A hard day at work is bound to become harder if your chair is rickety and uncomfortable. You might even find yourself calling it quits more often, and not meeting many of your day-to-day goals.
To avoid the sheer frustration of such seating problems—and, moreover, to increase productivity and comfort—you naturally must have invested in an expensive office chair. But we are sure that you are starting to realize that these first-rate chairs also come with their fair share of flaws.
One of the biggest complaints concerning these chairs is that they start to sag in a few months. It may seem like a small problem, but knowing how important the proper chair height is for a good posture and productivity is not. Seeing that you want to know more about cylinder replacements, you might have already identified the culprit—i.e., the valve or cylinder that controls height-adjustability…conking out.
Furthermore, you do not seem ready to part with your big-budget purchase just yet. Do not fret! We do not want you to do it either, which is why we are going to teach you how to remove and replace an office chair cylinder one step at a time.
How to Remove and Replace Office Chair Cylinder
Tools
Before you can get down to detaching, you will need to equip yourself with a pipe wrench, a screwdriver, a rubber mallet, and of course, a new cylinder. With these tools at hand, you can let the dismantling and replacing begin!
The Step-By-Step Guide to Removing and Replacing an Office Chair Cylinder
The first step is to detach the base from the seat. To accomplish this, you will firstly need to upend the chair. Then you can either unscrew the base by loosening the bolts with your screwdriver; or, conversely, knock at it gently with your rubber mallet till it slides off.
A word of caution: place a soft cloth underneath the seat while it is on its side or upturned to avoid scraping the fabric. You do not want other problems to rear their heads while you set out to deal with just one.
Now comes the tricky part because although the technique is relatively simple, you will have to be careful not to puncture/damage the cylinder. A damaged cylinder will ruin the rest of the chair—making it wholly irredeemable.
In case you are anxious, we advise you to take a chill pill and grab that wrench. Wrench in hand, you firstly need to remove the protective casing to expose the valve. Once that is done and dusted, proceed to fasten the wrench as close to the lifting mechanism as possible and twist it till it comes loose.
If you are struggling with this step, then try using a lubricant or a WD40 spray to aid the process. Just a couple of spritz should do the job but remember not to get it on any of the other parts.
Voila! You have successfully unfastened the cylinder.
Here is what you need to do next!
Even though it is unnecessary, you should take this opportunity to clean the bottom half of your chair. A cleaner chair will make the installation process much smoother because the cylinder will slide right into the socket if it is rust and dirt-free.
Installing the Cylinder
Remember the mechanism from before? You just need to insert the cylinder back into its socket. Next, you need to put the wheelbase back on and ensure that it is firmly in its place using a few taps of your hammer.
Behold! You have a brand new lifting cylinder and a chair that is as good as new. Now, you can start putting in hours with your projects again and feel just as productive as you did when you initially got your cherished office chair.
FAQs
Will I need to hire a handyman to remove and replace the gas cylinder?
Absolutely not! You can do it yourself in a few minutes. You just have to be good with tools. In addition, remember to take the necessary precautions while upturning your chair so as to avoid any scratches on the seat.
Where can I get a new cylinder?
If you have successfully removed the cylinder but cannot find a suitable replacement—call the companies customer care. The company will provide you with a brand new cylinder. In case it is not in their policy, you can scour the internet to see if somebody is selling something that comes close to the original in dimensions.
Why can I not use a regular hammer?
A regular hammer has a metallic head and can leave impact marks. We have already stated how a few wrong or forced blows can lead to a punctured cylinder. That is why it is better to tap gently using a mallet with a rubber head. If you plan on using a metallic hammer, please reconsider and invest in a rubber mallet instead.
Closing Remarks
Although there is nothing wrong with salvaging an old office chair, sometimes it is better to let things go. However, If you reckon that throwing away your chair will be wasteful, we suggest that you take it apart and sell the parts. This will surely not give you your money’s worth, but it still counts for something.
If the above-stated idea floats your boat, then stop reading and head straight to your local scrap dealer you can find. We hope that you bag a good deal.
Contrarily, if your mind is made up about replacements, be careful with the cylinder because one wrong move could ruin the other constituents as well. Despite the simplicity of the process, you can invite somebody to assist you or hire a handyperson altogether.
Lastly, we trust you not to go crazy with the hammer and thumping; but regardless of that, we would like to wish you luck on your replacing and removing ventures. Hammer gently and dismantle mindfully!
