Removing a gas lift cylinder from an office chair base

An office chair — a complex construction

It used to be believed that an office chair is a unique piece of office furniture that is intended for comfortable work. Nowadays it is also used in dwellings, public places and state buildings, i.e. everywhere where anybody can sit because it is primarily comfortable.

To achieve more than just comfort but also practicality, it is important that a chair is sound and ready to be used.

The photo below illustrates a beautiful office chair of high quality.

Before discussing and disassembling such a detail as a gas lift, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of an office chair itself, its mechanism and functioning.

What does an office chair consist of?

Here is a list of the main parts:

• Backrest;

Most chairs have different tilt functions of their back.

• Back angle adjuster;

It allows changing the tilt angle of a backrest.

• Seat;

There are oodles of types and materials that are used for seats.

• Armrests;

A pivotal detail for a good posture. Moreover, it is highly comfortable.

• Gas mechanism;

Controls the gas lift itself.

• Base.

A base usually has about 4 or 5 spokes. Most often there are casters at the end of the spokes for more mobility.

Interestingly, office chairs do not always have a five-spoke base. It can also be a stable construction without casters. The photo below depicts a real example of such an office chair:

For better understanding let’s take a look at the drawing that shows all components of an office chair in more detail.

And here is an assembled office chair that you can purchase right now:

A Gas Lift

We have taken a look at the main parts of an office chair. It is these that allow the construction to be mobile:

• 360 degree rotation;
• Moving around a room without standing up;
• Adjusting the seat height.

And all this is accomplished with the help of the gas lift mechanism. In other words, it is the gas lift located between the seat and the base in the middle of the chair leg.

A gas lift - is a solid cylinder with two valves and a hydraulic spring (it cannot be seen with the naked eye) with compressed air pumped into it. Thanks to that a user can lift their seat up and down with a gas mechanism and rotate to any direction.

Important: a gas lift plays the role of a cushioning device and takes some load off your lower back and spine due to the springs.

The photo below illustrates an exterior and interior design of a gas lift:

Important: a gas lift is actually a safe element regardless of gas inside. It is leak-proof. Even when a gas lift is out of order, the compressed gas cannot get out to open space. Such a technique is solely performed in factories. Gas is pumped inside by using special technology for better safety.

A Gas Lift Principle of Work

When opening and closing one valve, gas inside starts moving. It happens through a guide ring from one compartment to another. It allows a seat to lift up and down.

In order to lower an office chair, press the adjusting lever while sitting. In that case gas will move from one compartment to another under the pressure of your own weight.

In order to raise your chair up, stand up and press the lever carefully. Gas will fill in the first compartment.

In order to fix your chair in the position you need, just let go of the lever.

Gas Lift Defects

Let’s take a look at what we should pay attention to in order to understand if a gas lift is broken. There can be several cases:

• The seat does not fix in a certain position, it always sinks down of its own accord.
• The height adjusting lever (gas mechanism) does not respond when you press it.
• The seat sinks down from a “raised” position without any pressure on the lever.
• The chair is tilted. In other words, if you look at it directly, you will see that it is tilted to one side.
• The chair has become unstable, and it swings.
• There is an unusual noise.

Reasons of Gas Lift Cylinder Breakage

• No proper maintenance. Manufacturers recommend using special oil throughout the whole period of use. It is needed to minimize rubbing of parts against each other and their wearing out.
• Life cycle. A manufacturer always indicates the presumable life cycle of their items. As a rule, it is usually around 20-24 months. Throughout its useful period an office chair must be in the best condition. After the expiry date it may need some maintenance and replacement of its main parts.
• Improper use. It means that a consumer might have exceeded the weight limits. It can also be about harsh treatment of the purchased furniture including jumping on it, swinging, etc.

Should a Gas Lift Cylinder Be Replaced?

If you have noticed one of the defects mentioned above,

Or

If you have neglected the rules of use which led to breakage,

You have to replace an old (broken) gas lift with a new one.

Recommendation: do not try to use a broken office chair again as it may lead to irreversible consequences for your health.

Leg Types

Currently there are only 2 types of a chair legs with a gas lift:

• Metal; It is more preferable to buy an office chair with a metal leg as it normally serves longer without wearing off significantly.
• Plastic. This one is more affordable due to its material. Its great advantage is that it makes a chair lighter.

The processes of dismantling a gas lift in a plastic or metal casing almost do not differ. A metal one is more durable but it does not mean it cannot bend or get scratched. A plastic one can simply crack due to too much pressure. In any case, act determinately but carefully.

What is the Right Way to Take Off a Gas Lift Cylinder?

It is not rocket science especially if it is not your first time. The key thing is to “hit” a gas lift out of the base. The thing that makes the fixing process easier is that the gas cylinder itself is mostly unattached to the leg. It is placed inside and somehow compressed.

If you have any questions, you can always contact an experienced specialist who will consult you, especially when buying new office furniture. Just fill out a short form and wait for a reply. Soon a company representative will contact you.

Preparations for Taking Off a Gas Lift

If you have never faced replacing a gas lift before, we recommend finding an assistant that will be able to help you when necessary. Apart from an assistant, you will also need a set of tools. As a rule, such tools are present in every house or office. They can be:

• A screwdriver.
• A hammer. It must be rubber to avoid replacing more than just the gas lift, but the leg itself or even buying a new chair.

You can also have a round cotter pin driver at hand to be on the safe side.

Guide to Taking Off and Replacing a Gas Lift Cylinder

You can do that on the floor or table.

1. Put the chair on the side. It will be more comfortable than holding it in the air or upside down.
2. After that, unfasten screws joining the seat and gas mechanism. You can do that with the help of a Phillips screwdriver.
3. Put an office chair in its normal position with the seat upwards and then take off the seat itself. Do not forget to take off the casing of the lift.
   Advice: to facilitate the process of taking off the seat, press the base against the floor with your leg and then lift the seat, swinging it altogether with the backrest and the armrests from one side to another. Do not grab the armrests when taking off the seat as you risk tearing them away.
4. Turn the base upside down.
5. Take off the cap and plunger pin from the gas lift. These parts are adjusted to the gas lift cylinder.
6. Carefully knock the gas lift out of the base. A rubber hammer and a round cotter pin will come most in handy. Do not try to hit a gas lift only at one spot, like in the center, for instance, but try to apply your hammer to the whole surface of the gas lift. You can ask your assistant to hold the chair leg to prevent the whole construction from moving anywhere while being hit. Be careful to avoid hitting another person’s hands or the construction itself.
7. Replace the old broken mechanism with a new one.

After having taken all the steps from above, you just need to reassemble your chair in the reverse order. That is:

1. Tap a new gas lift back into the leg. Most gas lifts have standard dimensions for all chair models so it will not be necessary to change anything. You will hear an identifiably typical click once the new gas lift reaches the “right” place. If there is no clicking sound, try to move the gas lift a little further.
2. Put the cap and plunger pin back on the new gas lift cylinder.
3. Fix the seat with the backrest and armrests on the leg, putting it in the middle and pressing it downward.
4. Fasten the screws connecting the seat with the gas mechanism.

We recommend using a special lubricant such as WD-40 during maintenance work. Not only will it help decrease rubbing but it will also extend everyone’s and everything’s lives. Further, we recommend using the lubricant at least once a month.

Finally, you need to check whether your office chair is sound and ready for work. Just try to sit down on it (having made sure that the seat is secured) and push the lever. You have succeeded in fixing your chair if:

• The chair lowers without delays and clicking when you push the lever while sitting.
• The chair raises to the needed height when you push the lever while standing.

The photo below depicts an example of an affordable office chair that will fit in any workspace.

Any result should be stable, and the chair should not move up or down on its own without you pushing the lever while using your chair. If you are not confident in your abilities or you have failed to fix your chair by yourself, you can always ask a professional for help, handing over the chair to the right person. Or you can just get a new office chair, if possible, which will definitely be in perfect condition.

Conclusion

The photo above shows a good example of a well-assembled high-quality office chair. Following our step-by-step guide will facilitate the process of removing and replacing a gas lift. Even a low-skilled specialist will be able to do the job within 20 minutes.

Moreover, it will be much cheaper than buying a new office chair.