DIY computer chair repair: instructions with video

A computer chair is an essential attribute of a modern person’s workplace, without which it is difficult to imagine a study or office.

Office chairs are designed to be lightweight, maneuverable and comfortable for long periods of work in the office or at home.

The comfort of a computer chair is expressed in its ergonomic and functional form, it is suitable for people of any build, height or weight. All this is possible thanks to the unique ability to adjust the height or level of backrest tilt to the needs of a specific user, for which the gas lift built into the design of each chair is responsible.

The main signs of a gas lift malfunction

However, this same part is also a vulnerable point, the breakdown of which renders the entire functionality of the seat unusable.

Office chairs are comfortable and functional furniture, but sometimes they require repairs

Design features

Despite the variety of designs and functional content, almost all chairs consist of a set of elements:

• Five-pointed cross (base). This part is made of metal or plastic. The first option is better quality and more expensive
• Rollers. Like the cross, the wheels can be metal or plastic. However, the base and internal joint of any roller are made of metal
• Pneumatic cartridge (gas lift). The part acts as a chair leg and is responsible for its “elasticity”
• The swing mechanism contributes to the axial deflection of the chair and its fixation in one position. On expensive models, a mechanism with an offset axis is installed, ensuring the smoothest turning possible.
• Plate. This element is a metal platform with a lever. Used to change the height of the seat relative to the crossbar
• Constant contact - an element connecting the back of the seat and responsible for changing its position

Most office chair models have armrests. In budget models, these elements are made of plastic; in more expensive ones - from anodized or stainless steel.

Replacing the cross

This is what a metal cross with plastic casings on the bottom looks like

A separate case worth noting is the breakage of the crosspiece. Although this part is made of particularly durable materials, its breakage is not excluded, especially if it is made of plastic.

Types of crosses: plastic, aluminum, metal with wooden overlays

Fortunately, replacing this part with a new one is quite simple. You will need:

1. new crosspiece;
2. hammer;
3. pliers.

To replace, follow the instructions: turn the computer chair upside down and remove the wheels from their mountings. Take pliers and use a circular motion to knock out the gas lift, making targeted blows along its edges

To remove the plastic cross from the gas lift, you need to hold onto the gas lift and lightly tap the cross with light blows of a hammer from above around the attachment point.

After disconnecting the crosspiece, install the wheels on the new one and insert the second part of the chair into the hole. You don’t have to worry about incompatibility, since the gas lift mount for all office chairs is standardized.

To knock the gas lift out of the crosspiece, it is better to use a spacer of the appropriate size. to prevent impacts to the central part of the gas lift

This way, you can repair any office chair with your own efforts, without the costly purchase of a new chair.

General recommendations

Repairing the back of a computer chair, crossbar or gas lift will take very little time, but after repair the chair will become comfortable and will last more than a year. The main thing is to select parts that exactly match the model and carefully change them, following the technology and recommendations. To ensure that office chairs do not cause problems, they must be purchased from an online store with a reliable reputation and used correctly and carefully. Prestige and Sirius, Mango and Clio, Eteza and Bora, Synchro and Compact, Plaza and dozens of other models: manufacturers offer a large selection of chairs for home and office, from which you can choose models that are ideal for operating conditions. Quality, reliability, durability and other characteristics depend on the cost and purpose of the chairs.

Tools

It is impossible to change wheels without a set of special tools. They are in every home and even in offices. We are talking about a screwdriver, hammer or pliers.

Instead of a screwdriver, you can use a special plate. Use a thin part to pry up the wheel, carefully disconnecting it. This tool is also needed to remove the plugs inserted into the rollers.

When disconnecting the rollers, the iron pin may become stuck in the crosspiece. Pliers will help to remove it. To knock out a stuck wheel, use a regular or rubberized hammer. It is used to disconnect the gas lift.

For a more thorough repair, which involves replacing not only the rollers, but also the cross, you will need a ring drift. It will simplify the separation of the cross from the gas lift.

Important! Experts advise using lubricant to treat parts before dismantling worn ones and installing others. Many people neglect this procedure and in vain. Lubricated chairs do not creak and last much longer.

Product disassembly stages

If a computer chair breaks, the first thing you need to do is disassemble the structure. To do this, you will need a rubber hammer, slotted and Phillips screwdrivers, and a hammer drill. All actions are performed in stages:

1. The first step is to remove the seat, turn the chair upside down, and pull out the fasteners.
2. We unscrew the bolts securing the armrests and remove these parts along with the plates.
3. Disconnect the clips that hold the permanent contact.
4. The crosshead is separated from the air chuck by lightly tapping the connection with a hammer.
5. The wheels are removed from the mounting grooves, the caps located in the steel casing are removed. The procedure is performed using a flat blade screwdriver.

Stages of making a manger with your own hands, finishing

It is recommended to carry out all manipulations with the mechanisms that hold the structure suspended, so as not to break the fragile plastic parts. For the same reason, you should not apply physical stress when unscrewing the fasteners. Having completed disassembling the computer chair, you need to collect all the parts in one place so as not to lose anything.

Computer chair repair at home

Computer chair parts that may need to be replaced or repaired

Office chair design diagram

If you are faced with a malfunction of your computer chair, you need to find out which part requires repair. One of the most common causes of failure is the gas lift, as the part that is most susceptible to wear.

Do-it-yourself repairs will not restore the full functionality of an office chair

There are two ways to fix a broken gas lift. The first option is to replace the faulty part with a new one, no matter what, from a whole chair or purchased in a store.

A chair gas lift or lifting mechanism is designed to adjust the height of an office chair

This method can be considered expensive, since it will require purchasing an entire gas lift. To make the replacement, you will need the following set of tools:

• carpenter's hammer;
• pliers;
• bolt with a diameter of at least 10 mm;
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• technical lubricant.

Set of repair tools

To replace the legs of a computer chair, you must follow the step-by-step instructions:

• We remove the wheels and dismantle the seat back, for which we turn the chair over and unscrew the necessary screws from the bottom of the chair. This is necessary for subsequent ease of dismantling; you also need to remove the armrests, if any.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the 4 bolts

Removing the seat from the chair mechanism

Disconnected chair mechanism

• Without turning it over, we remove the seat itself, for which we unscrew the four fastening screws and move away the protective cover of the legs. We knock the gas lift out of the mechanism, for which we use a bolt and a hammer; if the swing mechanism does not separate, you can add technical lubricant.

  Let's start dismantling the gas lift

• We do the same with the crosspiece, but here you may need pliers, since the bolt may not be enough. Tap the edges firmly, and be careful not to touch the gas chamber in the center, as damage to it could be life-threatening. Keep in mind that over time, the fastening may become compacted and come out poorly; in this case, use technical lubricant at the connection point.
• The hardest part is over, all that remains is to put the chair back together. We carry out all the steps in the reverse order: screw the seat back to the swing mechanism, do not forget to check the compliance of the front side of both parts. Assemble the crosspiece, replacing the wheels, and insert the new gas lift with the bottom side into the corresponding hole.

New gas lift to replace the broken one

Putting the cross into place

• Put on the protective cover and install the seat on top (don't forget to remove the protective cap), now you can sit on the chair and check the functionality of the new gas lift and the lever that presses its button.

  Assembled chair after repair

The second method is cheaper; it involves fixing the gas lift in one position. However, this method eliminates the possibility of adjusting the height of the chair, but if you need the same height, it is quite suitable. You will need:

• screwdriver;
• a pipe, rubber hose, or a set of washers, depending on what you have on hand;
• cloth to remove traces of oil.

Before starting repairs, it is important to make sure that there is no gas in the gas lift and that the gas chamber has free movement up and down, that is, if the height adjustment lever dangles freely. Only then follow the instructions.

According to the instructions presented earlier, remove the chair along with the swing mechanism, leaving the cross.

Use a mallet to knock the crosspiece off the chair; you need to hit it as close to the middle as possible, alternately from different sides of the pneumatic chuck

We turn it up and see a latch in the center, remove it, and then take out the oil-coated washers. Having done this, you can pull out the outer housing, from which the lifting rod sticks out, on which a rubber damper, a thrust washer, a bearing and a second thrust washer are attached.

Removing the steel latch washer

We remove the glass, and then everything else from the axle - the rubber band, washers and bearing

Next, we select a supply that we will attach to the lifting rod, thereby securing the height of the chair at a certain level. You can use any material from PVC pipe to hose and washers with nuts, the main thing is that it fits freely on the rod.

We make a tube of the required length, with an internal diameter no less than the diameter of the axis

Measure the required length of the hose and secure it with a damper, then attach a thrust washer, a bearing, a second washer and insert the structure back into the gas lift body.

We put the resulting tube on the axle, and then the elastic band (if it is still alive) and washers with a bearing

Reassemble the gas lift by installing the outer washers and latch. The chair is ready.

We put the cross in place and complete the assembly by installing the wheels

Tips for use

A computer chair, especially one that is being repaired, is a rather fragile and vulnerable structure. During operation, it is recommended to strictly adhere to the instructions. If you ignore existing rules, the shelf life of the product will be significantly reduced. To ensure that office furniture lasts a long time, the following points should be considered:

1. It is not recommended to use chairs in rooms with high air humidity.
2. If furniture was brought to an office or apartment from the cold, you cannot immediately begin assembly, since fragile plastic parts are very sensitive to temperature changes. It is best to start installation at least every other day.
3. Do not put pressure on the bolts when assembling, otherwise the nut may get caught under the upholstery and you will have to disassemble the seat in search of fastenings.
4. Do not exceed the permissible load on the rollers and crosspiece.

Do not sit on the chair alone, otherwise the base of the product may break. Employees with a large weight are recommended to choose chairs with a metal cross - it is more durable and reliable than plastic ones. It is strictly forbidden to fall on the swing seat.

You should be aware of the fragility of the armrests. Under no circumstances should you sit on them. Experts recommend tightening all mounting bolts once every quarter to prevent them from loosening over time. You should not use the seat to carry heavy objects; this will quickly damage the upholstery and break the mechanisms. You cannot bring a chair to the floor if it is covered with tiles: when the rollers get into the joints between its fragments, this leads to rapid wear.

In computer chairs, the fabric is quite vulnerable to external influences. The seat and backrest should be vacuumed weekly to prevent dust accumulation. For stubborn stains, use only those products recommended in the instructions for use. It is strictly forbidden to use traditional methods.

Do not allow children to play in the office chair for fun. This quickly wears out the rollers and crosshead, and also reduces the service life of the swinging mechanism.

In order for the chair to work for a long time and not break, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the operating requirements. If the warranty on a piece of furniture has already expired, you can carry out simple repairs yourself. The success of the repair depends on the severity of the problem, as well as the quality of the spare parts chosen to fix the problem.

Operating rules

What can break first?

First of all, the moving parts that take on the maximum load fail. The gas lift often fails. At some point it may lose its tightness. This can be seen by the fact that the chair cannot withstand the height and every time it sinks completely under your weight.

In addition, wheels can often break. We may accidentally run over something, the wheel may spin unsuccessfully, and so on. In this case, the chair will lose stability, which we will immediately feel.

For moving parts that often become loose and even break, we turn to the backrest support. This is where the spring and retainer mostly fail.

Let's look at each of these breakdowns and turn to the recommendations of professionals for eliminating them.

How to fix the back of a computer chair

Various breakdowns can occur with the rear. For example, at some point we may bend too much and the spring will not be able to resist. We can also damage the upholstery with our careless attitude, which simply needs to be changed. Let's look at each of these two cases.

The mechanism connecting the seat and backrest is called permanent contact. With this mechanism we can fix the position of the backrest at different angles. Often this mechanism breaks if you overdo it a little with the fixing screw. By clamping such a screw, we can break the thread, and only replacing it will help us. Before repairing, purchase a new screw. Typically, the permanent contact is covered by a plastic cover that can simply be removed by lifting it off. If you cannot turn the nut, use a grinder to disassemble it. After removing the old bolt, you can reassemble the mechanism with a new bolt.

Replacing the upholstery is a very simple matter. Let's look at the whole process step by step:

1. Unscrew the adjusting screw from below and remove the back part.
2. Remove the rear trim strip.
3. Tear off the old trim from the clamps.
4. At this time, you can wash the foam rubber, taking advantage of the moment.
5. Now you can take a new coating and repeat the whole process in reverse order.

How to remove hair?

The wheels of office chairs get most dirty in homes where there are pets. Even regular wet cleaning does not solve the problem. Over time, all objects around will still become clogged with wool.

Attention! Dirty rollers begin to jam. At the first sign of dust and hair accumulation, you should clean the furniture.

Turn the chair over and inspect the wheels. Find out if they are clogged with animal hair or textile fibers (if there is a carpet on the floor).

The first step is to try to clean the rollers by hand. If everything works out, they will spin like new again. If normal cleaning fails, use scissors or a knife. The main thing is not to hurt your fingers in the process of removing dirt. Sharp objects are ideal for removing hairballs and textile fibers.

To remove the casters from an office chair for cleaning, you need to turn the furniture over and unscrew the mounting bolts. The wheels must be washed in soapy water and only then put them back in place.

Common breakdowns

There are several common breakdowns that require you to disassemble an office chair.

Damage to the cross

Often people encounter damage to the five-pointed cross. To disassemble it, you need to perform several sequential steps.

Remove rollers

Disassembling a broken crosspiece begins with removing the rollers attached to it. In most models, such wheels are not fixed too tightly and therefore it will be easy to remove them.

To do this, simply unscrew the mounting screws and carefully remove each of the rollers.

Dismantle the piastra

Having finished with the wheels on the crosspiece, they begin to dismantle the piastres, which are screwed to the surface of the seat with screws. You can unscrew them with a regular Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the piastre.

Types of office chairs

For the manager, for the staff and for visitors.

The executive chair is fully equipped with: a five-beam steel crosspiece, a synchromesh mechanism, mechanisms for adjusting the backrest resistance and seat depth, etc.

The chair for employees is not as equipped and functional. As a rule, such models are lightweight, which ensures high mobility. It is also equipped with a device for adjusting the seat height and backrest angle.

An office chair for visitors, simple, comfortable, beautiful, but lacking functionality. As a rule, they do not have a rotation mechanism.

At KINGSTYLE we will help you sort out every detail of the chair

Managers are always ready to help with advice based on 10 years of experience. Call, chat on the website or come to our salons for a consultation.

Delivery

in 1–3 days. Pickup available from warehouse or showroom.

Payment

in any way convenient for you. By bank cards, in cash, through the “Settlement” system and in installments.

Guarantee

- from 12 months or more, depending on the manufacturer.

Common breakdowns

There are several common breakdowns that require you to disassemble an office chair.

Damage to the cross

Often people encounter damage to the five-pointed cross. To disassemble it, you need to perform several sequential steps.

Remove rollers

Disassembling a broken crosspiece begins with removing the rollers attached to it. In most models, such wheels are not fixed too tightly and therefore it will be easy to remove them.

To do this, simply unscrew the mounting screws and carefully remove each of the rollers.

Dismantle the piastra

Having finished with the wheels on the crosspiece, they begin to dismantle the piastres, which are screwed to the surface of the seat with screws. You can unscrew them with a regular Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the piastre.

Remove the retaining clip

A special locking clip is installed in the upper part of the pneumatic chuck, which must be removed when disassembling the office chair. When removing this part, you can use different tools. Many people use wire cutters, a hammer, a screwdriver, and even scissors. When using a hammer, you must be careful not to break anything.

Knock out the gas lift

Having gotten rid of the locking clip, they are engaged in knocking out the installed gas lift. To perform the work, use a hammer with a rubberized head. Metal hammers are contraindicated, as they can damage the design of the pneumatic chuck. You need to hit the central part of the gas lift with a hammer until it breaks out.

Destruction of the swing mechanism

If the backrest starts to wobble a lot, it means there are problems with the swing mechanism. To disassemble it, perform the following steps:

• the bolts with which the part was attached to the seat are unscrewed;
• the gas lift installed inside the device is removed and the mechanism is removed.

Most often, the part cannot be repaired and therefore it is better to immediately replace it with a new one.

Air chuck failure

The pneumatic cartridge is a complex structure consisting of two chambers with air. When you press a special lever, each chamber is filled with air. If filling does not occur, the air chuck is seriously damaged. Problems may arise due to the damaged integrity of the seal and piston.

How to remove a gas lift for repairs

People who decide to repair the gas lift themselves will have to first unscrew it. There are several common methods for removing this part:

• stand with your feet on the crosspiece and strongly rock the seat, pulling it towards you with your hands, until the mechanism begins to be removed from the rod;
• turn the chair over, then carefully knock out the pneumatic cartridge with a hammer;
• Unscrew the gas lift from the seat and knock it out.

Additional amenities

Neck pillow

. Provides additional support. For short or very tall people, it may not correspond to height, since according to GOST everything is done on average.

Ergoback

. You can purchase it additionally if your chair does not have a lumbar support element. In the middle price segments and above, there is no need for an ergoback.

Step

. Found in children's chairs. It can be adjusted to the length of the child’s legs to achieve a 90° angle at the knees. Thus, as the child grows, he will not stop feeling comfortable in the chair - just adjust the footrest.