How To Remove Gas Cylinder Stuck In Chair Base?
Due to the excessive use of office chairs, their gas cylinders are prone to wear and tear. An out-of-order office chair gas cylinder creates difficulty in adjusting the height of the office chair. However, replacing the office chair itself is not always the solution to this problem.
Instead, you should try to fix it by yourself. If your office chair has a warranty, you can send it back to the manufacturer for repair. However, to fix the chair, you need to dismantle it which is not always an easy task. But we are here to guide you on the gas cylinder stuck in the chair base.
In this article, we will discuss how to fix a gas cylinder stuck in an office chair base. So read to the end.
What is Office Chair Gas Cylinder?
While discussing gas cylinders, the first thing that comes to one’s mind is the gas storage cylinder or tank that is typically used in the kitchen for cooking food.
However, the gas cylinder in the office chair is different from the one we use in the kitchen. An office chair gas cylinder is an adjustable shaft that links the wheels of the office chair with its seat.
It provides the mechanism to increase or decrease the height of the chair. These cylinders are also called pneumatic cylinders and they use compressed air to lift the chair up or down. We’ve already discussed the detailed working of an office chair gas cylinder, in case you’re wondering.
Why does the Gas Cylinder Stuck?
There are many reasons behind a stuck gas cylinder such as:
- Excessive use of chairs over a long period results in wear and tear of their components. Gas cylinders are also prone to this decay and may get stuck in the base.
- Rust buildup also sticks to the gas cylinder that plunges it into the base.
- Less or no lubrication is also a major reason.
- Another important reason might be putting weight on the chair more than its load-bearing capacity. For example, putting heavy things on the chair carelessly or using a chair even if it can’t support your body weight. Collapsing on your chair or sitting on its edges unevenly distributes your body weight resulting in stuck components.
Now that you’ve identified the As you have identified the reasons behind the problem, let’s move on to its solution.
How to Remove Gas Cylinder Stuck in Chair Base
In many office chair models, you can easily remove cylinders with a little force, but some cylinders don’t come out easily. However, you don’t need to worry as we have mentioned here a very simple method of bringing even the tightly stuck gas cylinders from the chair base.
So to do the task, you need to have some basic tools and materials that are listed below:
- Screwdriver
- Pipe wrench
- Lubricant
- Gloves
- Rubber Mallet
- Hammer
Most of the above-mentioned items would be easily available in your home. However, if something is missing, you can easily purchase it from a nearby hardware store.
Once you have arranged all the necessary tools, it’s time to jump into the procedure of fixing your office chair cylinder.
1. Turn the Chair Upside Down
To fix the office chair cylinder, you need to first turn the chair upside down. This would expose its bottom area and allow you to work comfortably. For protecting your hands from injury or stains, wear gloves. Gloves will also improve your grip on the cylinder.
Spread a mat or protective cloth on the work surface to keep it safe from any stain or damage. It would also help you in cleaning the working area after completing the task.
2. Apply the Lubricant
Lubricating the base and the adjoining components would reduce half of your force. Use a gentle lubricant such as WD-40 for the purpose. However, if it is not easily accessible, sunflower oil or petroleum jelly can also be used as an alternative.
Before applying lubricant, place a towel or tissue paper to avoid lubricant sipping on the floor or other parts of the chair. It’s better to use a lubricant that has a spray mechanism as it easily reaches all the nooks and crannies of the required components.
After thoroughly applying the lubricant, give it some time to settle and clean the excessive sipping oil well.
3. Apply the Force
Use a rubber mallet and hit it on the sides of the chair base. Rubber mallets have a softer head made of wood or rubber so they typically avoid any crush or wear or tear on the chair.
Never apply force directly at the center of the gas cylinder. If a rubber mallet is not easily available or it is ineffective in delivering the required amount of force, use a metallic hammer to apply force.
Be cautious while using a hammer to avoid any dents on the surface. Make sure that the cylinder does not immediately fall on your feet and cause injury.
4. Try Again if You Have Failed
If you have followed the step-by-step procedure, you must have removed the cylinder from the base. In case you have failed to remove the gas cylinder, don’t lose hope.
With a little extra effort next time, you can do it. Apply the force again, this time more forcefully to get the cylinder out of the base.
Reattaching Gas Cylinder to the Chair
Once you have removed the cylinder, it’s time to inspect and repair it. If it does not have any faults, just clean it thoroughly and reattach it. Otherwise, buy a new gas cylinder that suits your chair model.
Set the cylinder into the chair base. Flip the chair and the cylinder is reattached. Make sure you have properly aligned the cylinder with chair components before turning it upside down. Sit on the chair and make little movements so that it firmly gets attached. You can check by
How to Prevent Office Chair Cylinder from Sticking into Base
Before experiencing the pain of bringing a stuck cylinder out of the base, it’s better to be on the safe side earlier. A stitch in time saves nine goes well for taking care of your office chair.
The wear and tear caused by routine use is something you can’t avoid. Moreover, the gas cylinder would surely be stuck to some extent due to routine use as our weight compacts it down.
However, here are some effective tips to avoid serious stuck-up problems:
- Avoid conditions that build rust on the chair such as moisture or dropping water on it.
- Regularly lubricate the chair to avoid this factor. Raise it to maximum height, and clean dust, and previous lubricant. Then gently apply fresh lubricant on the gas lift so that it reaches all the exposed components evenly.
- Don’t put more weight on the chair than its load-bearing capacity. Choose a chair that can bear your weight.
- Sit gently on the chair putting all your weight at the center of the seat.
However, if the gas cylinder keeps on getting stuck in the office chair base again and again despite all the precautionary measures, you can replace the base or get a new cylinder. As office chair bases are universal, they can easily fit any chair without any measurements.
Final Thoughts!
To sum it up, the office chair gas cylinder is the shaft that connects the seat of the office chair with its wheels and provides a height adjustment feature with the help of compressed air. These cylinders often get stuck up in the seat but you can bring them out in some easy steps.
Turn the chair upside down and lubricate the components attached to the office chair base. Apply gentle force using a rubber mallet or hammer and you’re done. For reattaching your pneumatic cylinder, just properly place it on the chair base and flip it back to the sitting position.
That is the simple process.!!
