Answer To A Service Issue - Batteries - Check, or Replace

I hadn't intended to do anymore with this blog, after Rascal closed it's doors, I was just going to let it sit here for information to those who needed it. But, I've had a number of people contact me to ask about bad batteries. One guy has gone through several sets on a near new scooter which indicates some other problem. For that you need a competent service center, which if I understand, he hasn't found yet. They were few and far between, competent I mean, to begin with. Not like when I started in 1998-99, or even 5-6 yrs ago. As far as service is concerned, to a large degree a scooter is a scooter, and it doesn't have to be a Rascal service center, unless you're dealing with a proprietary part like the rear end, but even then if you're lucky enough to find a really good service center, they can probably fix, adapt, or make it work, especially the electronics.
But anyway to batteries. For this YOU DO NOT NEED A SERVICE CENTER.  I used to tell people who asked to stay away from Rascal replacement batteries, and some of the service centers I worked with did also, buying their batteries locally. First thing, if you're having problems and you have a 600 series, if it has the aero design plastic handlebar it's a 600 series, take off the seat, pull back on the handle you release to turn the seat, on the right side, and pull straight up. The seat should come right off, set it aside. Then remove the plastic cover over the batteries and set it aside. Buy or borrow a battery tester, you can get them at almost any auto parts store. Test your batteries (both) and write down the voltage. Then plug in and charge overnight if they need it. Use the tester and check them again. Use the load switch to put a momentary load on them and see if the voltage returns where it was or goes low. Do this a couple times. If it stays up, leave the plastic off, and replace the seat, and drive it. If it turns out to be bad batteries, or one, if one hold no charge and one is good, you can just replace the bad one. Although it's better to do both at the same time as a rule. You need the same size, deep cycle, 12v 33 Ah sealed batteries. If you find with higher amperage, that's better as the charge will last longer.
To remove take the seat back off, remove the plastic if not already off, undo the Velcro strap, pull out the red and black connectors, lift the batteries out. When putting them in and out make sure they're on their sides with the poles facing out to avoid shorting on the seat post. Push the rubber boots out of the way and undo the screws holding the wires to the posts, red to red and black to black when replacing, move the wires to the new batteries and replace the screws. Just put the batteries back as they were, connectors are red to red black to black also. You can do it yourself and save the labor as well as paying less for the batteries, or have your son, daughter, friend do it if you can't, it's simple. When buying check Sears, Battery Warehouse, Walmart or any place else that sells lawn tractor size, deep cycle batteries that are at least 12v 33ah, as I said higher amps is ok your batteries charge will last longer is all.
Hope this helps.

Lee Murray

Demo Scooter for Sale...Maybe???

When Rascal closed their doors, I'd just gotten my demos. I only used one, the 3 wheel model 306B, (new name for 600B),  to do the demo for the lead I'd gotten in January the second day I was here. I asked if I could buy this demo, thinking at one point I'd need it myself. I've been keeping it in my apt which is small, and I'm feeling better, so now I'm thinking it might be better to give someone who really needs it a good deal. I will be selling it as used, with no warranty. It's also important for the buyer to know that Rascal is out of business, so they will be responsible for repairs, but it's only been used for one demo, and I drive my laundry down the hallway to the other end of the building rather than carry it. Why carry if you can ride, right? Plus it's a comfortable seat.
For info, check my posts, leave a comment or email me, the address is in the heading of this blog. The color by the way is blue, not the more common red, it's a prettier color, I think.  I will not ship it, it must be picked up here, by the person needing it, so I can make sure it fits and train the person needing it in the correct use, maint., charging, etc., just as I did for almost 14 years with veterans getting one from the VA.

Lee Murray

Rascal Closes It's Doors

I got some unfortunate news last month. We had a conference call in which we were told by the owner of the company, Mike Flowers, that the company, due to some errors on his part, was closing it's doors, and would not be accepting new orders effective April 1. This took all of us by surprise to say the least because we all knew how good the Rascal is, and especially the fact that the new 600B is the safest scooter out there bar none. But for some reason he was apparently unable to convince the banks or lenders that we could continue providing the best and safest scooters to those that needed them. It's taken this long for me to post this bad news really because it's taken me this long to accept that it had happened. That it wasn't a mistake of some kind that would go away. It hasn't, so Goodbye Rascal, it was great knowing you and together we helped a LOT of people.
Lee Murray

Got Scooter Leads When In Calif. Not Even A Day

I've bored everyone enough talking about getting robbed in FULLERTON, CA and am sick of talking about it.

So let's talk about how I found my first two leads for scooters only having been in the state 18 hours or so. There was nothing special about it really, just keeping my ears open and hearing what I was told.

I called to rent a car and a guy came to my motel to pick me up so we could go back to their office and do the paperwoork.  As far as I knew he was nobody special, just a guy. We were chatting casually as we drove, and he asked what I did, just as he probably asks everybody. I said that I sell Rascal scooters to the VA hospitals. He started tellng me that his company is located near Disneyland and that a company down the street rents scooters to tourists, and that he sees them tip over going across the street frequently. I asked what they rent and he says Pride, and that he's been thinking about getting some Pride's also and renting them himself. At this point I find out that he's the owner of the rental company and that he might want as many as ten scooters to get started. So I spend the rest of the ride telling him about our brand new untippable 3 wheel front. That it's been tested and proven to be as stable as a 4 wheel, and that when it was rolled out to the VA's I took it to each of my VA's and as I showed it I told everybody that I had $20. that said they couldn't tip it over. I also told him that there are some big guys and gals there and some of them really tried but that NOBODY tipped over. One guy spun it in a circle as fast as it would go in the hallway, to the point that the tires slid on the waxed floor and he slammed a wall damaging the brand new drywall, but to his amazement he couldn't tip it, and he weighed upwards of 300 lbs or more. I gave him more examples and when we got tho the rental office, he gave me his card and private number and asked me to bring a demo in to show him as soon as possible. He also gave me the name and card of the company down the street that rents Pride. They're friends and he said they may also be interested as safety is a concern.

My point is that it wasn't difficult to get these leads, all I did was recognize a need and offer a solution. Which I'm sure all of us do every day. It just happened that we now have the best solution out there, and that's what I offered. Safety...

Lee Murray