Work chairs in the office use a pneumatic cylinder (pneumatic cylinder) which controls the height of the chair through compressed air. These cylinders often break down after several years of use, generally because the seals are too weak to maintain air pressure. You can purchase a replacement cylinder to restore the seat to its condition, but it will cost about the same as a new seat. Try some of the simple tips below to improve the height of the chair so that it fits you.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using a Hose Clamp
Step 1. Slide the plastic cylinder cover
Most office chairs have a plastic tube that covers the pneumatic cylinder. Slide this cover up or down until the metal cylinder can be seen.
Step 2. Adjust the chair so that it is the right height
You can't re-adjust the height of the chair after this repair, so make sure it's the right height. The seat of the chair should be at your knee level when standing.
- If the chair won't stay at your desired height, even when no one is sitting on it, lay the chair sideways.
- If the plastic cylinder cover is blocking you, remove it first. To do this, turn your chair over, press the retaining clip on the seat base with a screwdriver, and remove the wheel legs followed by the plastic cover. Reattach the wheel legs to the chair.
Step 3. Install the hose clamp around the cylinder
Purchase a hose clamp (jubilee clip) at a hardware store. Loosen the screw in the hose clamp and pull the end of the belt. Attach these clamps around the metal cylinder, but don't tighten them just yet.
Step 4. Strengthen clamp grip (recommended)
The clamp must be installed very firmly to be able to withstand the height of the chair. Wrap several strips of rubber or large tape around the cylinder for a tighter grip on the clamp. Do this at the highest point on the cylinder you can see.
- Otherwise, scrub the area with sandpaper.
- If the cylinder looks dirty and greasy, clean it first.
Step 5. Tighten the clamp as tightly as possible
Slide the hose clamp all the way to the top of the cylinder. Check again whether the seat height is correct. Pull the hose clamp tight and tighten it by turning the screw.
Step 6. Test your chair
Your chair is now no longer able to slump because it is held by the hose clamp. The height control on the chair still doesn't work. If your seat height is incorrect, slide the hose clamp up or down on the cylinder.
If the hose clamp comes loose and falls off, wrap around a rubber strip to increase clamping grip, or try the PVC tubing method below
Method 2 of 2: Using PVC Pipe
Step 1. Measure your seat cylinder
Lower the plastic covering the metal cylinder. Measure the cylinder diameter using a ruler. Also, measure the length of the cylinder when the seat is at its maximum height.
The measurements you get don't have to be exact, but you can calculate the diameter from the circumference of the circle if you want an accurate number
Step 2. Purchase PVC pipe
This pipe will be able to enter the seat pneumatic cylinder. The pipe size is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the cylinder diameter. The 3.8 cm diameter pipe should fit most chair models. Purchase a pipe that goes from the wheel of the chair leg to the seat of the chair, at the height you want.
- You don't have to use a single piece of pipe. In fact, sometimes it's easier to work with small pieces of pipe. You can also cut it yourself at home.
- There are also people who use plastic shower rings instead of PVC pipes. These rings are cheaper and easier to put on, but they are not sturdy enough to support your weight. Give it a try, but consider the risks.
Step 3. Cut the pipe lengthwise
Attach the pipe to the vise. Use a saw to cut the pipe end to end, but only on one side. As a result, you get a pipe with a slip-in gap instead of a pipe that splits in half.
- Wear a mask when cutting pipes to avoid inhaling pipe particles.
- If you don't have a vise or a cutting tool, just leave the pipe intact and remove the seat wheel legs so the pipe can fit into the cylinder. Usually, you can release the foot of the wheel pressing the retaining clip on the underside with a screwdriver.
Step 4. Slide the pipe into the seat cylinder
Take the plastic cylinder cover so that all metal cylinders are clearly visible. Attach the PVC pipe so that it wraps around the metal cylinder. By now, the chair should have held up well and not slumped again.
If you're having trouble fitting the pipe, cut the pipe so it's shorter and try again
Step 5. Add a pipe to adjust the seat height
If the seat is still too short, raise it and attach an additional piece of pipe. You won't be able to re-adjust the height of the chair without installing or removing the tubing, so make sure the seat is the right height.
