Have you ever experienced an office chair sinking while you are at work? It can be very embarrassing if you are in a group conversation, but this can happen to anyone at any time. Office chairs are very flexible and adjustable, but there are instances like cylinder issues that can cause the chair to malfunction and behave erratically.
If you find it hard to cement the chair in an up and down position, then there could be some problem with the gas cylinder. We are here to discuss office chair gas cylinder replacement to make your office work hassle-free.
Office Chair Gas Cylinder Replacement Tools
To bring the chair back to its uniform state and stop it from going haywire, you will need to replace the chair cylinder. To do so you will need to dismantle it first and so you will require some basic tools such as.
- Replacement gas cylinder for office chair
- Screwdriver or pipe wrench
- Mallet or standard hammer
- Working gloves
- Plastic bags or newspaper (for withstanding grease)
3 Easy Steps – Installing Replacement Office Chair Cylinder
Step 1: Remove The Base Of The Chair
Start by shifting the chair sideways so that you can work on the gas cylinder area. Once you have the chair in an ideal position, take the mallet from your toolbox and move on to separate the base of the chair. You can do this by hammering on the bottom of the chair to dismantle the seat from the base unit.
You might need to perform this tapping for a long time. Have patience and keep on hammering until the chair and base separate. When done, you will be left with just the cylinder in position.
Step 2: Removing The Cylinder
Taking off the cylinder successfully has to be your priority before applying the new piece. This part is not that tough, but it requires a bit of skill set and knowledge to unearth the cylinder.
Get the pipe wrench and use it to clamp onto the upper lift of the gas cylinder. This should affix the cylinder well and truly to the clamp. Your next step has to be pulling it out. To work things out, you have to twist the wrench and loosen the tight patches. Once you have successfully unsettled the gas cylinder, pull it out of the groove.
How to take an office chair apart if you can’t find a wrench? Simply get a screwdriver. This is the most common way to unfasten an office chair pneumatic cylinder. Unscrew the bolts from the base of the chair and take apart the components one by one. That’s not all, you will need a mallet to dismantle the components from the channels, thus leaving just the cylinder.
Stubborn components can be loosened up using a degreaser and lubricants like WD 40 and other alternatives. Use any of these products and let them sit for a while to make the rigidity and rusty components go away. After some time you can continue with the hammering process and take off the cylinder as we mentioned above.
Step 3: Replacing Office Chair Cylinder
Once you have successfully taken off the office chair piston. You are left with the most important task, of replacing the cylinder. Grab a replacement cylinder that has a piston compatible with your office chair. Cylinders come in two forms, hydraulic and pneumatic, so to know more about the difference and what kind of piston your chair has, check out this link.
For installation, put the chair base in an upright position. Put the new cylinder on the base of the chair. Now work the bolts with the screwdriver to affix the cylinder properly. You can use the hammer to tap the mechanism to set properly if needed.
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Choosing the Right Chair Gas Cylinder Replacement
To achieve fully-functional performance from your office chair, it is advised that you look for replacements with some foremost criteria. We say the measurements of the components are very important here, thus you need to be sure that the cylinder you are getting is an ideal fit. Let’s check out some of the vital measurements you must consider while purchasing a gas cylinder for an office chair.
Gas Spring Diameter
The first thing to look at is the gas spring diameter located on top of the cylinder. On the edge of the cylinder head, you will find the release button that works the chair hydraulics. The common diameter range for spring diameter is 1.1 inches. Nowadays most chairs use standard measurements, but it is best if you check the user manual for your convenience.
Column Diameter
It is the bottom part of the cylinder that extends beyond the 5 star base of your chair. The standard measurement for the majority of chairs’ column diameter is 2 inches. If your unit has different sizing, look into the market and you will get a lot of shapes and sizes.
Gas Cylinder Stroke
This is the extension limit of your gas cylinder. In easier words, the distance from the chair’s lowest position to the highest position. For example, if you get a 6 stroke gas cylinder, the chair should be able to move 6 inches onward from its lowest height. You can get different strokes depending on the weight you are about to put on the chair and the height you want to attain. Keep in mind, the more strokes, the better height you can gain on the chair.
Frequently Asked Questions- FAQ
Are Office Chair Gas Cylinders Universal?
Office chair bases are universal and therefore one fits another in the majority of the cases. If the chair has a center hole column of 2 inches in general, it should be able to embrace a standard office chair cylinder without a hitch.
Chair bases come in a wide range of diameters. Smaller numbers such as 23 inches will have less stability to 28 inches, which can provide better steadiness.
Final Thoughts
Whenever you encounter the office chair descending unnaturally and losing its position frequently, you should know that there are some issues with the gas cylinder. To overcome such a setback, you must perform office chair gas cylinder replacement by following a few easy steps.
Don’t worry, the process is fairly simple and can be performed at home with adequate knowledge. Without further ado, read through this write-up and give your busted chair a proper fix.-
Writholic, Very passionate Writer, love to travel a lot