All experts in office and home furniture, and in particular chairs, claim that most often the adjustment and position mechanism fails. Replacing the gas lift in an office chair is required if the foot does not respond to pressure and the chair is stuck in one position. Of course, it can be repaired, but only a complete replacement is allowed, since repairing certain parts will not bring results.
The advantage is that any office chair can be repaired with your own hands, using photos and videos from the Internet.
How to fix a computer chair if it falls down?
In the home, office and office - a computer chair is available almost everywhere.
It is mobile, convenient and perfect for long-term work at the computer. But sometimes during use the design may fail - the computer chair lowers and does not respond to pressing the lowering/ascent lever. Unfortunately, such a breakdown is quite common. And this situation can occur either after many years of daily use, or just a couple of months after purchasing the furniture. The service life of a structure is influenced by many indicators, including how carefully it was handled. Load capacity also matters - most models are designed for a maximum permissible weight of up to 120 kg.
To avoid unpleasant consequences taking you by surprise, you need to know the causes and consequences of the breakdown. In this article we will try to figure out why an office chair does not hold its height, what to do and whether it is possible to fix it yourself in this case.
Chair gas cartridge length and adjustment height
The length of the gas lift consists of two numbers, for example: 140/240 - the first number means the stroke of the rod, that is, it extends from the lowest position to the highest position by 140 mm or 14 cm - this is the highest gas lift for office and computer chairs. This gas lift may also have one number in the name, simply 140, which means the same thing. Therefore, in order to choose the correct gas lift size, you need to measure the entire length of its glass (thick part) ! Even the part that is included in the cross. You should get a certain number: 150-160 mm, 180-200 mm or 230-240 mm.
Gas lift operating technology
The design of such chairs mainly consists of mechanical and hydraulic parts. A special mechanism called gas lift is responsible for raising and lowering the chair. It is installed on the frame of the structure, directly under the seat of the chair.
The gas lift performs important functions in the operation of the chair:
- Depreciation. The gas lift absorbs the shock load when you suddenly sit down into the structure. This creates a pleasant, shock-absorbing effect when landing. This relieves tension from the spine and allows you to feel maximum comfort.
- Descent and ascent. Thanks to a special mechanism, the chair lowers and rises itself, which allows you to fully adjust the height to suit people of different heights and builds. The gas lift raises and lowers the seat literally in a matter of seconds.
- 360 degree rotation. Rotation of the chair around its axis is ensured by the operation of a pneumatic cartridge. This element allows you to freely rotate the seat in both directions.
Based on this, we can conclude that if your computer chair sinks under weight, then the problem lies precisely in the failure of the gas lift.
The gas lift technology itself works quite simply: it is a sealed cylinder with two chambers, inside of which gas is located. When interacting with the lever, the partition between the chambers opens and gas is transported from one chamber to another. When the lever is released, the baffle closes, causing the mechanism to lock into the selected position.
The chair does not hold height: causes of failure
The problem of a malfunction of the lowering and raising mechanism occurs quite often. To ensure maximum service life for the chair and minimize the likelihood of breakdowns, you need to know why they most often occur:
- When they sit on a chair “on the fly.” Sudden landings create an overload inside the gas lift mechanism. During one of the next “falls” the valve will simply be squeezed out and the system will fail.
- Wear of mechanism elements. Sometimes the chair does not maintain its height because the gas cartridge casing wears out from long-term use. Manufacturers recommend periodically lubricating the elements with some kind of oil to reduce wear.
- Overload. If the technical characteristics of a model say that it is designed for a 100 kg load, then you should not seat a person with a large weight in this chair. It is also not recommended to sit together. All this increases the likelihood of problems with the device. It is better to choose furniture with a margin of safety.
- Manufacturing defects. This situation is rare, but it also happens. Therefore, if your office chair is falling down and the warranty period has not yet expired, contact the seller.
Features of self-repair
Be careful: the gas inside the structure is under very high pressure, so any careless damage to the seal of the cylinder can become a danger to human life. If you have the opportunity to eliminate DIY repairs and leave the repairs to the hands of professionals, it’s better to do so. But if you are skilled enough and know how to use a hammer and screwdriver, then you can repair the gas cartridge yourself.
Design features
It’s only at first glance that all office chairs are twin brothers. In fact, there are major differences in design.
This type of furniture is more susceptible to wear and tear than the same Soviet wooden chairs.
Let's look at what you should pay attention to.
- Executive chair. Five-beam cylindrical base, multi-block for adjusting the position of the back, roll level and seat depth.
- Chair for employees. Multi-block adjustment of seat height, backrest angle, armrest height. The model is lightweight.
- Guest chair. Four legs, soft seat, backrest at a comfortable height.
And yet, despite the diversity of the model range, there are components that are present in most chairs. In particular these include:
- Five-pointed cross. This is the support of the entire structure; it can be made of metal or plastic.
- Rollers. Attached to the edges of the base. Made from polymer materials or metal. The maximum number is five. A distinctive feature is the presence of a hinge and metal fasteners.
- A gas lift (also called a gas shock absorber) is the leg of the chair, which is responsible for the elasticity of the entire structure.
- Rocking mechanism. Thanks to it, the chair takes a comfortable angle and fixes the selected position. Due to the fact that the axis is mixed, smooth swinging is ensured.
- Piastra is a metal platform with a lever. Thanks to it, the height of the seat changes in relation to the cross.
- Permanent contact. A unit that connects the backrest to the seat and is responsible for changing its position.
If your office chair drops down, or the position adjustment mechanism does not work, and the chair is stuck, the gas lift may be the cause of the problem.
An office chair is falling down: what to do to fix it yourself?
It is better not to use a broken chair, as this is fraught with unpleasant consequences. For example, incorrect body position leads to unnecessary stress on the spine. This can cause back pain or scoliosis. And it’s quite difficult to concentrate on your business when your thoughts are constantly distracted by the inconvenience of the chair. Therefore, it is very important to put your workplace in order.
Before you begin the gas lift replacement procedure, you need to carefully prepare. To begin, remove the armrests from the chair so that they do not interfere with the repair process. The chair is turned over so that you have free access to its lower part (where the rollers are located). If you are working on a dirty surface, it is better to cover it with cardboard or newspaper so as not to stain the seat.
Before starting the next steps, it is better to wear safety glasses in case particles of the cylinder or lubricant fly towards your eyes. You can also arm yourself with an assistant, since some actions are much easier to do with four hands. So, the procedure if your computer chair does not hold up:
- Armed with a shaped screwdriver, you need to unscrew the seat from the rocking mechanism. To do this, carefully remove the locking ring, and then pull the lower part towards you. Place the structure on a flat surface to remove the gas lift. It is best to do this on a table, then the whole process will be located at a convenient level. Unscrew the four bolts holding the structure and separate it from the seat.
- Now you need to disassemble the gas lift. Hold the mechanism with one hand and lightly tap the body of the piastra (at the base of the cross) with the other. At this stage it is important not to damage the cylinder. If you do everything correctly, the gas lift will be easily removed and will remain in your hands.
- The gas cartridge body remains attached to the crosspiece, so it must be separated. First, peel off the protective plastic cover, then remove the legs and wheels. Most often they are attached to clips, so removing them will be quite easy. Having removed the plastic attachments from the crosspiece, you will be left with its metal frame in your hands, from which you will need to knock out the gas cartridge with a hammer. To make working with the cross easier, you can spray it with lubricant. It is important to do everything carefully and slowly to ensure the safety of the elements.
- Turn the cross over with the wheels facing up. Using gentle movements, strike the center of the cross with a clear blow so that the gas cartridge falls out of the conical base.
- We are installing a new gas lift that will definitely support the weight. With a little effort it must be placed inside the cross. We put on a plastic casing, install legs and wheels.
- Next, the rocking mechanism is attached back to the seat. Make sure that the front side of the structure matches the same side of the seat. We tighten the bolts, turn the gas lift over and insert the seat. There is no need to fix this action, since the gas cartridge will secure itself immediately after the first time someone sits on it.
Definition of failure
If you do not consider yourself a professional, and you cannot figure out what exactly the problem is, adhere to the following rules:
- If it is not possible to raise or lower the seat, the tip of the gas lift lever is faulty;
- The chair is difficult to move even on a flat surface - the wheel hub is broken or the locking ring is missing;
- The chair tilts to one side - insufficient fixation of fasteners, manufacturer defects, excessive wear of the backrest mechanism;
- The back of the chair is too mobile - the permanent contact is worn out;
- The structure has lost stability - the gas lift or the swing mechanism is faulty.
Almost all chair failures are associated with gas lift.
Less significant, but requiring attention, faults are as follows:
- Damage to upholstery;
- Subsidence of the foam filler;
- Wheel breakdown;
- Piastra deformation.
Do not repair plastic parts using glue or a soldering iron.
These problems can only be solved by completely replacing the deformed elements.
Why the gas lift of the chair broke down - the main reasons
The task of any gas lift is to ensure a soft landing for the user, reduce the rigidity of the seat and provide the required height of the chair. If the seat lowers under the weight of a person, or vice versa, does not fall, or suddenly jumps up, this indicates a malfunction.
In 85% of cases, the breakdown of such a part is due to improper use by the user of the furniture:
- sharp jumps, jumps;
- the use of the chair is uneven and inappropriate: for example, children sit on the railing, jump, and periodically sit on it with sudden jumps;
- lubricating the gas lift with additional grease or oil provokes its breakdown;
- using the chair in an unheated room also causes it to break;
- The user's weight is higher than that specified by the manufacturer. So, a cheap chair, as a rule, is equipped with an equally cheap gas lift. For example, Chinese products are, at best, equipped with a 2nd generation gas lift. The specific load on such chairs is no more than 120 kg. If we are talking about children's (as a rule, in the understanding of the parent - a temporary and simplest chair) models, then the maximum load is 80 kg. There is no point in talking about the quality of the product;
- rocking in a chair with the mechanism in a fixed position. For example, if you sit in a chair and fix it in one position without the possibility of swinging, and at the same time push off with your feet from the floor, rocking the product, then the load on the gas lift will be uneven - the gas lift breaks, if it is a plastic mechanism, then it will crack.
Gas lifts break down most often due to improper operation.
Gas shock absorber for furniture: review, characteristics, types and reviews
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For convenient use of kitchen cabinet doors, you need to choose the right quality and comfortable fasteners. An interesting choice is a gas lift, which guarantees ease of opening and closing doors, as well as ease of operation of the structure. An element such as a gas lift for kitchen cabinets is represented by a simple and reliable device that can be used for almost any furniture. The main advantage of such designs for many buyers is that there is no possibility for the doors to warp, and they will never open or close spontaneously.
What is gas lift
Installing gas lifts on kitchen cabinets provides a modern improvement to the space in the kitchen. To avoid any problems with the installation and operation of products, it is important to choose them wisely for the existing box.
The gas furniture elevator is represented by a special lifting device, which is used to hold and open the doors of various cabinets. The main purpose of this product is the ease of opening the doors upward.
The operation of the mechanism is based on its simple design. When creating gas elevators, a special gas spring is used together with a hydraulic shock absorber. As soon as the door opens literally 10 degrees, it then automatically opens up to 90 degrees.
The design includes elements:
- cylinder-shaped body;
- special piston of optimal size;
- sleeve;
- valve;
- bearings for easy sliding of doors;
- stock;
- sealing elements;
- stuffing box;
- finger
The design is hermetically sealed, so there is no possibility of dust, dirt or moisture getting into its various elements. A non-separable mechanism is necessarily created, so it cannot be disassembled and repaired if necessary.
Installation principle of a gas elevator
Let's figure out how to install a gas shock absorber for furniture. Before you start work, prepare the necessary equipment:
- a screwdriver or screwdriver;
- Mark the center of the side fastening: mark 25 mm from the top end and 25 mm from the front end on the facade side.
Important! Remember that dimensions are marked from the internal plane of the module.
- Attach the side mold on which the gas shock absorber piston will be mounted.
Important! Make sure that the fastener coincides with the center of the mark you made.
- Attach the movable part of the lift to the eye.
- Secure the façade on the hinges.
- Make the markings and, using self-tapping screws, screw in the counter fastening element of the gas lift, remembering to refer to the diagram of the gas shock absorber.
Is it possible to fix a gas lift with your own hands?
Repairing such a part of the structure of any chair is not justified due to the high cost of repair labor - it is easier to replace it with a new one than to repair the old one. But, if you don’t want to waste time on a new mechanism, you can try to fix the problem yourself. This does not require special skills or knowledge - just follow the instructions.
The Ukrainian manufacturer Barski provides all its customers with a 5-year warranty on mechanisms and 2 years on upholstery materials. There are no similar offers on the market. In addition, the main misconception of the consumer is that the warranty cannot be “knocked out”; this judgment does not apply to the manufacturer Barski - all breakdowns due to the manufacturer’s fault are eliminated after the consumer’s request.
How to fix a chair if it does not rise and fall under weight?
If the chair stops responding to the adjustment process at all, and constantly falls down under the weight of a person, the gas pneumatic cartridge has broken down. The mechanical and hydraulic components of the chairs are the main difference between this furniture and a simple chair. However, this is his main problem - if you do not calculate the weight of the load correctly and buy a cheaper, but not practical product, then over time the pneumatic cartridge will release all the gas under high pressure.
Exercises to relieve back pain
You can perform these exercises right at your workplace; they will help eliminate pain in the neck and back.
- Tilt your head to one shoulder, then to the other, lower your head forward, tilt it back.
- Slowly lower your chin to your chest, tense your neck muscles, make several semicircles with your head from one shoulder to the other and back.
- With your hands on your shoulders, rotate your elbows back and forth.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together, pushing your chest forward as much as possible.
- Move away from the table, tilt your body to the left, right, forward, bend back.
- Close your fingers and pull them upward with force.
- Get up and walk around for a couple of minutes. If possible, do some squats.
Please note that such exercises are only a warm-up for long-term sedentary work. To maintain a healthy back, you should exercise regularly or perform an effective set of exercises. The most useful are crunches, push-ups, squats, and abdominal strengthening. Every day you should stretch your spine; to do this, hanging on the horizontal bar for 1-2 minutes is enough. Strength training, yoga, swimming, amateur sports and even regular walking - all can bring some benefits and help maintain posture and a healthy spine.
