How to disassemble a computer chair with your own hands: step-by-step instructions, repair rules

Design features of an office chair

Before you get started, you need to understand the basic design features of chairs for sitting at a personal computer. There are several parts that are often installed in such chairs.

Five-pointed cross

Many people overlook this design component because it is located at the bottom. The crosspiece is considered one of the main parts of the chair, since it is responsible for stability. If it is of poor quality, the furniture will quickly break. When choosing the diameter of the cross, future loads should be taken into account. Experts advise choosing models with a diagonal of 60-65 centimeters, as they are the most reliable and durable.

Rollers

Special wheels are installed on the five-spoke crosspiece, thanks to which you can move the chair on a flat floor surface. Casters are also considered the most important part of furniture, since they bear a considerable load. They are made from various materials, but the most common are polyurethane, polypropylene or nylon.

If the chair will be installed on a parquet or laminate flooring, it is better to choose a chair with polyurethane wheels.

Pneumatic cartridge

Every modern office chair is equipped with a special gas cartridge. This part is made in the form of a small metal cylinder, which is filled with an inert gaseous substance. The main purpose of the pneumatic chuck is to regulate the height of the seat. This detail is also needed to make it more convenient to use office furniture. The pneumatic cartridge is located between the seat and the five-beam cross with wheels.

Rocking mechanism

Most models of chairs are equipped with an adjustment mechanism, with which a person can personally adjust the angle of the seat and backrest. The swing mechanism is also used to adjust the rigidity of the furniture and fix it in different positions. Expensive furniture is equipped with special synchronous mechanisms that automatically adjust the level of inclination when a person sits down at the computer.

Piastra

It's no secret that any office chair can be adjusted in height. The piastra is responsible for adjusting the height. This is a metal device mounted on the inner surface of the seat. The piastra is equipped with a special lever that acts on the pneumatic cartridge valve. This mechanism is widespread and is installed in both expensive and budget models of office chairs.

Permanent contact

Chairs that are equipped with permanent contact are suitable for people who have to spend a lot of time sitting at a personal computer. The properties of such a mechanism include the following:

height adjustment of the backrest;
seat depth adjustment;
hardness adjustment;
tilting the backrest forward or backward to prevent stiffening of the spinal discs.

Some types of permanent contacts allow you to fix the backrest in a certain position so that it does not constantly move.

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:

It is not recommended to use chairs in rooms with high air humidity.
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.
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.
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:

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

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.

Design and principle of operation

If we talk about the structure of the part in question, then it should be said that the main parts of this design are such elements.

Button. By pressing it, the valve closes and opens, which releases gas from one chamber to another, which allows you to adjust the height of the entire structure. Pressing occurs using a lever located under the seat of the chair. Although sometimes it may be located in a different place.

If we talk about the principle of gas lift operation, then it cannot be called complicated. To begin with, the mechanism consists of a pair of reservoirs and a valve that can open and close. It is his work that causes the gas to move through the bypass channel between the containers. If the chair is in the lower position, the piston will be in the maximum raised position. When you press the lever, the valve opens, the gas begins to move into another tank and thereby presses the piston, which moves down and raises the chair.

Once the chair is at the desired level, you simply release the lever to lock it. The valve will close immediately and the chair will be in the desired position. If you need to lower the chair, you just need to press the lever, after which it will lower under the weight of the person. That is, to raise the chair, you need to stand up from it. As you can see, the operating principle of a gas lift is extremely simple.

How to repair a gas cartridge with your own hands

First, the washer is removed from the bottom of the gas cartridge, after which the plastic casing is removed. Then the upper bearing with the rubber gasket is unscrewed. Having disassembled the product, carefully inspect the gasket. If it is worn out, it will have to be replaced. Sometimes, when sitting on a chair, a characteristic cracking sound is heard, indicating a bearing failure. In this case, it will have to be changed along with the rubberized gasket.

Replacement of gas elevator

If the gas cartridge does not compress, and the device is required when using a chair, that is, fixing the device in one position is unacceptable, then a complete replacement of the mechanism is required.

To replace you need:

prepare a certain set of tools and additional materials;
familiarize yourself with the work flow chart.

Preparing to replace the gas lift

To replace the gas lift swing mechanism, you will need to prepare:

new chair lift. You can purchase accessories in a specialized store. When choosing a gas elevator, you should take into account the dimensions of the equipment and the maximum load. If you can’t determine the parameters yourself, you can use the help of sales consultants;
Phillips screwdriver for assembling and disassembling furniture;
hammer. To ensure safety, it is better to use a hammer made of rubber. Such a tool will not damage the equipment during operation;
ring punch;

Punch – a tool for pulling out (so-called “knocking out”) parts from holes

vice. You can replace the gas lift without a vice, but using a bench tool will simplify the work;
WD-40 liquid.

Sequence of replacement work

How to remove the old gas lift from the chair and install a new lift? The work is performed in the following sequence:

treating all joints of stool elements with WD-40 liquid. This will make the disassembly process easier;

Lubricating units to facilitate disassembly

In accordance with the recommendations of specialists, WD should be applied the day before performing other replacement work. 12 - 15 hours should be enough for the lubricant to penetrate into all connections. In addition to facilitating disassembly, the specified time is required to obtain a normal gas lift temperature when changing in the cold season.

seat detachment.

How to disassemble the chair? Using a Phillips screwdriver of the appropriate size, loosen the bolts securing the seat to the piastre.

Next, the chair is turned over and the seat and decorative casing are removed from the lift using rolling movements. The work can also be done by resting your feet on the crosspiece and using rolling movements to remove the chair;

Detaching the seat from the cross and gas lift

disconnecting the lift from the piaster and crosspiece.

The work is done by knocking out the gas lift with a hammer with a rubber tip. To facilitate the process of disassembling the cross and the lift, you can also use a metal drift.

Before knocking out, remove the retaining ring - the pin located on the back side of the cross at the point where the gas cartridge is connected;

Removing the gas cartridge from the piastrum

The work must be carried out extremely carefully so as not to damage the connecting elements. Tapping with a hammer is carried out in different places for the smooth exit of the gas elevator.

installation of a new gas cartridge. To do this, at the first stage it is necessary to insert the device into the crosspiece (until there is a click indicating the fixation of the element), applying some force, put on the protective and decorative casing and connect the half-assembled structure with the piaster;
Assembling the computer chair in reverse order.

Final assembly

You can learn more about the independent process of replacing a gas elevator on a computer chair by watching the video.

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Replacing a gas chair lift is not a complicated process, so even a novice craftsman can do the job on his own. If you have all the tools, a new lift and pre-processing, the work is completed within 15 - 20 minutes.

Disassembling the chair-bed depending on the model

There are certain nuances depending on the type of chair:

It is better to not completely disassemble small-sized models for moving; if possible, it is enough to divide the structure into two parts.
Double models are more reminiscent of a sofa or sofa and the principles of their disassembly differ little.
Corner models must be disassembled from the back, which is present in the vast majority of chairs of this design.

Folding parts of the “accordion”, “tick-tock”, “telescope”, “puma” and “eurobook” types, as a rule, are not too different from disassembling ordinary furniture. Because of similar components.

But those designed according to the “dolphin”, “sedaflex” and “recliner” principle almost always consist of a metal frame. And they demand that this particular structural element be dismantled first.

What it is

The gas lift, which is an integral part of office chairs, is a device that in its appearance resembles a truck body lifting system, but is slightly smaller in size. Another name for this device is a gas spring.

The mechanism of this gas spring is attached from above to the base of the seat, and from below it is attached to the crosspiece. The lifting height will depend on the size of the pneumatic chuck. Usually its length varies in the range of 13-16 centimeters.

It should be noted that the gas lift has 3 functions.

Dampening the shock load on the spine. The point is that when a person sits down in a chair, the mechanism works like a shock absorber, springing the seat and significantly reducing the load on the spine. Thanks to these properties, the chairs become significantly more comfortable and easier to use. That is, you can quickly sit down and get up without fear of back problems.
Adjusting the seat position. Using a pneumatic chuck, you can raise or lower the chair in a few seconds without making any serious effort. It is enough to simply press the lever from below, and the structure will either fall under the weight of its mass, or rise if you stand up from it, which will reduce the resistance.
Possibility of circular rotation of the chair. This allows you to freely access everything that is located at a distance of up to 50 centimeters and turn where you want, if necessary. The special mechanism is designed in such a way that you can spin around its axis without any problems.

In fact, a gas lift is a special hydraulic cylinder designed specifically for office chairs.

Varieties

Existing models differ in various parameters. Next, let's look at them in a little more detail.

Materials

An extensive selection of materials allows you to develop models for any type of interior.

Wood is a very popular and stylish option, most often used to make custom-made chairs for important people. Only durable wood species are used, and metal raw materials are used for the middle. The wheels are mounted on a hub with a cap.

Dimensions

To classify crosses by size, three parameters are used. Cross diameter. The rays extending from the middle can have a diameter from 480 to 700 mm, so it was decided to divide these sizes according to the target audience of buyers.

For children and teenagers. For this category of users, models have been developed that are designed for relatively lighter loads and are smaller in size. The diameter of the crosspieces for such chairs is 480–580 mm.

Diameter of hole for gas lift. There are 2 options.

A 50 mm hole is the most popular type; most gas lifts have this pipe diameter. It is used in budget models, and therefore allows repair work to be carried out much cheaper.
38 mm hole - for models with massive chairs (for executives) from the premium segment.

. Wheel hole diameter. There are also 2 size options to consider when it comes time to repair the spiders.

11 mm is the most common solution, found in most crosses, and therefore there are no problems finding wheels for any type of floor material.
10 mm is a rare hole, functionally no different from the previous version, used in wooden and designer crosses.

Design

Strengthening the structure is achieved through the use of durable materials and reinforcing parts. Additional gluing, double welding of seams, attachment of steel corners and threaded elements allow the chair to withstand greater loads compared to unreinforced models. Bases made from combinations of materials often have caps on the bottom surface to make the cross more durable.

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.

Disconnected chair mechanism

Let's start dismantling the gas lift

New gas lift to replace the broken one

Putting the cross into place

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.

Parts replacement process

Before replacing the gas lift of an office chair, it should be checked for functionality. You need to sit on the chair with all your weight and try to raise or lower its position. If there is no reaction, then in a specialized store you can easily choose a gas lift for the chair. There are all the necessary dimensions and hydraulics, as well as a gas cartridge, since they are the same almost everywhere. Experienced specialists who are more accurately versed in the models of this furniture will help you choose the right model.

Be careful! There are gas lifts with an unusual high cone

Repairing a gas lift yourself is quite simple, you just need to follow the instructions:

The seat can be easily removed; you need to unscrew 4 bolts one by one with a Phillips screwdriver. Carefully remove it from the fasteners without stripping the threads.
The day of removal, you stand on the cross and gradually pull the seat high up.
First you need to know how to remove the old gas lift and dismantle it. Having disconnected the seat, you need to knock it out of the cross with a hammer without damaging it. It begins to gradually slide down even from weak blows and therefore you don’t need to put in a lot of effort to get everything down, just choose a comfortable position for striking at different points.
Raise the gas lift further from the floor; strong impacts can damage plastic parts, which is why sometimes the help of an additional person is required.
Next, the new part is inserted in place of the old one and screwed onto the same bolts. Knowing how a gas lift works, it is not difficult to mentally imagine replacing it.

Now many people know what to do if the chair mechanism is constantly acting up. Replacing a lowered gas appliance will not take much time; the standard procedure lasts no more than fifteen minutes. The entire process of how to repair or change a gas lift is described above in order to feel comfortable when you sit in a chair. Try and do everything right so as not to spend money on a complete replacement of an office chair.

What not to do when disassembling

It is unacceptable to make rough and strong movements - such an approach to business is fraught with breaking furniture elements, tearing its coverings or breaking fasteners.

If disassembly is carried out for the purpose of repairing the frame or replacing the upholstery, you cannot leave part of the fittings unremoved. By the way, it doesn’t hurt to take a photo of the places where it is attached, so that later, when assembling, you don’t get confused.

In the case of disassembling a chair to move it to another room, it is strictly not recommended to do this partially, leaving parts of the furniture articulated, only loosening the fastenings and bending the parts to make the structure narrower. This is often done. This often ends in failure.