Thank you!! I have had a sinking chair for YEARS that I refused to give up because it was comfortable. This method has been working for me for two weeks and, hopefully, will continue to do so for awhile!
This worked!!!! Thank you sooooo much. I turned it upside down last night and this morning my son and I pumped that bottom about a dozen times. Let it sit about another hour upside down and here I am after 4 hours of sitting in it with a chair that doesn't kill my joints to get out of because it sunk to the floor! I thank you so much!
Mmm, this one sparks joy. You examined and treated the underlying cause discussing approaches towards resolving it. A true engineering approach, well done!
Thank you for this video - it seems to be the only one out there that provides reliable solutions to the "sinking" problem. I tried Step 1 as a last resort before replacing the gas cylinder and my 4-year-old chair miraculously started working again! EDIT: Unfortunately this solution only seems to last a few weeks.
Thank you! After I discovered this method, I am trying everything I know to get it out there; including links from my original video to this one. However, it isn't getting the traction needed to reach a large number of people. Please share this video since more views on RU-vid seem to be the only way to get more views on RU-vid (Catch22?). Thanks again.
Does this method every time I keep randomly lowering and it’s worked perfectly each time. It’s a great fix, but not a permanent one, but it beats buying a new chair.
Glad to see safety is talked about, an apparent oversight in other videos. The bonus of Life with David is David actually discuss the operational mechanics behind the cylinder operation. Big plus, thank you David.
This worked perfectly for my 25 year old office chair. I was considering the method described in your first video, but luckily I discovered this one. The fix seems to be permanent with my chair. Thanks a heap.
i saw the previous video and got some confidence to open the shaft, and after cleaning the mess, i wasn't sure what should i use as a lubricant for the inner cylinder, Oil or Grease. And somehow searching for the solution of this new problem, i again found a video of this man! Such a great explanation. I just love the way david delivered the content. And this is probably the only video on RU-vid which explains how to Fix it rather than to replace a new one!! Thank you david , Love from India.
You're an excellent communicator, David! Now let's see if I can try this non-invasive method, and avoid building 'foil fluid dams' like the first video suggested...
Hi David. I just came across your video while looking for instructions on how to replace the cylinder on my office chair. Instead of buying a cylinder I followed your instructions. Setting it upside down improved things with only an inch or so of drop. I then did the last step of rotating the rod in the cycling ...... WOW ..... it is now like new. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge and saving me some $ ..... Take Care.
I found that a simple method is grabbing house hold mineral oil or vegetable oil, pretty much any natural house hold lubricating oil and polishing the shaft and cycling the shaft up and down 15 to 20 times. I noticed an immediate effect as the chair had more spring in the bounce. This is a simple method for those not so DIY friendly users looking for a quick fix not sure of the longevity as I've just tried this method but sure is an idea! thanks for the previous video this allowed me to save myself some time doing my own research!
i just did this and it felt like it fixed it for a few seconds but then it started sinking in a stair kinda way rather than continually sinking. And it ends up sinking in about 5-10 minutes. I did end up removing some lubricant while applying oil so i hope i didnt remove all of it xD Ill try setting it upside down tonight
Thanks for this David but unfortunately it didn't work for me. I tried stage 1 and 2 and had a frustrating result. At first the chair seemed to hold its position but after leaving it and returning a few times it would then begin to sink again. Once that started it steadily dropped down to the lowest position. On stage three I removed the clip and grabbed the rod with strong pliers but the rod refused to rotate for me. So I am not sure where to go from here. I see that there are hollow cylindrical devices you can buy that will fit around the supporting rod. Either that or invest in a new chair I guess.
Well, depending how much work you want to do, you can replace the cylinder. Look at my other chair lift cylinder video where I show one way to remove the old cylinder; there are other ways. There are several places you can buy me cylinders, just make sure the dimensions work. Good luck!
@@LifewithDavid1 thanks so much for your helpful comments. I did see the earlier video but I have little confidence in attempting anything mechanical (or even electrical). But I will take another look and may give it a try. It should, I suppose, be possible to find a replacement cylinder but again I would be reluctant to try doing this unless it was really straightforward. It's so frustrating because your simple fix definitely improved the chair, but it just fails after repeated use - maybe the third or fourth time I sit down.
OMG. I was about to replace my chair, but didn't really want to because it's very comfortable. I came here looking for how easy it was to change the cylinder, but found this video a few days ago, tried it and so far it seems to have done the job!!! Amazing!!
this method works. I was doubting at first but gave it a shot. Less than 12 hours in the up side down position my chair is no longer sinking. Thank you father
John, I bought a very good used desk chair. I'm sure it was $150+ when new. The business I bought it from had upgraded their chairs for their entire staff. But after sitting on it for a short time I realised it was sinking down gradually. I sank to the bottom of the lift range in about 10 to 15 minutes. Yesterday I watched your video and last night I propped my chair upside down. I've been sitting on it for a couple of hours now and it is still fully extended. Hopefully, I have not jinxed it by bragging about your suggestion working so well.
Fantastic. I'm glad it worked. If you cycle the chair from full down to full up every week or so, you'll have a good chance that the piston seal will stay lubricated.
Just watched both videos back-to-back (thanks for the link in the other one). I have two super-cheap chairs ($60 apiece, I know, I know), both with this issue. I think it's partially because my wife tried to sit in my lap in both chairs, and it's very easy to exceed the weight limit with two people in a chair at once. I REALLY appreciate the explanation of functionality, because I thought it just used a spring and ambient air, so I was gonna take it apart to lube it. You just saved me from a potentially dangerous and costly mistake!! I also appreciate that it can be fixed this way, because one of the reasons I love it at full height is the shock absorption of the cylinder, and the only other "fixes" I've found online are essentially clamps that hold the outside of the cylinder and prevent it from sliding, which would damage the sealing surface, and prevent the chair from bouncing when I sit down. And we definitely appreciate the restraint it took, in the other video, to stay family-friendly. :)
Great video! thank you Sir! I turn to my right and I am seeing my chair upside down right now because I'm following your advice, very logical and simple to follow, can't wait for tomorrow to try it out!
@@LifewithDavid1 I have to say props to you! it definitely worked! I've been sitting on the chair all day today since I turned it over this morning and not once has the seat dropped lower! what a simple fix, I had no idea it was that easy, thank you!
Before I replace the cylinder, on my chair it feels as though the lever itself is not connected to anything at all. Could this be a non-cylinder issue? Last night, I tried the upside-down fix. Nothing different this morning.
The lever usually just presses on a button (the end of the valve) at the top of the cylinder. It CAN feel disconnected; but it should touch the button and push it down with further effort. If not; then perhaps the valve is stuck in the open position. It could be bent, or the cylinder pressure could be low. Unfortunately, replacing the cylinder is the only fix for both conditions. Good luck!
I tried this method also added oil. Unfortunately, it didn't work. It improved for few days but there's still sink a little. The best permantly fix is add a 1 and half inch pipe. Add some card board as washer and it's tight fit and no movement.
Unfortunately it seems the piston/cylinder is too out of shape to even extend/increase the height in my case But I'll def keep this advice in mind for future cases. Thanks for the vid
hello david, what you did works for me, upside down for entire night and the hydraulic work again, but i decide to clean the entire hydraulic section with fuel and degreaser and swab alcohol after, i decide to relube or giving the entire hydraulic lift cylinder new oil, any advice or suggestion of what kind of oil should i use ? will automotive grade hydraulic fluid work ?
hey, i cant push my chair down, its stuck upward i tried this method before i clicked on the video but that time it was pushed down so i inverted for only 5mins and extended it, it got completely extended after that i put it upright to normal position but when i try to go down it doesnt go down it stays up, i cant push it down, i didnt let it sit over night, should i do that? i cant push it down
It sounds like a mechanical jam.. Perhaps the outer decorative sleeve around the cylinder retracted when the chair was in the inverted position and then jammed around the piston rod. You don't have to let it sit, just try to free up any obstruction around the cylinder. Good luck!
My sons chair has started to wobble really bad at the bottom of the seat. Was wondering what we could do to fix that. Any suggestions? We have tightened all bolts.
I would have one person sit in the chair and one person check out the wobble. With you fingers, feel where there is movement between the various components. Is there movement inside the seat, at the connection to the seat, at the cylinder to the seat connection, or at the cylinder to base. Where the movement is will tell you what to do. Good luck.
You can use the comments here; I get notified when there are new ones. It sounds like your chair might be defective. Try the methods in this video. If they don't work, then there probably is internal damage to the cylinder. Perhaps you can get the manufacturer to step up. Good luck!
This is an awesome fix!! Thank you so much. I love my chair, which is only a couple years old, and didn't want to buy a new one. Problem was solved! You are a steely-eyed-missile-man.
I watched your previous video from 2021 about how to fix hydraulic cylinders and IT WORKED! but it got me curious so I seached WHY IT WORKED and surprise! its you again!
I started with the other video, removed clip, washer, wheels... then a bunch of greasy gunk came out. (I got this chair from my brother - so who knows) But the gunk looked a smashed ring with a least one bearing. Not having hydraulic fluid I used WD40 and cleaned up the gunk, and washers. attempted to reassemble (the clip was a bit bent). Now trying the inverted method.
wd 40 is not a lubricant, quite the opposite, initially it makes things go smooth but soon afterward the part will be destroyed because wd-40 actually washes away the grease.
It sounds like the valve has a little leak. Try the second method in this video. That might work a little more fluid through the valve which might help seal it. This video is all about getting the piston seal and valve lubricated. Another tip would be to sit in the chair and move it up and down repeatedly to help blow out any debris that might be stuck in the valve. Good luck!
A good hardware store should be able to match the part. However; if the rod falls to the floor, you might have put it together improperly. The bearing should go between a shoulder on the rod, and the base. The clip is there to keep the rod from being pulled up and out of the base. Good luck!
I have a chair that was left at the lowest height for 5+ years and that was 10+ years ago. The cylinder doesn't move at all. Even with the button down and my full strength pulling the piston. I've tried EVERY method to remove it. WD-40 and a hammer, pipe wrench, two collar system, and most recently beating the top (button side) with a punch and sledge hammer from the inside of the chair's (riveted together) frame. The cushions are still great but I can't see any way to not landfill this chair... I've spent over $100 on tools, 5-10 hours over 5 days and several sore body parts. Is there any safe way to CUT the cylinder to relieve the friction hold to the frame so it can be removed? Obviously at my own risk but I can't imagine much pressure or oil would be left if it was bottomed out for 15+ years..... It's too big to fit in my freezer or I would have tried that....
If it was my chair, I would use a Dremel and a mirror and make a small cut on the side of the cylinder away from me (that's what the mirror is for). Of course, use safety goggles. And it needs to be said that you are doing this at your own risk . Good luck.
@@LifewithDavid1thanks! I plan on putting something between me and the cylinder as well. I doubt there will be much excitement but might as well be safe.
Thanks did as suggested and chair that kept falling down is now holding - test will be how long it lasts, but great to try something simple like this without having to buy anything! :)
Great info. I'd like to offer another helpful tip in the case of a cylinder replacement or reuse (eg: replacing the legs only). My experience in removing them shows that this can be very difficult and also damaging to the cylinder, such that you can't reuse it, or even make it more difficult to remove through the hole if it creates a flange. You could always buy a cylinder removal kit but for one-time use that's a relatively expensive option and not always guaranteed to be damage-free. You could also use a chain or vice grip around the base of the cylinder to twist it as you hammer on the bottom of the cylinder, but again, that's also likely to damage the cylinder. So my tip ... To help remove the base (legs) from the cylinder (which is usually the most difficult end to free up when it's been sitting for a long time) take or borrow TWO chain vice grips. Loop one of the chains around 2 legs right next to the cylinder. Loop the other chain around the opposing leg in the same fashion (2 & 1 because we're usually talking about 5 legs). Next, run a strong flat wrench through the two chains against the bottom of the cylinder. Now the magic: start tightening the two vice grips until the chains are quite tight. You DO NOT need to keep tightening to pop out the cylinder -- NO, what you only want to do instead is create significant tension so that minimal strike force will be needed when hammering/tapping out the cylinder, thereby preserving it! Best of luck!
@@LifewithDavid1 You're welcome. Post if it works for you too. Something I left out that will help: I used tape to hold the wrench in place while looping the two chains around it. Otherwise you'll have to have 3 hands.
If it bounces a little when you sit on it, then the problem could be with the valve; either internally or the lever not engaging with the valve button. If it doesn't bounce, then it is a mechanical jam, either internally or with the chair support. Good luck!
It sounds like the cylinder valve is stuck in the open position or is leaking. This process MIGHT solve the problem if the valve is leaking internally. If the button is physically stuck in the open position (valve button pressed down), then you will have to remove the cause, if you can. If it is internally jammed, then you might be out of luck, and the only option would be to replace the cylinder. Good luck!
what do i do if it doesn’t go up or down? just got a new leather office chair from a garage sale, everything works except the up & down, when i try to move the pedal to make it go up or down, it just wiggles a bit, but doesn’t let me move the pedal, hence not letting me the chair go up or down
It sounds like the lever isn't pressing on the valve button on the end of the cylinder. See my other chair video (in the description) for more info. The lever might be bent, or the lever pivot point might be dislodged. Good luck!
What in heck is that huge d'Arsonval meter over your left shoulder? Three instruments above the oscilloscope? Or is that a vectorscope? Looks like a vectorscope, I think.
That's a Heathkit VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) circa 1977. A high impedance VOM in the days before digital voltmeters. The meter is large to get good resolution (doesn't work quite as well with my old eyes as it used to lol).
Thank you SO MUCH for this video. I lost my job recently and there was no way I could afford a new chair or even a replacement valve, I tried this out and it worked like a charm
That's too bad. Depending where it broke, you may need a new chair. If the cylinder failed, you could replace it. However, it probably isn't the cylinder; so unless you have access to a welder, it's probably a goner. Sorry.
It sounds like you haven't reassembled the thrust bearing correctly. The thrust bearing goes on the end of the "skinny pole" and supports the upper part of the chair on the chair base. Check out my other chair video to see the bearing being installed; the link is in the description. Good luck!
If you are talking about the clip on the very end of the shaft, you should have something to keep everything together when you lift up on the chair seat. What it is will depend on how the manufacturer set up the original retainer setup. Good luck!
The pneumatic system is fine but my pulling on the lever on my chair doesn’t hit the release valve so the chair stays down. Do you have any thoughts on how to fix this?
Depending on the design, it's pretty easy for the actuating lever to get misaligned with the valve button. If you can see the end of the cylinder (you will have to flip the chair over), check that the lever contacts the button. If not, you will have to fix the issue by bending or replacing the pivot point (a screw or rivet could be worn or gone). Good luck!
Thankyou David!! Just a few hours upside down and my sinking chair is cured!! No more embarrassing off screen slow disappearances in work meetings online for me now.
Admittedly, I was in a rush and wanted my garage rolling chair to work NOW, as my back/knees have been killing me as Ive been working on my hubby's jeep. Keep in mind, my chair is a rolling stool with a cushy seat. I flipped it over, cleaned it up (it was pretty gross lol), sprayed some wd40 gel lube on it, whacked it a couple times, shook it up and down, spun it both ways, then did the clip/piston/rod trick. Afterwards, I turned it right side up and went up and down in height a bunch to ensure the grease was all through it. Worked like a charm in 5 minutes!!! I cant thank you enough, sir! This is the only video I found that didnt show me how to replace the hydraulic cylinder ($15-$20). If I get to that point, Im just buying another $25 rolling chair 😂 Thank you again for saving my back and bank acct!! ❤
You make me 😊 and feel good. You remind me of my grandmother and my great uncle Sherwood who always used to say, if you're not sure you should buy it, sleep on it. If you feel you still don't know if you should buy it the next day, chances are good you shouldn't. This is a rule of thumb that old folks used to use back in the day when things were made to last. This gentleman here has shown us how to utilize the shit industrial world that has become, corporate America's retail consumption whore🤮. I praise you 🙌 and I give you thanks for sharing the information that most of us were raised with in that the common sense to know, but so many people out there with a world of information at their fingertips are starving for just that... common sense :-) Thank you young man👍 You made me feel good today‼️ nostalgia, good for the soul, Great video my man!👍👍ty!
Thank you for making an informative video. I have a Kimball task stool that looks like new, but lost the cylinder pressure. Salvaging the cylinder from a HON task stool that had bad upholstery, I was able to install it on the Kimball stool. Saved me ~$50 for a replacement cylinder. BTW: I was able to remove my cylinders with a bigger soft blow hammer.
So glad I watched this video. Turning the chair upside down worked! I really wasn’t too excited about a trip to the hardware store for a pipe clamp or length of pvc pipe or using the chair in it’s lowest position. Thanks so much for explaining and sharing. From a 70+ old lady!
Took me longer to watch this video than it did to fix my chair after watching it. 🙂 Flip chair, leave overnight. In the morning, pump the piston 4 times and VIOLA!, fixed. Thanks!
Hey y'all, you do not need to leave it as long as he says unless it is a very old piston. If you've bought something within the last two to three years, you can flip it upside down for a couple minutes, spin it around, do the things he said, and you'll be good. But, if you have the time, do it how he says. You'll be good for a long time. I'm just saying this because this trick also works last minute
I absolutely love these videos!! If your a handy type person that's good with things like this, you can fix almost anything!!! Thank you so much for the instruction video!!!
Hi David .. I used the method by just turning it upside down. I left it over night. I used my whole body weight on the seat to bring the chair down. It worked!!! I did it this way cause I don't have the strength to use my hands. Thank you so much for your video 😊.
works like a charm.! my chair literally sank in seconds. just turn it upside down for a couple minutes and notice an improvement (don't know how long it will last)! next i'm gonna leave it overnight. muchas gracias arigato thank you terima kasih my dude.
