Broken Connectors The two circular attachments on the main frame of the seat part of our bugaboo snapped when we were lifting it down some stairs. Is it possible to get replacement parts? Can we get it fixed? I am not sure whether the connectors are part of the entire frame or whether they can be disconnected and replaced. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance, Suhayla

Hi Laura

We would recommend you contact Bugaboo for assistance.

Bugaboo UK

Frame won't open with seat attached and the seat should not fit on a closed frame? The seat is the locking component for the frame. Someone has used brute force to get it like that and it'll take brute force to undo the damage. Get a can of silicon spray and lubricate the seat locks and turn stroller upside down to get some to run down inside the seat legs. Press both square seat release buttons inward (one side has a small safety lock you heed to side across before you push inward) and heave up! You cant do any more damage than what may have been done. Click here to see the correct way to set up your stroller.www.fixya.com/support/r9134331-assemble_frog_or_cameleon

Bugaboo only sell the harness with the seat frame as on this site www.babycare.nl/bugaboo-cameleon-seat-frame-p-2465.html not cheap!!! Mountain Buggy use the same clips and do sell them as parts shop.mountainbuggy.com/parts/pre-2010/swift/complete-harness this does require a local seamstress to fit.

The Cameleon base frame must be fully opened and the handle locked for the seat frame to fully engage on the posts and the white lock buttons click out to lock position. www,bugaboo.com/userguides has manuals with pictures if your unsure. If the frame still does not lock check the seat frame can side fully side down the posts and the stubs under the seat frame bracket can fit into the slots in the main frame hub. If this is fully down and seated then the lock buttons may be the problem. Bugaboo supply a small can of silicone spray in the maintenance kits that come with the strollers. What they don't tell you is how vital it is to use it regually on the main hub unit etc if you wish to get a good service life out of your Bugaboo. Give the whole area a good spay then wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Don't use oil based lubricants like WD40. Check my tips section for more info.

The Bugaboo is not the ideal stroller for bumping up and down stairs, The reason being it's core design. Most stroller handles have two or more mounting points to the frame but most strollers have baby facing forward and facing the big bad world and not Mummy. The Bugaboo is very clever, the handle can be locked ether way and the seat face either way but the handle has only one point where it attaches to the frame and that point has to rotate and lock. To give you an idea of the forces involved a crow bar the length of the Bugaboo handle can pull six inch nails out of hard wood!
Unfortunately Bugaboo have not used the best material solutions in this critical handle lock. They use a plastic disk to move aluminum locking pins and they fail if you bump down to many stairs. This happened to our Bugaboo in New Zealand. I repaired ours and now I help others by making or sourcing the better quality parts to repair them. I use aluminum for the disk and stainless steel for the pins.
If you are lucky another to have a Bugaboo less then two years old and still have proof of purchase documents Bugaboo will replace the frame for you. If it's older you can buy a new frame for around $400 but this will also increase you resale value by around $200 when you sell it. Lastly you can repair it for around $100 a side depending on parts required, Click on my name and you'll find many posts on how to repair both the Handle lock and the Handle extension lever or wing-nut.

Hi how long have you had the stroller and did you buy it new if so it has a 2 year warranty so contact bugaboo and maybe they will be able to replace it for free or may charge you for a spare part. if its not in warranty you could also look on ebay or similar sites and get a cheaper secondhand seat frame to replace your broken one.

The main pivot mechanism is not designed to lock in the open position unless there is a bassinet or seat attached. Could this be the issue?

You'll have to undo all the velcro attachments as well as the tether that snaps together behind the foot rest then slide the seat fabric out from the frame. You'll then have to attach the bassinet to the same frame using the velcro straps.

Don't worry, this is normal. once you lock the seat into place, the front bar stays put, even if you hop a curb.