.
CAUTION! Failure to heed the cautions in this owners manual may result in damage to
your mobility vehicle.
Please be sure to fill out and return your warranty card. Also, notify us of any change of address so that we can
keep you apprised of important information about safety, new products, and new options that can increase your
ability to use and enjoy your scooter.
Your Sidekick:
Body Color _______________________________ Serial #
Purchase Date _____________________________ Options
Your authorized Pride Mobility Products Corporation provider:
Name___________________________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________________
Phone___________________________________________________________________________
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CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 5
II. SAFETY ......................................................................................................................................... 6
III. EMI/RFI .......................................................................................................................................... 9
IV. SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................... 11
V. DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................... 13
VI. BATTERIES AND CHARGING ............................................................................................ 17
VII. OPERATION ............................................................................................................................... 21
VIII. COMFORT ADJUSTMENTS................................................................................................ 23
IX. DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY ..................................................................................... 25
X. OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES................................................................................................. 28
XI. BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................................................. 29
XII. CARE AND MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................ 30
XIII. WARRANTY................................................................................................................................31
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COPYRIGHT
Pride cannot be held responsible for any damage or injury incurred due to improper or unsafe use of a Sidekick
Scooter. Nor can Pride be held responsible for any damage or injury incurred during or resulting from attempts to
follow the instructions and recommendations set forth in this owner's manual or in any of the instructions displayed
on or accompanying the product itself. If you do not feel capable of safely following any of the instructions and
recommendations pertaining to your Sidekick Scooter, please contact your authorized Pride provider.
INFMANU1003/REV E/JANUARY 2001
Copyright © 2000
Pride Mobility Products Corp.
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I. INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Pride Mobility Products Corporation (Pride). Congratulations on the purchase of your new Sidekick
Scooter. The Sidekick design combines the most advanced state-of-the-art components with modern, attractive
styling. We are certain that the design features and trouble-free operation of your new Sidekick Scooter will add
convenience to your daily living.
At Pride, your safety is important to us. Please read and follow all of the instructions in this manual before
you attempt to operate your Scooter for the first time. These instructions were produced for your benefit.
Your understanding of these instructions is essential for the safe operation of your new Sidekick.
This owners manual is compiled from the latest specifications and product information available at the time of
publication. We reserve the right to make changes as they become necessary. Any changes to our products may
cause slight variations between the illustrations and explanations in this manual and the product you purchased.
As an owner of a Pride product, you are invited to register your products warranty and enroll in the Pride Owners
Club. You may do so by filling out and returning your enclosed registration card or by visiting Prides web site at
www.pridemobility.com. As a registered member, each time you visit our site, you will have access to the most
interactive and honest educational venue available today for people with mobility needs, their families, and friends.
From the cover page of our site, click on the button that reads Owners Club, to enter a page dedicated to current
and potential Pride Product Owners. You will gain access to interviews, stories, recreation ideas, daily living tips,
product and funding information, and interactive message boards. On these message boards you are invited to
speak with other Pride customers as well as Pride representatives who are available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. You will receive a free gift simply for registering with the Pride Owners Club.
We want to hear your questions, comments, and suggestions about this manual. We would also like to hear about
the safety and reliability of your new Sidekick Scooter, as well as about the service you received from your Pride
provider. Also, notify us of any change of address, so we can keep you apprised of important information about
safety, new products, and new options that can increase your ability to use and enjoy your Sidekick Scooter.
Please feel free to write us at the address below:
Pride Mobility Products Corporation
Attn: Technical Service Department
182 Susquehanna Avenue
Exeter, PA 18643-2694
If you experience any problems with your Sidekick that you are not able to solve, or if you do not feel confident in
your ability to perform any of the instructions contained in this manual, please contact your local Pride provider.
Once you understand how to operate and take care of your Scooter, we are certain that it will give you years of
trouble-free service and enjoyment.
The Pride Team
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II. SAFETY
As you begin to use your Sidekick during your daily activities, you will encounter situations that, at first, may
require some practice to negotiate on your Sidekick scooter. Simply take your time as you operate your Sidekick
and you will soon be in full and confident control as you maneuver through doorways, on and off of elevators, up
and down ramps, and over moderate terrain.
DOORS
n Determine if the door opens toward or away from you.
n Use your hand to turn the knob or push the handle or push-bar.
n Drive your Sidekick gently and slowly forward to push the door open; or drive your Sidekick gently and slowly
backwards to pull the door open.
ELEVATORS
Modern elevators have a door-edge safety mechanism that, when pushed, reopens the elevator door(s).
n If you are in the doorway of an elevator when the door(s) begin to close, push on the rubber door edge or allow
the rubber door edge to contact the scooter and the door will reopen.
n Use care that pocketbooks, packages, or Sidekick accessories do not become caught in the elevator doors.
RAMPS AND OTHER INCLINES
More and more buildings have ramps with specified degrees of inclination. These ramps are designed for easy and
safe scooter access. Some ramps may have turning switchbacks that require good cornering skills on your Sidekick.
n Take wide swings with your Sidekicks front wheel around any tight corners. If you do that, the Sidekicks rear
wheels will follow a wide arc. Do not cut the corner short, and do not bump into or get hung up on any railing
corners.
n When driving down a ramp, keep the Sidekicks speed adjustment dial (see V. Description) set to the
tortoise (slowest speed setting) to ensure a safely controlled descent.
n Never drive your Sidekick across the side of a hill or diagonally up or down a hill, and do not stop, if possible,
while driving up or down an incline.
n Avoid sudden stops and starts.
Other inclines may be natural or, if man-made, not designed specifically for scooters. Figure 1 illustrates your
Sidekicks stability and its ability to climb grades under various weight loads and under controlled testing conditions.
150 lbs.
8˚
200 lbs.
6˚
250 lbs.
3˚
300 lbs.
2˚
SIDEKICK
FIGURE 1. MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED INCLINE ANGLE
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II. SAFETY
These tests were conducted with the Sidekicks seat in the highest position and adjusted backward on the seat
base to its farthest rearward position. Use this information as a guideline. Your Sidekicks ability to travel up
inclines is affected by your weight, your scooters speed, your angle of approach to the incline, and your scooter
setup.
n When you approach an incline, it is best to lean forward. See figures 2 and 3. This shifts the center of gravity of
you and your Sidekick toward the front of the scooter for improved stability.
WARNING! Do not exceed the incline guidelines or any other specifications presented
in this manual.
FIGURE 2. NORMAL DRIVING POSITION
FIGURE 3. INCREASED STABILITY DRIVING POSITION
DRIVING SURFACES
Your Sidekick was designed to provide optimum stability under normal driving conditions; dry, level surfaces
composed of concrete or asphalt. However, Pride recognizes that there will be times when you will operate your
Sidekick on surfaces other than concrete or asphalt. For that reason, we also designed your Sidekick to perform
admirably on packed soil, grass, and gravel.
n Feel free to use your Sidekick safely on lawns and in park areas.
n Avoid tall grass that can entangle the running gear.
n Packed soil and gravel, such as driveways or roads, present no problem for your Sidekick.
n Avoid loosely packed gravel and sand.
n If you feel unsure about a driving surface, avoid that surface.
n Do not operate your new Sidekick for the first time without completely reading and understanding this owners
manual.
n Do not carry passengers on your Sidekick.
n Do not leave the key in the switch when your Sidekick is unattended.
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II. SAFETY
n Make certain that the seat is locked into place and that the key is removed from the key switch before getting
on or off of your Sidekick. Make certain that the seat is in a locked position when you are operating your
Sidekick.
n Reduce your Sidekicks speed when you are operating it on uneven terrain and soft surfaces.
n Reduce your Sidekicks speed when you are driving it around a corner.
n Never drive your Sidekick across the side of a hill or diagonally up or down a hill, and do not stop, if possible,
while driving up or down an incline.
n Proceed with extreme caution as you approach the downgrade of a ramp or other incline and when driving near
a raised surface or unprotected ledges and drop offs (curbs, porches, stairs, etc.).
n Never remove your Sidekicks anti-tip wheels or modify the Sidekick in any way that is not authorized by
Pride.
n Use extreme caution when operating your Sidekick on busy streets and in parking lots or shopping malls and
never ride your Sidekick where you cannot safely and legally walk. Consult local municipal or state agencies
with regard to operating your Sidekick on public roadways.
n Do not operate your Sidekick while you are under the influence of alcohol.
n Check with your physician if you are taking any medications that may affect your ability to operate your Side-
kick safely.
n Keep your hands on the tiller and your feet on the floorboard when you are operating your Sidekick.
n Make certain that the tires are properly inflated (30 psi).
n Never use your Sidekick scooter as a seat in a moving vehicle.
n Make certain that the Sidekicks batteries are properly secured when you are transporting your scooter in
another vehicle.
n Disconnect your Sidekicks batteries if you will not be using the scooter for more than 48 hours.
n Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands after handling.
WARNING! Do not expose the electronics to any type of moisture at any time (rain, snow,
mist, or washing the scooter). Such exposure can damage the electronics. Never attempt
to ride a scooter that has been exposed to moisture until it has dried thoroughly.
WARNING! Do not operate or store the scooter where it may be exposed to inclement
weather conditions such as rain, snow, mist, and below-freezing temperatures (such as
storage on an outside car/van lift). Attempting to operate the scooter in such conditions
can damage the electronics and potentially result in loss of control.
WARNING! Do not operate a scooter in icy or slippery conditions or on salted surfaces
(i.e., walks or roads). Such use may result in an accident, personal injury, or adversely
affect the performance and/or safety of your scooter.
WARNING! Always protect batteries from freezing temperatures and never charge a frozen battery. This will damage the battery and may cause personal injury. Attempting to
charge a battery in freezing conditions does not prevent a battery from freezing.
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III. EMI/RFI
EMI/RFI WARNINGS
Laboratory tests performed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have shown that radio waves can cause
unintended motion of electric scooters. Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic energy (EM). When electromagnetic energy adversely affects the operation of an electrical device, that adverse effect is called Electromag-
netic Interference (EMI) or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).
EMI/RFI FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
The following FAQs summarize what you should know about EMI/RFI. Use this information to minimize the risk
that EMI/RFI will adversely affect your Sidekick.
Where do radio waves come from?
Radio waves are emitted from the antennas of cellular phones, mobile two-way radios (such as walkie-talkies and
CBs), radio stations, TV stations, amateur radio (HAM) transmitters, wireless computer links, microwave sources,
and paging transmitters. Radio waves are a form of EM. Because EM is more intense closer to transmitting
antennas (sources of emission), the EM fields from two-way radios are of special concern to electric scooter users.
If EMI/RFI affects my Sidekick, what kind of motion should I expect?
This is difficult to predict. The answer would depend on a number of factors:
n The strength of the radio waves.
n The construction of your particular Sidekick.
n The location of your Sidekick (whether it is on level ground or on an incline).
n Whether or not your Sidekick is in motion.
The motion of any electric scooter affected by EMI/RFI can be erratic. The scooter may come to a sudden stop or
move in an uncontrolled manner. Also, it is possible for EMI/RFI to release the brakes of an electric scooter. Some
intense EMI/RFI can even damage the control system components of an electric scooter.
Is there any way to know for certain whether or not radio waves are the cause of any unintended motion
of my Sidekick?
Unfortunately, EMI/RFI may be difficult to recognize, since the signals from radio sources are invisible and may be
intermittent. However, the FDA recommends that you report all incidents of unintended motion or unintended
brake release of your electric scooter to the scooters manufacturer and, if possible, determine whether or not
there was a radio wave source nearby at the time of the incident.
One precaution you can take against inadvertent motion of your Sidekick is to make certain that you or someone
else is not the cause of the unintended motion.
n Turn off your Sidekick by removing the key from the key switch when you are getting on or off of your Sidekick.
n Never leave the key in the key switch of an unattended Sidekick.
By following these steps, you greatly reduce the risk of you or anyone else inadvertently bumping the throttle
control levers and causing the Sidekick to move unintentionally.
Are all scooters susceptible EMI/RFI?
Each make and model of electric scooter differs in its ability to resist EMI/RFI. That is, each scooter has a
particular level of resistance to EMI/RFI. This resistance is measured in volts per meter (V/m). A higher resistance
level offers greater protection against EMI/RFI. In other words, an electric scooter with a high resistance level is
less likely to be affected by a strong radio source than is an electric scooter with a low resistance level.
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III. EMI/RFI
What is the FDA doing about the problem?
The FDA has written to electric scooter manufacturers and requested that those manufacturers test their new
models of scooters to be certain that they provide a reasonable degree of resistance against EMI/RFI. The FDA
has stated that all newly-manufactured models of electric scooters should have a resistance level of at least 20 V/
m. This resistance level provides a reasonable degree of protection against the common sources of EMI/RFI.
The FDA has also requested or recommended that:
n Electric scooter manufacturers clearly label new products with that products resistance level or state that the
resistance level is not known.
n The labeling or informational material supplied with new electric scooters must explain what the resistance level
means and warn users about the possibility of EMI/RFI and how to avoid it.
n Electric scooter manufacturers undertake an educational program to inform electric scooter users and their
caregivers about the problems associated with EMI/RFI and about the actions they can take to minimize the
risk of EMI/RFI.
n While there is no exact way to tell if your scooter is totally safe, an immunity level of 20 V/m (May 1994) is
generally achievable and useful. This product has been tested and passed at an immunity level of 20 V/m.
Adding accessories and components or modifying the unit may change the susceptibility to EMI/RFI.
What can I do to find out if my Sidekick is likely to be affected by EMI/RFI?
If you have had your Sidekick for some time and have not experienced any unintended motion, it is not likely that
you will have a problem in the future. However, it is always possible that EMI problems could arise if you are close
to a source of radio waves. Therefore, it is very important for you to be alert to this possibility. The Sidekick
scooter meets or exceeds a resistance level of at least 20 V/m.
What can I do to reduce the risk of my Sidekick being affected by EMI/RFI?
Here are some precautions you can take:
n Do not turn on or use hand-held personal communications devices, such as citizens band (CB) radios
and cellular phones, while your Sidekick is turned on.
n Be aware of nearby radio wave transmitters, such as radio or TV stations and hand-held or mobile two-way
radios. Try not to operate your Sidekick too close to those transmitters. For example, if you are on an electric
scooter with a resistance level of at least 20 V/m, you should remain at least three feet from a hand-held twoway radio and at least ten feet from a mobile two-way radio.
n Be aware that adding accessories and/or components, or modifying your Sidekick in any way, may change its
EMI/RFI resistance level and may make it more susceptible to interference from radio wave sources.
What should I do if my Sidekick moves unexpectedly?
If unintended motion or unintended brake release occurs, turn off your Sidekick (by removing the key) as soon as
it is safe to do so.
If my Sidekick moves unintentionally, where should I report the incident?
Call our headquarters at 1-800-800-8586 to report the incident.
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IV. SPECIFICATIONS
"
13.5
8
"
FIGURE 4. SIDEKICK DIMENSIONS
1"
14" - 16"
1.25
"
3.5
31.25
"
80˚
"
-
33.25
"
"
31
3 Wheel T urning Radius
"
17
14
23"- 32
"
22
3 Wheel Length
42
"
"
"
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