How to repair a sinking office chair: Fast $4.00 DIY fix
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Do you have a an office swivel chair that sinks bit by bit to its lowest level? This is a problem that these pneumatic cylinder chairs can develop as they get older. What ever you do, don't get rid of that chair. There is a simple, quick, and inexpensive fix, and you don't even have to disassemble the chair! Best of all you can do it yourself.
You can use simple hand tools: a slotted screw driver or nut driver, a 5/16" wrench or socket, and a measuring tape. No specialized skills are needed.
This procedure should work on most rotating office chairs with hydraulic gas cylinders and lever type adjusters, and it will absolutely stop your chair from slipping.
See it on Amazon: Adj. Hose Clamp Assortment amzn.to/3IVbr7J (paid link)
(Note: Paid links. As an Amazon associate, Deer Park Home & Shop earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the consumer.)
Please like and share our video. Also, you can click this link to subscribe to our channel:
/ @deerparkhomeshop2471
Questions and suggestions are encouraged, so please feel free to comment, but please be tasteful and respect the opinions of others.
Our channel caters to both the beginner, the tool challenged, and, of course, to the more experienced. With that in mind, our goal is to provide comprehensive and easy to follow instructions and information. We offer woodworking, tool reviews, DIY projects, and a little tech thrown in for good measure.
this is like watching my papa explain something to me, hes long since passed now but dang this video is comforting to watch
I'll take that as a wonderful compliment! My Dad got me started on the path to being a handyman. Thanks for taking the time to watch my video.
Thanks. I called a carpenter after buying the clamp since the clamp can be difficult to put on. After seeing your video, he followed your instructions, and
it worked like a charm.
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad it worked out for you. Did you use two clamps or one?
This is perfect! I got a really fancy ergonomic office chair off of someone for free due to this issue. Used this method and now I have a nice chair!
That's great! Glad it worked. Thank you for watching.
Just tried it and so far so good. Simple and cheap. Thank you, Sir.
That,s great! Thanks for watching my video.
This is a great video and an easy fix. Wife had an office chair that was not staying at the level she wanted and with two pipe clamps it cost me $4 to save her favorite chair! Thanks so much!
I apologize. Somehow I missed your comment. Thank you for watching and I'm glad you were able to fix your chair.
that's my kind of easy! after all...the chair is just for me!
Easy and cheap! Thanks for watching.
I fixed it this way, and it worked for a few months. I decided to drill a hole and drive a screw. A little tape to hold the screw in the hole was fixed Three years later still works as new, except the seat ripped off. Good for my garage.
The secret is to use two clamps butted up against each other and tightened well. My repair is still working. Noithing wrong with the drilling method though!
Thank you so much for this easy fix. I don't have to buy a new chair, after all!!!
I'm glad it was successful and this is a pretty mush permanent repair. The repair I made in the video is still holding after 3 years. Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much! It worked like a charm. The hose clamp cost me $0.3.
Glad it worked for you! I like simple solutions.
AWESOME...as a mechanic I to did the same such an easy fix....MOPAR 4 EVER.
There's nothing more versatile than radiator clamps! Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much you really helped me with this video! I did exactly as you said with two clamps and finally my chair is fixed. You rock!!!
I'm glad it worked for you. Thanks for the kind words!
Putting some duct tape or rubber surface around the metal pipe helps a lot! I used an extra tennis racquet overgrip I had lying around. Gives the hose clamp something to grip on to.
Electricians tape works well also, but most things I tried started slipping eventually. Using two clamps has really done the trick.
The best video on this topic. Trying this week
Thank you for watching!
You may have saved the day! My son who has autism, told me his chair "broked." going to get a couple of hose clips to see if momma can fix it :)
Sure you can fix it! Thanks for commenting.
My neighbor has a teenage boy with autism. His parents give him incentive to repair appliances himself, such as candy. If candy doesn't work, they told me that they send him to bed without dinner because they don't believe in corporal punishment. This method gets positive results 50% of the time.
Appreciate the metric conversions. Thanks from NZ!
Thanks for your comment. I was hoping the conversions would help viewers outside the USA.. I think we are the only place left that still uses the old system.
god bless you dude, this has saved me 100s of $$$
Glad you were able to use it! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the informative video. I will try this fix on my chair. ☺
Thanks Dan, I'm glad that you found it helpful.
Indeed...this works better than the WD-40 method which does not work. THANK YOU FOR SHARING....~!
I am not familiar with the WD-40 method. How does that work?
Thanks, We did this before we watched your video but didn't wipe the column off so it started slipping. Going back now and redo and wipe the column off then reclamp. My chair is still comfortable and hated to spend a bunch of money on a new chair!!
I don't blame you. Did you use two clamps?
@@deerparkhomeshop2471 yes
@@pamwilson8286 If that doesn't work, your clamps may not be tight enough, or try wrapping the column with electricians tape, or something similar, before applying the clamps. Good luck.
Zip ties also work. Use about 3 of them
Never tried that. Will they eventually slip?
@@deerparkhomeshop2471 So far so good. I had to looked around the internet and someone said a good alternative to hose clamps are zip ties, so I gave it a try. I was skeptical myself
I used the WD-40 solution and it actually worked!
I haven't heard of a wd40 fix. How does it work?
@@deerparkhomeshop2471
1. Extend the chair to max height and flip the chair upside down
2. Remove the clip holding the piston to the bottom of the chair
3. Spray the extended rod with WD-40
4. Reassemble the chair base and refasten the clip
5. Sit and test the chair by going up and down for about a minute so the full piston gets lubricated. After about an hour (if not immediately) you should see the chair does not sink.
It worked for me at 350lbs and on the first application. A few days later and I still see no sinkage at all, literally.
This solution is great because it doesn't lock me into one height and I can adjust my seat as needed - as designed. If you make a video, I'll check back to see if it worked for you, too.
@@J.E.R.O.M.E. I am definitely going to try it and if it works, I may make another video after testing it for a few months.. Thanks for the info!
Thank you for the video. I'm going to try this tomorrow.
Thanks for watching Sarah!
Worked for me! Thanks!
I,m glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
thanks for the great vid pal, I thought its cause I was too heavy this entire time and lost weight instead of fixing my chair that refuses to stay still, but hey now that I have seen this video ill have a fixed chair once the clamp gets delivered and lost weight so ig me being stupid was a good thing 😅
Well, I'm carrying an extra 20+ lbs. myself, and wish I had a good excuse to loose it. So that's why I used two clamps. It still slipped with just one. Thanks for watching.
If your clamp slips, here is the easy elegant fix I made: th-cam.com/video/5fS7NQbLAlA/w-d-xo.html
Brilliant! THANK YOU!!! This saved my chair!
Great! Thanks for watching my video.
Oh Man , Greaaaaaaat. Simple and Easy.
Glad it worked! Thanks for watching.
Very helpful tip!!! Thanks a bunch!!
Thanks for watching Curtis.
The wd-40 trick works perfect. Just take the clip off the bottom of the cylinder end underneath chair, pull legs and wheels off cyclinder, wipe cylinder down with paper towel and then spray liberally with wd-40, or vaseline if you dont have, then put back together, go up and down a few times, and youre good.
And it won't sink to the floor anymore? I'll have to try that. Thanks for the heads up.
@@deerparkhomeshop2471 yep
@@deerparkhomeshop2471 did not work for my daughter's chair. Saw that fix in another video...now i'm here since it did not work. Another gentlemen's video said to leave it overnight upside down to allow the factory oil to drain back down (or rather to the "top" of the cylinder since it's now upside down). That's where we are now with potential DIY fixes.
@@toddkoontz23 I haven't heard of the upside down method. I will try that tonight and see if it works.
Good vid. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!
thanks for the guide👍👍👍
Thanks for commenting.
cheers for the fix works great
Glad it worked out for you. Thanks.
I am soon to be 75 and by golly I can do this!!!
Of course you can! Nothing to it.
Thanks for the very informative video..I almost want to throw away my "sunken" chair..
Don't throw it away. It's an easy repair!
Very nice, But what happens when the chair sinks to the bottom and will not raise again?
I haven't encountered that myself. Mine would sink all the way down, but I could pull the adjustment lever and raise it back up. Have you tried tuning it upside down and then put your knee on the chair bottom and pull up on the chair legs. Once you have it back out install the clamps before you do anything else.
over the years this has happened many times usually I just dump the chair and buy a new one
But I recently found a company that will sell just the gas cylinder at a low price and it is an easy thing to replace, if fact I have an order in for two cylinders right now, the only down side is they come from China, So quality?????????
@@petercrane2065 They will probably work just fine. Of course, it can be hit and miss on Chinese products.
Thanks for the video!
You're welcome! Great to hear from you Benjamin.
I tried duct tape and it keeps loosening so I left the duct tape on and used a zip tie instead of a clamp. So far so good.
Hoping the zip tie will stop thentape from loosening and give it a permanent grip.
@@topduke527 Hey, if it works, that's all that matters, right?
Just noticed the name "Deer Park". Where about are you located? I'm 20 minutes south of Deer Park, WA. Thanks again!
We are actually a suburb on the SE side of Houston.You're Deer Park is much more scenic!
@@deerparkhomeshop2471 don’t sell yourself short. I spent several years in Texas when I was a teen and remember some great areas down there!
you might want to look at the model number on the chair and get a new cylinder for it.this fix is not something i would reccomend.ive worked on office furniture/chairs for 30+years and know that the manufacturer would void the warranty immediately.most good office chairs have a 10-12 year warranty and will replace the cylinder free of charge if its under warranty.
I'm sure you're right. This video is designed to provide a quick fix for folks who are tool challenged. If I do another chair video, I will mention the warranty. My cheapo chair doesn't even have a brand name on it.
Great video, thank you!
I appreciate the kind words Rheanna! Thanks for watching.
damn, a metal clamp here costs $0.20
$0.20 is cheap. Where is that?
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON!!!!
I'm a fan. Go Coogs!!!
Would this work as well for a chair that keeps rising? My office chair goes all the way down (almost immediately) whenever I sit on it and then go back up whenever I stand! It's very annoying.
You can adjust the level of the clamps on your cylinder to make the chair stop at a comfortable sitting position. This won't make it stop rising from that point.
It doesn't work please. After a while it came down.
The repair has worked for most people, so I'm not sure why it didn't work for you. Try tightening the clamps a bit more. You don't want to overdo it, but if they aren't tight enough it will slip. Make sure the column is clean and free from oil. Many of my viewers have also wrapped the column with electric or duct tape first to give a little extra bite for the clamps.
Tried. Metal too hard for me. I don't have strong fingers.
I am sorry it didn't work for you. Were you using a wrench? That would really give you the extra leverage to get it good and tight.
eats the cylender over time
Do you mean that the clamps move and damage the cylinder surface?
Simply drill hole on the piston(shiny tube) and insert a pin across the hole...that would fix your issue..
I considered that and it will definetly work, but I wanted to offer a quick, easy solution that would appeal to those less tool savy. Thans for watching my video!
We don't cotton much to metric folks, where I'm from
You sound like a son of the south! Where are you from?
Get a new gas cylinder, or better, recover on from a discarded chair. Don't do this.
If you need a chair you can adjust up and down, you will need a new cylinder, but if you can get by with a fixed height setting, the double radiator clamp method is perfect, especially for folks who would hesitate to tackle a cylinder change. I repaired mine over a year ago and it has never needed an adjustment.
Here is the elegant permanent fix I made: th-cam.com/video/5fS7NQbLAlA/w-d-xo.html
Interesting. Good idea! What material is the sleeve you put over the rod? Also, I assume that height adjustment is probably not possible in this method either?
@@deerparkhomeshop2471 I cut it from a scrap piece of copper pipe. Yes, you loose the height adjustment.
@@Sprintervan Thanks. It looks like a good way to do it.