A modern office chair is a functional and comfortable piece of furniture, equipped with a rather complex mechanism that sooner or later fails. In such a situation, there are three options for the development of events: purchase a new one, take it to a specialized workshop, or repair the office chair yourself.
As practice has shown, it is quite possible to carry out such work on your own. The only thing that is required from the master is strict adherence to the sequence of actions and implementation of the instructions that will be given in this publication.
Types of office chairs
Today, there are three types of chairs on the office furniture market:
- For a manager This piece of furniture usually has maximum capabilities: a five-beam steel cross; synchronization mechanism (a device that forces the seat and backrest to repeat the movements of the owner); mechanisms for adjusting backrest resistance, seat depth, negative tilt, etc.
- For staff , furniture of this type has more modest characteristics and functionality. Most varieties are lightweight (ensuring high mobility) and are equipped with mechanisms for adjusting seat height, armrests, and back angle.
- For visitors, Office chairs of this modification are simply beautiful, stable and comfortable furniture, devoid of any functionality. Often they do not even have a rotation mechanism and are produced on four legs, instead of one supporting leg with a cross on wheels.
How to remove wheels
After examining the possible problems, you can begin to fix the problem. Guide on how to remove a wheel from an office chair:
- turn the chair over and place it on a stable surface;
- try to detach the roller from the chair by hand;
- if necessary, pry up the casing with a slotted screwdriver, move it to the side, hook the wheel and pull it out.
Turn the chair over and detach the casters
Sometimes just disassembling the casters is not enough. To transport or replace main parts, the chair must be completely disassembled. It can be done in several stages:
- the chair turns over, using a Phillips screwdriver, the bolts connecting the seat and the piastra, a device that adjusts the height of the chair, are unscrewed;
- the armrests are removed - the mounting bolts are removed;
- the gas lift is disconnected from the piastra by gently tapping the piastra with a rubber hammer;
- the backrest is removed from the chair - the special bolts connecting the backrest and seat are unscrewed;
- The crosspiece is removed - a ring drift is placed between the crosspiece and the gas lift and knocked out with a hammer.
Assembling a chair is more difficult than disassembling it. After removing the wheels from your office chair, you need to carefully pack all the parts so that not a single part gets lost.
Remove the seat by unscrewing the screws
Using caution, the gas lift can be removed using a hammer
To remove the gas lift, it is safer to use a ring drift
Remove wheels
Design features
Despite the variability of designs and functional content, almost all chairs consist of one set of elements:
- Five-beam cross (base). This part is made of metal or plastic. The first option is better quality and more expensive
- Rollers . Just like the crosspiece, the wheels can be made of metal or plastic. However, the mount and internal hinge of any roller are metal
- Pneumatic cartridge (gas lift). The part serves as the leg of the chair 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 swing possible.
- Piastra . This element is a metal platform with a lever. Serves to change the height of the seat relative to the cross
- Permanent contact is an element that connects the backrest to the seat and is responsible for changes in its position
Most office chair models have armrests. In cheap models, these elements are made of plastic; in more expensive ones - made of anodized or stainless steel.
Tools
Before you remove the wheel from your office chair, you need to prepare your tools. In modern models this can be done without special devices. But there are cases when the chair has been in use for quite a long time, the parts have become deformed, bent, or worn out. Detaching the roller in this situation is a little more difficult. To make your work easier:
- Screwdriver or special plate. The thin part of the tool is used to pry up the wheel and carefully detach it. A screwdriver is also used to remove the plugs into which the rollers are inserted.
- Pliers. During the process of detaching the rollers, a metal pin may become stuck in the crosspiece. You can pull it out using pliers.
- Regular or rubber hammer. Helps, if necessary, to dislodge a wheel that is stuck. In addition, a rubber hammer is used to release the gas lift.
For more serious repairs, when you need to replace not only the rollers, but also the cross, you will need a ring drift. With its help you can easily separate the cross from the gas lift.
Common breakdowns
As noted above, an office chair is a rather complex device and any of its structural elements can fail.
Damage to the cross
The problem with this element may be destruction at the junction of the beams. The material from which the cross is made is important here.
As a rule, the base is a hollow structure into which a polypropylene pipe of suitable size and cross-section can be inserted. It, in turn, must be rigidly fixed to the base and the damaged beam.
Plastic parts cannot be spliced using glue or a soldering iron due to the large loads on the paws. There is no point in restoring the integrity of this element. The best option would be to completely replace the damaged structure with a glass-filled polyamide base.
In order to dismantle the crosspiece of an office chair, you need:
- Remove the rollers . As a rule, they do not have a rigid fixation and are quite simply removed from the mounting sockets. To illustrate the process, it is recommended to watch the video:
- Dismantle the piastra . Fastening to the seat is done “on a cone”. Disconnection from the gas elevator is carried out by tapping on the attachment point. The correct process for disassembling an office chair is shown in the video:
- Remove the locking clip located in the recess on the top of the hydraulic lift.
- Knock out the gas lift for repair or replacement of the five-beam.
Note! In case of critical damage or destruction, it is impossible to knock the gas elevator out of the base. In this case, you should remove the working cylinder with the seal and bearing from the “glass”.
The process technology and dismantling device are shown in the video:
Destruction of the swing mechanism
If the chair does not hold the “horizon”, then the problem is most likely in the destruction of the swing mechanism.
Fastening to the seat is done with four screws using a shaped screwdriver. The element is dismantled as follows:
- The bolts that secure the rocking mechanism from the seat are unscrewed
- The gas lift is knocked out of the device mount.
This element is made of metal.
You can independently solve the problem of a collapsed device by completely replacing it (recommended) or using a welding machine.
It should be noted that most chairs originating from the Middle Kingdom are not suitable for domestic spare parts. This concerns, first of all, the swing mechanisms (size discrepancy).
- Chinese mechanisms: 200 x 200 mm.
- Domestic: 200 x 150 mm.
In order not to re-drill holes when replacing an element, we suggest using adapter plates. How it looks assembled can be seen in the figure below.
Air chuck failure
The pneumatic cartridge of the chair is a two-chamber structure filled with air. When you press the adjustment lever, the valve stops the flow of air between the chambers.
If, when pressing on the valve, the gas lift rod does not extend, it means that the integrity of the piston, seal, etc. is compromised.
It is important to know! The gas lift cannot be disassembled . If damaged, a complete replacement of the element is required
The dismantling process is described above. To clarify the process, watch the video about replacing the gas cartridge on office chairs:
A fairly common cause of gas lift failure is the bending of the adjustment lever, which does not allow pressing on the cartridge valve. In this case, the repair can be easily carried out independently: you need to bend the lever to its original state.
Signs indicating the need for restoration
The chairs in question include mechanical and hydraulic adjustment systems. If the seat lowers when you sit down, it is likely that the gas cartridge is empty. This creates inconvenience and reduces employee productivity. If it is uncomfortable to sit in a chair, performing any actions at the computer will be slowed down. In addition, problems with posture may arise, your back may begin to hurt, and even the development of scoliosis. Therefore, it is necessary that the seating area remains in order at all times.
Before deciding to replace the gas lift, you need to check the computer chair for its functionality. You need to sit on it and try to change the height of the seat: raise it and then lower it. If no changes have occurred, you can safely go to the store for a new device. There you will select the necessary parts with the required dimensions and a gas cartridge. Experienced consultants who are well versed in all models of gas lift chairs will help you choose the types of spare parts suitable for your chair. The gas cartridge itself is not worth repairing on your own. This is a health hazard and can even take your life. The best option would be to buy a new part. Its cost is not that high. If your hands are skilled, you will be able to independently replace a failed gas lift with a new product. What you need to repair the chair can be bought at a store that sells this product. Of course, home renovations will save your finances. But, if in doubt, it is better to seek the help of specialists. And here there is no need to deliver the seat to the workshop, since most of them provide similar services at home. There are not many parts in the gas lift chair, so restoring it will not be particularly difficult. And if you still decide to make the replacement yourself, you will need materials and tools. Materials: chair, gas lift sized to fit the chair, WD40 spray lubricant and bearing lubricant. Tools for work: flat and figured screwdrivers, vice, tape measure, rubber hammer, metal drift and pipe wrench.
Additional Tips
The task becomes even easier if it disappears on its own. Excess parts can be pulled out using a screwdriver; they will no longer be suitable for any purpose. Experts advise making a complete replacement, since different types of wheels can make it difficult to move on the floor covering. And in general, timely replacement will ensure a longer service life of the rollers.
This information on how to change wheels on office chairs will also help if you had to assemble a new model yourself and without instructions.
How to remove wheels from an office chair, common causes of breakdowns
A computer chair is an indispensable attribute of a modern office, study or workspace in the home. It is comfortable, versatile - adapted to different parameters and weights. The chair holds the back well, fixes posture, which makes a person less tired and reduces the load on the musculoskeletal system. Despite its reliability, the chair sometimes breaks, which causes inconvenience. One of the most common breakdowns is damage to the wheels. That is why you need to know how to remove the wheels from an office chair and replace them if necessary. Such repairs do not require special knowledge or high costs - you can do it yourself without calling a specialist.
How to disassemble a chair before replacing it
In order to replace the roller wheels or simply clean them of debris, you need to remove them. Anyone can cope with this simple task without the help of a specialist.
ATTENTION! Before removing the rollers, it is recommended to drop lubricant into the place where they are attached. This will make your job easier!
First, turn the chair upside down. Then, using a little force, pull out the wheel. If the roller cannot be removed, pry it off with a screwdriver. Sometimes it happens that the wheel comes out, but the pin remains. In this situation, pull out the pin using pliers. After this, the work of removing the roller wheels can be considered complete.
Due to a broken landing pin for attaching the wheels, a lack of locking rings on the rollers, or wear on the crosspiece plug, the wheels begin to fall out. We will replace the crosspiece by partially disassembling the chair. Turning the office chair upside down, remove the wheels using the method described above. To remove the crosspiece from the gas lift, you need to hold on to the gas lift and gently tap it with a hammer from above around the connection point. The broken part can be easily removed.
IMPORTANT! Rollers falling out is the most common failure in chairs.
In order to ensure that all parts remain intact after disassembly, you need to act carefully, without using excessive force. Then it won’t be difficult to collect them.
