Do-it-yourself step-by-step instructions for replacing and repairing a gas lift in an office chair

Office chairs are subjected to increased stress on a daily basis. In this regard, such furniture periodically requires local repair. In addition to the backrest, the gas spring often fails. This part acts as a shock absorber. Therefore, without timely replacement of the gas spring, it will become uncomfortable to sit on an office chair, since this mechanism allows you to adjust the height of the seat.

Description and purpose

A gas spring (gas spring) is part of an office chair that pushes a metal cylinder under the pressure of compressed air. The latter adjusts the position of the seat (i.e. it allows the seat to be raised and lowered). Sometimes a gas spring is compared to a shock absorber. But these details have nothing in common. The shock absorbers dampen vibrations, while the gas spring performs other functions.

Structurally, this mechanism includes the following elements:

• metal casing;
• a bottle made up of two gas tanks and completed by a bypass valve;
• piston and rod, located inside the central cylinder and allowing the chair to move up and down;
• buttons by means of which the position is adjusted.

Gaslift performs several useful functions:

1. Help to choose the appropriate height of the office chair according to the height of the person.
2. Ensures the rotation of the chair around the axis.
3. Partially dampens the load on the human spine.

The gas spring is a completely sealed cylinder. The gas contained inside is pumped out during the production process. For the manufacture of this mechanism, high-strength steel is used, which is able to withstand various types of external influences, including strong impacts. In this case, the gas does not come out.

Workplan

In the unloaded state, the central cylinder of the gas spring is located in the upper part of the structure. If a person sits on a chair and presses the lever (button), the mechanism begins to lower, pulling the seat down. After that, the cylinder returns to its original position. When the button is pressed without loading the seat, the air inside the gas spring pushes the rod up. At the same time, the seat begins to rise.

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Understanding the scheme of operation of the mechanism allows you to immediately exclude other breakdowns of the office chair. If the gas spring fails after pressing the lever (button), the seat does not move.

The main reasons for the failure of a gas spring in an office chair

Office chair gas springs fail for the following reasons:

• uneven load distribution on the seat;
• exceeding the permissible load on the chair;
• lack of lubrication in the mechanism;
• natural wear of parts.

The average lifespan of a movement is 18 to 24 months. At the end of this period, it is recommended to carry out preventive work, during which you need to obtain and check the condition of the gas spring.It is also necessary to lubricate this mechanism regularly.

How to remove and replace with your own hands

It is quite difficult to replace the gas spring on your own.At the same time, you should not immediately start repairing this part if you have any problems with the office chair. Failure of the chair position control mechanism is indicated by the following phenomena:

• the seat does not hold in a given position;
• after pressing the lever, the chair does not go up or down;
• the chair is lowered immediately after the person has sat down;
• the vertical is broken (the seat is deflected to one side);
• the seat hangs side to side.

The procedure for repairing and replacing the gas lift depends on the type of office chair. In this case, regardless of the design features, the procedure can be carried out using a Phillips screwdriver and a rubberized hammer. It is strongly advised not to repair the gas spring yourself. This mechanism contains a gas hazardous to health. And, in case of damage to the structure, the latter, when entering the human body, will cause acute poisoning. Thus, in the event of a breakdown, this part is replaced by a new one.

When buying a gas canister, you should be guided by the dimensions of what is installed in the office chair. Some parts of this type are available with a high taper.

Plastic models

To repair office furniture, you need to dismantle the seat. But before starting work, it is recommended to process the bolts WD-40. Lubrication will make fasteners easier to unscrew. The dismantling process is as follows:

1. The seat unscrews from the base (dollars, rocking mechanism, etc.).
2. The plastic casing that covers the piastre is removed.
3. 4 bolts are unscrewed, and the seat is removed.
4. With hammer blows to the place of attachment of the piastra, they are disconnected from the seat. At this point, it is important to ensure that the rocker mechanism does not bend.

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The final stage of work should be carried out with great care, trying not to damage the details of office furniture. It is recommended to tap with a hammer from different sides. A metal fin can facilitate this process, through which the crosshead and riser are disconnected.

At the end of the described process, you need to knock out the gas canister. To do this, the cross must be fixed on a flat surface or the help of another person must be used. The gas lift is knocked out by occasional strikes on a metal gallery installed in the center of this room. You will also need to be careful at this stage, as the hammer can break the plastic parts of the office furniture.

After that, you need to put the cross on the wheels and, having removed the transport cap, install the gas canister in place. In this case, you cannot press the button on the top of the coin. In the end, you need to assemble the chair in the reverse order.

metal base

To repair office furniture with a metal base, you need to follow the above algorithm. But in this case, it should be borne in mind that a number of manufacturers use fragile materials in the manufacture of the chair. Therefore, the hammer blows should be weak. Otherwise, in addition to the gas cartridge, you will have to change the crosspiece.

If the hammer blows did not give the desired result, the base of the part must be clamped and turned several times to the sides, rotating the mechanism.

Possible problems and errors during repair

Before proceeding with the reassembly of office furniture, it is necessary to check whether the selected gas cartridge corresponds to the dimensions of the cross. If not, this part cannot be installed in the chair. In this case, the seat adjustment mechanism will not work.

If the gas canister has been in a cool room or on a frozen street for several hours, it is recommended to leave the part in a warm room for a day before starting repair work. It is forbidden to replace before the mechanism heats up.

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As already noted, care must be taken during disassembly and reassembly to avoid excessive force. Despite the fact that the gas spring fits snugly on the base of office furniture, this part is held only by friction. And each blow of the hammer gradually pushes the whole structure down. In this case, it is important to apply uniform efforts and hit different parts of the part. If the hammer only hits one side, the gas chuck gets stuck in the crosshead. Then you will need to change the entire lower part of the office chair.

After assembling the furniture, it is recommended to check the functionality of the mechanisms. That is, it is necessary to turn the seat in a circle in both directions. And then you need to sit down and press the lever, lower and raise the chair.

When screwing the adjustment mechanism onto the seat, check the conformity of the front faces of the latter and the part installed. Only then can the assembly of furniture be completed.

If the mechanism does not work after installing the gas spring, this indicates an incorrectly fixed dollar or a new part. You should also check the condition of the lever that activates the swing mechanism.

The main difficulty with this repair is that it is possible to assess the performance of the purchased gas canister only after installation. Before that, you cannot press the button on the top of the structure. During reassembly, the swingarm can pinch this element. In this case, the gas spring will not work. But if, after assembly, all the structural elements of the office chair work correctly, but the seat does not fall out, then it is necessary to remove a new part and take it to the store.

In order to avoid premature failure of the gas cartridge, the manufacturer's recommendations for the operating conditions of the furniture must be observed. The service life of office chairs is significantly reduced if these items are constantly exposed to increased stress. Such furniture, as a rule, can withstand a weight of up to 120 kilograms.