In a wasteful culture where people just buy things to replace things, your repair videos are a breath of fresh air. I applied your other zero cost simple fix and it worked!
the video was slow moving , and highly detailed for a small curiosity to fix my darned chair. However, The content it holds is worth every second of watching. I know now if my chair was completely at a loss or if it was repairable. What this brought me was hope. And that, is what the world needs a little more of! thank you.
Thank you for watching and for your kind words. It' can be a little slow. It's always a balancing act to match the video detail to the audience. When I made this one, the videos that were out there all left me wanting more. That's why I got into the weeds. I try to help by adding an index so people can jump to where they are interested.
Your "one year later video" works just fine....congrats on doing a great job of evaluating the problem and working for the answer.....again nice going!!!
Thanks for such a well presented video. It got me thinking that maybe the rubber seals inside the tube dry out and harden over time. If that's the case the addition of a little bit of stop leak like ATP AT 205 mixed with the jack oil may add more time in between servicing. This type of product is used to rejuvenate seals and restore elasticity to seals within engines, transmissions, hydraulic jacks etc...
That's a good idea. The reason I use jack oil is that it does have some seal rejuvenating properties. The additive might help also, however if the seal is that far gone, you might not be able to bring it back. Thanks for watching!
Fair point. I used ATF as I didn't have any specific hydraulic fluid to hand. I've been running ATF in my motorcycle primary for years without any adverse effects on the shaft seals.
This is VERY IMPRESSIVE! Great technical quality and content. I've been looking for this info for the past 2 weeks and now understand how this type of chair operates. Great job!!!! Many thanks.
I wish I'd seen this last week. I searched for how to fix a chair gas cylinder and saw several other videos how about how easy it is to replace a gas cylinder. Even bought a pipe wrench to "give it a little twist". It is not always as easy as they show. My old cylinder is in 2 parts, there are shards of metal all over and I've cut myself 3 times. Turns out all I needed was a little oil in the right place. This video didn't even come until I searched google for "where is the gas in a chair gas cylinder" because I was thinking about cutting it out. So nice to find a straight forward informative video.
I always use a pipe wrench to twist the cylinder out of the chair. Works every time 👍 Thanks for this great video, I always wanted to know how these things worked. Best wishes for your continued success ☮
I wondered about that. I was concerned about damaging the outer cylinder wall so I tried less aggressive methods (like beating on the end with a hammer is less aggressive lol). Thanks for the suggestion!
"I hope you appreciate my attempts to keep this a family friendly video". Something tells me there was a lot of blue air off camera, and understanably so. By the way, best explanation Iv'e seen so far. 👍
@@LifewithDavid1 We need the unedited non family version with Extra Swearing please. Things don't get repaired without a little curse and swear ! haha jk, but thanks for the Vid David!
@@solprovidermusic 🔴 What Is Islam? ⚠️ 🔴 Islam is not just another religion. 🔵 It is the same message preached by Moses, Jesus and Abraham. 🔴 Islam literally means ‘submission to God’ and it teaches us to have a direct relationship with God. 🔵 It reminds us that since God created us, no one should be worshipped except God alone. 🔴 It also teaches that God is nothing like a human being or like anything that we can imagine. 🌍 The concept of God is summarized in the Quran as: 📖 { “Say, He is God, the One. God, the Absolute. He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like Him.”} (Quran 112:1-4)[4] 📚 🔴 Becoming a Muslim is not turning your back to Jesus. 🔵 Rather it’s going back to the original teachings of Jesus and obeying him.
I've had this chair for decades now. I never understood how it worked until David's video. I don't really have the facilities and tools to try his fix, but if there were any chance of fixing your chair, this video is the one!
@@LifewithDavid1 David, I actually did see your other video after making my comment. I did the chair inversion for a night and astonishingly (considering the age of this chair) I haven't had any problems with sinking since then! Thanks again, you are a gentleman and a scholar -- and from scanning the list of your other videos, a youtube treasure.
After reading some of your replies, David, I just turned my chair upside-down and cycled the piston a dozen times (to redistribute the original oil as you suggest). It seems to have worked! Thank you! No dismantling at all.
Finally a useful video. I wanted to replace the cylinder, and here I found a practical guide to how remove both the base and the cylinder. All other videos just show "bash the base with a hammer and unscrew the cylinder with a wrench, and everything comes loose." It did not. This one helped me solve the problem. Thanks!
I have a chair that I find extremely comfortable but it has a problem of slowly dropping down after several hours of use. In the past, I tried finding a video on how to address this but everything seemed to be on either replacing the cylinder or clamping it so it can't move up or down. I was reluctant to attempt to disassemble it because I was worried about energy stored in the gas. I hate throwing things into the landfill so I was happy to stumble upon this and the newer video. Thanks for the clear instructions.
Hope this will be the solution you need. Thanks for watching! BTW, there isn't much gas in the cylinder. Use common sense and you will be OK if you have to replace the cylinder. I think the biggest issue is if the cylinder leaks (highly unlikely) the gas could hurt your eyes. Eye protection is a must.
Thanks very much for this video, David!!!! We've got a lot of chairs in our office just ending up in our stockroom and the junkyard, and some of them still have repairable cylinders.
This video was very informative. But more than that, I loved the early late 80's - early 90's aesthetic of it. The intonation of the narration, the music, and the general instructional video quality of it, absolutely perfect.
not to mention the antiquated Heathkit self-assembly electronic equipment. Took me back to the 70's. The oscilloscope belonged to Dr. Frankenstein? No, Dr. Frankenshteen. Young Franky.
ok you are the first person that actually FIXED the cylinder instead of modifying it to be at the same position. I was going to purchase a new cylinder but your fix looks better and less wasteful. thanks!
Great, I'm glad that helped. However, you might not need to remove the cylinder; check out my newer video; I pinned the link at the top of the comment section. Good luck!
I felt like I was watching my dad make that video, humor and all, including equipment meters etc. Handyman comes Sunday and hoping he can help me. This video will also surely help immensely. Thank you!
Thanks so much for creating this! It was easy to follow, and very informative! I was preparing to purchase a new hydraulic lift for my bar stool, but the black ones cost as much as a new stool. Naturally, stainless steel are half the price since that’s not what I need lol. I’m hopeful that this will be a cheaper fix!
Nice video Sir. Most people set and never adjust the cylinder after purchase, causing no lubrication to the cylinder. I always recommend extending the life of a cylinder by adjusting the height at least once a week.
Really appreciated this video since my new chair is stuck in the down position. This video taught me how the mechanism works so I can troubleshoot accordingly. Thanks!
Glad it helped. Stuck in the down position is not good; it probably means that the cylinder has lost pressure. I'm afraid the fix is to replace the cylinder. Good luck!
Thanks for a reasonable fix! I found that twisting with a pipe wrench dislodged the cylinder nicely. Took one person holding the chair and the other on the wrench but it worked!
Hey Dave. I was attempting this wd40 fix and unfortunately it didn't work. I stumbled upon your video where you explained HOW the pressure worked. Mine is too low and dropped. You explained it so well @ 4:10 . I guess i have to get a new chair, but I really do appreciate the knowledge and explanation. Thank you!
It is unbelievable how many "repair" videos I had to sift through before finding someone who _actually repaired the cylinder_. Thank you. UA-cam is truly frustrating.
I like how you explained, in detail, how the lift cylinder works. I was surprised to see that the action of the chair's lift cylinder is very similar to how to the piston in a steam locomotive works, although it wasn't actually mentioned in the video. I just recognized the similarity between the two. 🚂
Flipping it upside down and cycling the cylinder fixed my sinking chair, I did it for 3 cycles but seems to have lubed one of the seals and is now currently holding up pressure! Thanks for the video! Definitely easier than I ever thought and made me look like the hero in just 3 min! Lol thanks again
What an excellent video! Very informative and easy to understand - thank you for taking the time to explain this, it helped me fix my sinking office chair!
You're welcome! Like I've said a few times, I've found out since this video was posted that sometimes simply flipping the chair upside down and cycling the wheels up and down will do the trick. Although it's a little awkward, it's worth a try.
Great explanation of the mechanism and the fix! You had mentioned you had done this fix previously, is this likely to leak oil over time? Mainly concerned about making a mess of the floor under the chair.
One thing that maybe wasn't obvious, the gas pressure in the upper cylinder is lower than in the lower cylinder because the upper piston area is larger than bottom piston. The force on the piston top is the same as the force on the piston bottom; otherwise the piston would move. Since: Pressure(top) * Area(top) = Pressure(bottom) * Area(bottom) Then a smaller Area(bottom) requires a higher Pressure(bottom).
Yes, this was the "aha!" moment for me, which makes it possible for the overall design to be significantly simpler than you'd expect! I think this only affects the adjustment mechanism though, not the weight it can support, as the latter is just determined by the gas pressure I think
Heavy duty mechanic here, just had to replace a seat and finally got curious enough to look up how these cylinders work with no lines going to them. This was the explanation that I was looking for. Force = pressure x area. Bigger surface area = bigger force if the pressure is constant. Fluid always flows from high pressure to low pressure. You need a force equalization to keep the cylinder stationary, and the seals need to be rated for the pressures involved. I was having a tough time wrapping my head around why a larger surface area would equal less force, but it doesn't. The pressure is what fluctuates, not the force. Even as the cylinder is being actuated, the force remains constant on both sides of the piston. Since air is compressible, the added force of your cheeks compresses the cylinder some, but the piston quickly discovers its new home in the equalization zone of upper and lower forces. Key takeaway: the valve allows the pressure to be adjusted, not the force.
@@alainsauve5903 Glad this helped. Actually, the valve adjusts the volume above and below the piston, everything else finds their own equilibrium (picture of mind blowing up here). Sum the forces around the piston; gas force below the piston = seat force down plus gas force above the piston. Thanks for watching!
The video was still interesting to watch after the first time I was really able to grasp how the cylinder works, thank you so much for teaching me, currently in the middle of a repair of a gaming/office chair and I didn't get not 1 month of it before it started sinking so I'm really hoping this fix will do the trick so I don't have to sit there and readjust my chair every 2 minutes thanks for the video again and best of luck to you
I appreciate the advice. Without opening the cylinder, I spray the outside with knife oil, flipped the chair over and started compressions. Works perfectly fine and no sinking yet, the only issue is, when I stand up and sit back down, the chair rumbles the floor lol But hey, such a small price to make the random sinking go away!
i got it, it's actually very usual way of improving performance of piston by applying oil (trying to keep my comment family friendly) 😀 well this video was cool 😎 thanks David.
yaaaaaaay thank you Sir I watched this and Ive fixed my chair in just under in just ten minutes I did it with oil and to push the piston down I just happened to have an old drill chuck (3/8 10mm) so i slid this over the piston rod and hand tightened it up I used duck tape to wrap around to contain the oil then topped it up and pushed the rod up and down Then to get the cylinder out I used a pair of stilsons (large adjustble grips) and just twisted the clylinder out of the chair seat mout then refixed the piston rod back in to the spider leg base then same again with duck tape oil and work it in reassemble job done
Thanks for watching. If it happens again; check out my other video ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ) for an even EASIER way to fix chair cylinders. NO TOOLS! NO COST!
Very nice video. I tried lubing mine this morning, so fingers crossed that it will work. I found gobs of dust in the metal seat mechanism, so your theory seems pretty sound. Dust gets in there over time and obstructs one of the seals. I tried removing the cylinder from the seat, but no luck. I even mounted the base to holes in my workbench and used vice grips and a pipe for leverage.
@@LifewithDavid1 thanks! This may explain why the chair started working again briefly a few weeks back when I turned it upside down for a brief attempt at pounding the cylinder out of the base.
I saw another video, using WD-40. It seemed totally counterintuitive to use a lubricant to prevent slipping! The WD-40 worked for me (I'll see how long), but I HAD to know WHY. Thanks for explaining the physics behind it!
David, what a blessing you are to mankind. A divinely given talent you have received and then to share your knowledge with others too is surely appreciated by many, including me. My sincere “THANKS” for the amazing 😉 video. I am ready to fix my chair now, without hesitation. 💫💫💫 God Bless you today and always💫💫💫
So nice of you. Before you start; you might want to just try to flip the chair upside down and cycle the cylinder up and down before you remove it. I've found that sometimes that is all it takes. I think it redistributes the grease inside the inner cylinder. If it doesn't work then do the whole fix. Good luck!
Splendid stuff, thanks. The coffer dams were a nice idea but I didn't find them necessary given the small amount of hydraulic (well, ATF in my case) fluid that actually worked into the mechanism at each end. I was also lucky enough to be able to access the top end without removing the cylinder, so it was a 20 minute fix start to finish, including watching your helpful video.
That must be a Hon chair. Mine has given me as difficult a time to get off as yours. A half hour job became a job that has sat there for months. I’ve tried pipe wrenches, etc. I appreciate your video. - very helpful. I’m also going to check out the other video you’ve mentioned above.
thank you for your effort. my case is little different. it started with squeaky sounds and I didnt know where it was coming so I sprayed everything with WD40. THEN the partially sinking started. it just sinks 1 or 1.5 inches (3-5cm) at any level except when it is at the bottom. sinking doesnt continue in time but makes very weird noise.
My chair compresses a little when I sit on it; maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inch. The lower the pressure in the cylinder the more it will compress when you sit on it until it won't support you weightat all. WD-40 isn't a lubricant; it is for displacing water. It can gum up after it dries a little. That's why I use hydraulic jack oil. I would try flipping your chair upside down overnight and then cycle it up and down a couple times. That might help redistribute the lubricant that is already inside the cylinder. Good luck!.
It's fun to see a tinkerer explain how these cylinders actually work and that there is often a way to revive them by lubricating them. And the moving CAD illustration is very cool. David doesn't seem to know that there is another way to remove the cylinder from a chair base. I bought a replacement cylinder long ago that came with a pair of collars. One tightens down onto the support rod. The adjacent one can be pushed against the chair base by tightening hex screws that widen the gap between the previously aligned collar pieces. This effectively dislodges the cylinder without the need for a hammer or other tools. Also, if you don't want to go through the mess of reviving an old cylinder you can buy high quality new ones online for about $25 delivered, including ones that extend to a greater length for tall people.
That's a great tip. The comments that I received about the mess was why I came up with an even easier method of rejuvenating the lift cylinders. Thanks for watching!
Try flipping the chair up-side-down and cycle the chair up and down several times. Sometimes that seems to do the trick without removing the cylinder. If that doesn't work; then you can try removing the cylinder.
Thanks David. I just replaced the cylinder in a chair I had just bought a month before, not because it was defective but because it was way too short for my 6'2" frame. Getting the old cylinder off was a challenge. Turned out the old cylinder was so short, not even the removal kit that came with the replacement cylinder would fit properly. Some persuasion with a Dremel cut-off wheel had to be applied to the bolts and wrench to get them to fit. Better than using a pipe wrench, though. Nice landing, BTW. I did some of that about 30 years ago. Then I got married and everything changed.
Thanks for the video David. I've been resisting giving up my Office Chair. After watching your video, I decided to take a closer look at my chair. So I flipped the chair upside-down (one handed of course because, you know, I kinda workout) to take a closer look at the components. I had it in this position for a couple of minutes. I then put the chair right-side up because I needed to do a few things before making the attempt to try your method. Well guess what, now the chair is no longer sinking. It is working normally now. Strange right? Probably won't solve the issue for everyone. I've had this chair for several years. Do you think the lack of Up and Down action ( yes, trying to keep it clean here on YT) caused the malfunction? Maybe the fluid settled too long? Curious of your thoughts.
I agree completely. I found the same things and I made a video on this very observation ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ) about a year ago. Unfortunately, I had to use two hands (and a couple arms and feet) to flip mine. LOL Thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 Great!! Thanks David. I'll take a look at that video. C'mon David. Pump that Iron. Start light though. Don't want anything to happen to you. No pain no gain. 💪
Just came across this looking into the correct way to lubricate the piston! Even though I don’t have to do it yet. This is an awesome video and was very entertaining. Thumbs up for sure
@@LifewithDavid1 Great, just to let you know that your video helped me alot. My seat is holding up but the only problem I have is the oil I used is too viscous. I'll be much better off when I get myself some heavier oil.
I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that chair. If you can't move it up or down, check to see if the height adjustment lever is actually pressing on the valve button on the "top" of the cylinder. Also there may be something jamming the mechanism. Good luck, and thanks for watching!
as soon as I heard you say 2000 psi I was spooked so I got online and ordered one for 26 euro... used the pvc tube fix method over the top of the piston to set a permanent height while I waited for the delivery of replacement
Sorry you got spooked. 2000 psi may seem like a big number, but the steel in the springs in your car seat is under much higher stress. However, as I said; if you don't feel comfortable doing any of these activities; then don't! Thanks for watching!
Hello, just watched two of your videos regarding the repair of, in my case, a gas lift. WorkPro PRO-767E Commercial Mesh Mid-Back Chair. Are you familiar with the brand? I purchased my chair in 2015 with very little use. No longer being able to lift the chair up or down makes my chair no longer useable. I actually enjoy repairing things myself because 1) saves me money and 2) satisfaction of fixing something when people think I will not succeed . 😀
@@LifewithDavid1 Hi. That’s what I thought as well. Thank you so very much. I’ll let you know when I’ve finished the repair. BTW.. In one of your other videos you recommended the chair be turned upside down for a while. Would the same apply to my chair cause it’s been upside down since yesterday. 😀
Great video. I am embarrassed to admit that I don't have a vise and you mentioned that the first time you did it was without disassembling the chair, can you explain how you do that? Thank you.
The first thing I would suggest is to simply flip the chair upside down and cycle the cylinder up and down (it's kind of awkward). Recently I've often seen that redistribute the oil/grease inside the inner cylinder and eliminate the need to use jack oil on the shaft. If that doesn't work, you can use the same position for the chair (upside down) and put a little jack oil on the shaft and again cycle the wheels up and down. The last thing I would try is to take the seat off and squirt a little jack oil around the valve button. It's messy without the foil dam; so do that as a last resort.
I gave it a triple thumbs up. I subscribed to thank you profusely for your explanation. Unfortunately, I live in a flat lacking a lab or a garage I could replicate the repairs so I just bought a replacement to install instead. but I would be saving it in an attempt to fix it in future. thanks again for this very informative video
View my more recent video (pinned in the description) for an even easier fix. Many times you can perform the repairs without removing the cylinder at all. Thanks for watching!
Please see my other video ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ) for an even EASIER way to fix chair cylinders. NO TOOLS! NO COST!
Too mechanically technical for my grasp of 'efficiency', but that's my handicap, not your (generous) gift.
Thank you. The other video doesn't use any tools so it might fit your needs better!
hi, is this you too? ua-cam.com/video/K321OKkNPqs/v-deo.html
How about about using an old washing machine hose ,slice it up the middle slip on underdhair pipe then tape😮😮,maybe babee❤
In a wasteful culture where people just buy things to replace things, your repair videos are a breath of fresh air. I applied your other zero cost simple fix and it worked!
Great! Thanks for the feedback.
I sink slow too 😊
This is indeed a family-friendly video from a real man and real dad doing dads stuff.👍👍👍
Thank you!
A real man would vote for Trump and not a laughing idiot.
I love the subtle humour and efforts to keep this family friendly !
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Why does this feel like those videos they made us watch at school, awesome vids as always David!
Thank you. I wouldn't know about videos; I grew up with film strips. lol
Straight to the point no faffing around explaining the dynamics of the cylinder
Why can't all how to videos be like this??
Thank you. Check out my more recent video (link pinned in the description) for an even easier way to fix the cylinder.
the reason? people really don't know how to communicate, effectively!
the video was slow moving , and highly detailed for a small curiosity to fix my darned chair. However, The content it holds is worth every second of watching. I know now if my chair was completely at a loss or if it was repairable. What this brought me was hope. And that, is what the world needs a little more of! thank you.
Thank you for watching and for your kind words. It' can be a little slow. It's always a balancing act to match the video detail to the audience. When I made this one, the videos that were out there all left me wanting more. That's why I got into the weeds. I try to help by adding an index so people can jump to where they are interested.
Thank you for presenting a repair, and not a replacement or kludge with a pvc pipe. Exelent video.
I hope the repair works. Sometimes the cylinder is so worn out what only replacement or a kludge will work. Thanks for watching!
Here is my elegant kludge fix I made: ua-cam.com/video/5fS7NQbLAlA/v-deo.html
agreed! there's too many clickbait youtube "repair" videos that end up being "just buy another one"
Your "one year later video" works just fine....congrats on doing a great job of evaluating the problem and working for the answer.....again nice going!!!
Thank you so much. Glad it worked!
Thanks for such a well presented video. It got me thinking that maybe the rubber seals inside the tube dry out and harden over time. If that's the case the addition of a little bit of stop leak like ATP AT 205 mixed with the jack oil may add more time in between servicing. This type of product is used to rejuvenate seals and restore elasticity to seals within engines, transmissions, hydraulic jacks etc...
That's a good idea. The reason I use jack oil is that it does have some seal rejuvenating properties. The additive might help also, however if the seal is that far gone, you might not be able to bring it back. Thanks for watching!
Fair point. I used ATF as I didn't have any specific hydraulic fluid to hand. I've been running ATF in my motorcycle primary for years without any adverse effects on the shaft seals.
This is VERY IMPRESSIVE! Great technical quality and content. I've been looking for this info for the past 2 weeks and now understand how this type of chair operates. Great job!!!! Many thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
I wish I'd seen this last week. I searched for how to fix a chair gas cylinder and saw several other videos how about how easy it is to replace a gas cylinder. Even bought a pipe wrench to "give it a little twist". It is not always as easy as they show. My old cylinder is in 2 parts, there are shards of metal all over and I've cut myself 3 times. Turns out all I needed was a little oil in the right place. This video didn't even come until I searched google for "where is the gas in a chair gas cylinder" because I was thinking about cutting it out. So nice to find a straight forward informative video.
I wish UA-cam would get this out to more people. Sorry that it didn't show up right away.
I always use a pipe wrench to twist the cylinder out of the chair. Works every time 👍
Thanks for this great video, I always wanted to know how these things worked.
Best wishes for your continued success ☮
I wondered about that. I was concerned about damaging the outer cylinder wall so I tried less aggressive methods (like beating on the end with a hammer is less aggressive lol). Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks a lot. That was exactly the video i need right now. No bling-bling, no bla-bla. Plain informative and well put together.
You're welcome. Check out my other video for an even easier fix.
ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html
"I hope you appreciate my attempts to keep this a family friendly video". Something tells me there was a lot of blue air off camera, and understanably so. By the way, best explanation Iv'e seen so far. 👍
Thank you. I don't have a curse jar in the shop so It doesn't cost me anything when I have a little "trouble". lol
Hahahaha, family friendly! Thanks for posting!
You bet!
@@LifewithDavid1 We need the unedited non family version with Extra Swearing please. Things don't get repaired without a little curse and swear ! haha jk, but thanks for the Vid David!
@@solprovidermusic 🔴 What Is Islam? ⚠️
🔴 Islam is not just another religion.
🔵 It is the same message preached by Moses, Jesus and Abraham.
🔴 Islam literally means ‘submission to God’ and it teaches us to have a direct relationship with God.
🔵 It reminds us that since God created us, no one should be worshipped except God alone.
🔴 It also teaches that God is nothing like a human being or like anything that we can imagine.
🌍 The concept of God is summarized in the Quran as:
📖 { “Say, He is God, the One. God, the Absolute. He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like Him.”} (Quran 112:1-4)[4] 📚
🔴 Becoming a Muslim is not turning your back to Jesus.
🔵 Rather it’s going back to the original teachings of Jesus and obeying him.
I've had this chair for decades now. I never understood how it worked until David's video. I don't really have the facilities and tools to try his fix, but if there were any chance of fixing your chair, this video is the one!
Try the fix in my other cylinder video (ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ). You might not need any tools at all. Thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 David, I actually did see your other video after making my comment. I did the chair inversion for a night and astonishingly (considering the age of this chair) I haven't had any problems with sinking since then! Thanks again, you are a gentleman and a scholar -- and from scanning the list of your other videos, a youtube treasure.
@@crow_caw_music_works That's great! I love to hear success stories. Thanks for watching!
I have been looking online for a solution until I gave up, now this is the online video on youtube that fixed my issue! Thanks a lot!
I'm glad it helped. Check out my newer video for an even easier way to fix the chair cylinder.
After reading some of your replies, David, I just turned my chair upside-down and cycled the piston a dozen times (to redistribute the original oil as you suggest). It seems to have worked! Thank you! No dismantling at all.
Fantastic! Glad it worked. Thanks for watching.
I found that out the hard way, lol.
Wow this seems to have totally fixed mine. Thanks for the comment.
This worked for me too. Chair would sink completely over 5 minutes of sitting. Cycled 15 times slowly upside down. No more sinking. Thanks.
Finally a useful video. I wanted to replace the cylinder, and here I found a practical guide to how remove both the base and the cylinder. All other videos just show "bash the base with a hammer and unscrew the cylinder with a wrench, and everything comes loose." It did not. This one helped me solve the problem. Thanks!
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
I have a chair that I find extremely comfortable but it has a problem of slowly dropping down after several hours of use. In the past, I tried finding a video on how to address this but everything seemed to be on either replacing the cylinder or clamping it so it can't move up or down. I was reluctant to attempt to disassemble it because I was worried about energy stored in the gas. I hate throwing things into the landfill so I was happy to stumble upon this and the newer video. Thanks for the clear instructions.
Hope this will be the solution you need. Thanks for watching! BTW, there isn't much gas in the cylinder. Use common sense and you will be OK if you have to replace the cylinder. I think the biggest issue is if the cylinder leaks (highly unlikely) the gas could hurt your eyes. Eye protection is a must.
Thanks very much for this video, David!!!! We've got a lot of chairs in our office just ending up in our stockroom and the junkyard, and some of them still have repairable cylinders.
Glad it was helpful!
This video was very informative. But more than that, I loved the early late 80's - early 90's aesthetic of it. The intonation of the narration, the music, and the general instructional video quality of it, absolutely perfect.
Glad you enjoyed it! The mid 80's was when I made my first training video; I guess I haven't changed much since then. LOL. Thanks for watching!
not to mention the antiquated Heathkit self-assembly electronic equipment. Took me back to the 70's. The oscilloscope belonged to Dr. Frankenstein? No, Dr. Frankenshteen. Young Franky.
It's alive! Walk like this...
Thanks for the video! I tried it and it worked! Cost: Priceless!
Fantastic! I love to hear success stories. Thanks for watching!
ok you are the first person that actually FIXED the cylinder instead of modifying it to be at the same position. I was going to purchase a new cylinder but your fix looks better and less wasteful. thanks!
Try the fix from my other video first. It's much easier and a lot less messy. The link is pinned at the top of the description below. Good luck.
@@LifewithDavid1 just watched it! I'll leave it overnight and hopefully in the morning it's fixed with your steps, thanks!
showing that punch work that way was exactly the advice I needed!
Great, I'm glad that helped. However, you might not need to remove the cylinder; check out my newer video; I pinned the link at the top of the comment section. Good luck!
I felt like I was watching my dad make that video, humor and all, including equipment meters etc. Handyman comes Sunday and hoping he can help me. This video will also surely help immensely. Thank you!
Maybe my newer video will make it easier: ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html Good luck!
Thanks so much for creating this! It was easy to follow, and very informative! I was preparing to purchase a new hydraulic lift for my bar stool, but the black ones cost as much as a new stool. Naturally, stainless steel are half the price since that’s not what I need lol. I’m hopeful that this will be a cheaper fix!
Check out my more recent video for an even easier fix. Thanks for watching! ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html
Nice video Sir. Most people set and never adjust the cylinder after purchase, causing no lubrication to the cylinder. I always recommend extending the life of a cylinder by adjusting the height at least once a week.
That's an astute observation. Good point! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the tip.
Really appreciated this video since my new chair is stuck in the down position. This video taught me how the mechanism works so I can troubleshoot accordingly. Thanks!
Glad it helped. Stuck in the down position is not good; it probably means that the cylinder has lost pressure. I'm afraid the fix is to replace the cylinder. Good luck!
Not only a proper repair video but also an explanation of the mechanism with great CAD drawings.
Will try it this week.
Thank you
Try my easier method first. ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html
Thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 will do :)
Thanks for a reasonable fix! I found that twisting with a pipe wrench dislodged the cylinder nicely. Took one person holding the chair and the other on the wrench but it worked!
Glad it helped
Twisting with a pipe wrench is in my opinion very bad idea. These was an boom accident and it was scary.
Hey Dave. I was attempting this wd40 fix and unfortunately it didn't work. I stumbled upon your video where you explained HOW the pressure worked. Mine is too low and dropped. You explained it so well @ 4:10 . I guess i have to get a new chair, but I really do appreciate the knowledge and explanation. Thank you!
You might be able to salvage the chair by replacing the cylinder. Thanks for watching and good luck!
Many thanks for a clear description of how this mechanism works.
Glad it was helpful!
It is unbelievable how many "repair" videos I had to sift through before finding someone who _actually repaired the cylinder_. Thank you. UA-cam is truly frustrating.
Thank you very much for your kind words.
I like how you explained, in detail, how the lift cylinder works. I was surprised to see that the action of the chair's lift cylinder is very similar to how to the piston in a steam locomotive works, although it wasn't actually mentioned in the video. I just recognized the similarity between the two. 🚂
Thank you. They do share similar characteristics.
Cool observation 🙂
@@TheScreamingFrog916 Thanks. 🙂
Flipping it upside down and cycling the cylinder fixed my sinking chair, I did it for 3 cycles but seems to have lubed one of the seals and is now currently holding up pressure! Thanks for the video! Definitely easier than I ever thought and made me look like the hero in just 3 min! Lol thanks again
Great! Hopefully my other chair video helped. Thanks for watching.
Thank you, David. This hack is really a genius one. Being able to take a look at the internals, makes all the difference to understand the mechanism.
Check out my newer video; that is even easier. Thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 Thank you. 👍
What an excellent video! Very informative and easy to understand - thank you for taking the time to explain this, it helped me fix my sinking office chair!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for taking the time to share this video. I just moved into an office where ALL the chairs have this problem.
You're welcome! Like I've said a few times, I've found out since this video was posted that sometimes simply flipping the chair upside down and cycling the wheels up and down will do the trick. Although it's a little awkward, it's worth a try.
Great explanation of the mechanism and the fix! You had mentioned you had done this fix previously, is this likely to leak oil over time? Mainly concerned about making a mess of the floor under the chair.
Thank you. I haven't had any leakage during the several years I've been using this chair.. I did clean the rod after I lubricated it.
very helpful! may this vid reach those having problems with their gas lift chairs.
Thank you. I hope it helps lots of people.
I like this, very thorough in explaining the working mechanics of a gas cartridge, before repairing it!
Thanks, check out my other video ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ) for an even EASIER way to fix chair cylinders.
Very nice video, i appreciate the work you have done.
Thank you!
One thing that maybe wasn't obvious, the gas pressure in the upper cylinder is lower than in the lower cylinder because the upper piston area is larger than bottom piston. The force on the piston top is the same as the force on the piston bottom; otherwise the piston would move. Since:
Pressure(top) * Area(top) = Pressure(bottom) * Area(bottom)
Then a smaller Area(bottom) requires a higher Pressure(bottom).
Yes, this was the "aha!" moment for me, which makes it possible for the overall design to be significantly simpler than you'd expect! I think this only affects the adjustment mechanism though, not the weight it can support, as the latter is just determined by the gas pressure I think
Heavy duty mechanic here, just had to replace a seat and finally got curious enough to look up how these cylinders work with no lines going to them.
This was the explanation that I was looking for. Force = pressure x area. Bigger surface area = bigger force if the pressure is constant.
Fluid always flows from high pressure to low pressure. You need a force equalization to keep the cylinder stationary, and the seals need to be rated for the pressures involved. I was having a tough time wrapping my head around why a larger surface area would equal less force, but it doesn't. The pressure is what fluctuates, not the force. Even as the cylinder is being actuated, the force remains constant on both sides of the piston. Since air is compressible, the added force of your cheeks compresses the cylinder some, but the piston quickly discovers its new home in the equalization zone of upper and lower forces.
Key takeaway: the valve allows the pressure to be adjusted, not the force.
@@alainsauve5903 Glad this helped. Actually, the valve adjusts the volume above and below the piston, everything else finds their own equilibrium (picture of mind blowing up here). Sum the forces around the piston; gas force below the piston = seat force down plus gas force above the piston. Thanks for watching!
Great instruction. Thank you for the time and effort you took to make this video and share it with us. Greetings from Croatia.
Thank you very much!
The video was still interesting to watch after the first time I was really able to grasp how the cylinder works, thank you so much for teaching me, currently in the middle of a repair of a gaming/office chair and I didn't get not 1 month of it before it started sinking so I'm really hoping this fix will do the trick so I don't have to sit there and readjust my chair every 2 minutes thanks for the video again and best of luck to you
You're welcome; thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 ended up doing a double whammy with power steering fluid and wd 40 works like a charm
I appreciate the advice. Without opening the cylinder, I spray the outside with knife oil, flipped the chair over and started compressions. Works perfectly fine and no sinking yet, the only issue is, when I stand up and sit back down, the chair rumbles the floor lol But hey, such a small price to make the random sinking go away!
Sounds good. Check out my later video for an even easier fix ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ).
I dont know how much I can thank you, Sir! Please, run for President! Thank you so much!!!
Thanks for watching!
Best chair repair video on YT. thanks man!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Very informative and professional. Thank you sir
So nice of you. You're welcome.
Great job, David! Love videos like this that are instructional AND informative.
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Having an issue with mine and have to admit i have seen quick 5 mins temp fixes but think this will be my long term fix thanks for the video David
You're welcome. Good luck.
i got it, it's actually very usual way of improving performance of piston by applying oil (trying to keep my comment family friendly) 😀 well this video was cool 😎 thanks David.
LOL!
Perfect, look forward to repairing the 3 swivel chairs I've accumulated before selling them to a new owner. Thanks David!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
yaaaaaaay thank you Sir I watched this and Ive fixed my chair in just under in just ten minutes I did it with oil and to push the piston down I just happened to have an old drill chuck (3/8 10mm) so i slid this over the piston rod and hand tightened it up I used duck tape to wrap around to contain the oil then topped it up and pushed the rod up and down Then to get the cylinder out I used a pair of stilsons (large adjustble grips) and just twisted the clylinder out of the chair seat mout then refixed the piston rod back in to the spider leg base then same again with duck tape oil and work it in reassemble job done
Thanks for watching. If it happens again; check out my other video ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ) for an even EASIER way to fix chair cylinders. NO TOOLS! NO COST!
I can't wait to retired.....I can imagine the amazing smell of your garage, the old paint rusted nails...David you are the men !!
And grease and gasoline. Thanks for watching!
Very nice video. I tried lubing mine this morning, so fingers crossed that it will work. I found gobs of dust in the metal seat mechanism, so your theory seems pretty sound. Dust gets in there over time and obstructs one of the seals. I tried removing the cylinder from the seat, but no luck. I even mounted the base to holes in my workbench and used vice grips and a pipe for leverage.
Check out a NEW and even EASIER repair on my updated video:
ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html Good luck!
@@LifewithDavid1 thanks! This may explain why the chair started working again briefly a few weeks back when I turned it upside down for a brief attempt at pounding the cylinder out of the base.
Thanks for sharing your video. It was very helpful. I'm about to replace the cylinder on my desk chair. I'm hoping for joy!
Good luck!
I saw another video, using WD-40. It seemed totally counterintuitive to use a lubricant to prevent slipping!
The WD-40 worked for me (I'll see how long), but I HAD to know WHY. Thanks for explaining the physics behind it!
Thanks for watching; glad it was useful. Hopefully the WD-40 will work for a while.
It's the lubricant/lubricating property around the seals that prevents the gas leak.
David, what a blessing you are to mankind. A divinely given talent you have received and then to share your knowledge with others too is surely appreciated by many, including me. My sincere “THANKS” for the amazing 😉 video. I am ready to fix my chair now, without hesitation. 💫💫💫 God Bless you today and always💫💫💫
So nice of you. Before you start; you might want to just try to flip the chair upside down and cycle the cylinder up and down before you remove it. I've found that sometimes that is all it takes. I think it redistributes the grease inside the inner cylinder. If it doesn't work then do the whole fix. Good luck!
@@LifewithDavid1- Thanks for the followup, I will let that be my starting point‼️💫💫💫‼️
My chair hydraulic hasn't degraded to the point of needing this repair but when push comes to shove I got your video to fix it. Thanks a lot sir.
Thanks for the kind words.
Splendid stuff, thanks. The coffer dams were a nice idea but I didn't find them necessary given the small amount of hydraulic (well, ATF in my case) fluid that actually worked into the mechanism at each end. I was also lucky enough to be able to access the top end without removing the cylinder, so it was a 20 minute fix start to finish, including watching your helpful video.
Thank you very much. My updated video makes disassembly unnecessary in most cases. Thanks for watching!
That must be a Hon chair. Mine has given me as difficult a time to get off as yours. A half hour job became a job that has sat there for months. I’ve tried pipe wrenches, etc.
I appreciate your video. - very helpful. I’m also going to check out the other video you’ve mentioned above.
Good luck!
i needed this for a uni project and u practically saved me! thanks!
Glad I could help!
Good ,practical and easy to understand video. Thanks.
Glad you liked it.
thank you for your effort.
my case is little different. it started with squeaky sounds and I didnt know where it was coming so I sprayed everything with WD40.
THEN the partially sinking started.
it just sinks 1 or 1.5 inches (3-5cm) at any level except when it is at the bottom.
sinking doesnt continue in time but makes very weird noise.
My chair compresses a little when I sit on it; maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inch. The lower the pressure in the cylinder the more it will compress when you sit on it until it won't support you weightat all. WD-40 isn't a lubricant; it is for displacing water. It can gum up after it dries a little. That's why I use hydraulic jack oil. I would try flipping your chair upside down overnight and then cycle it up and down a couple times. That might help redistribute the lubricant that is already inside the cylinder. Good luck!.
It's fun to see a tinkerer explain how these cylinders actually work and that there is often a way to revive them by lubricating them. And the moving CAD illustration is very cool. David doesn't seem to know that there is another way to remove the cylinder from a chair base. I bought a replacement cylinder long ago that came with a pair of collars. One tightens down onto the support rod. The adjacent one can be pushed against the chair base by tightening hex screws that widen the gap between the previously aligned collar pieces. This effectively dislodges the cylinder without the need for a hammer or other tools. Also, if you don't want to go through the mess of reviving an old cylinder you can buy high quality new ones online for about $25 delivered, including ones that extend to a greater length for tall people.
That's a great tip. The comments that I received about the mess was why I came up with an even easier method of rejuvenating the lift cylinders. Thanks for watching!
Superb,got two of mine with the sinking feeling so i'll give this a go,many thanks.😁
Check out my more recent video for an even easier way to fix them with no tools. I pinned the link at the top of the comments.
Learned something new today, I'm new to your channel from Bangladesh.
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us.
So nice of you. Thanks for watching.
Thanks, my friend! That helped me understand more about what I was doing wrong in removing the cylinder - I was dead-set on using the hammer method.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
Repairing things is a lost art! Thanks!
It sure is! Here is an even easier way to fix your chair: ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html
Well done! My chair has the same issue, currently stuck on trying to get the cylinder out 🙄
Try flipping the chair up-side-down and cycle the chair up and down several times. Sometimes that seems to do the trick without removing the cylinder. If that doesn't work; then you can try removing the cylinder.
Thank you, I didn't do as much as you and even heard some nut or bolt fall that I never found and it still works perfectly
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching.
Thanks a lot! It's interesting to understand some of the science behind the problem.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant video thank you
The animations were great going to have to give this a go . Thank you
Thanks, try the fix from my second chair video (pinned in the description) first. It's much easier. Thanks for watching!
Thanks David, this was indeed very helpful!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Thanks David. I just replaced the cylinder in a chair I had just bought a month before, not because it was defective but because it was way too short for my 6'2" frame. Getting the old cylinder off was a challenge. Turned out the old cylinder was so short, not even the removal kit that came with the replacement cylinder would fit properly. Some persuasion with a Dremel cut-off wheel had to be applied to the bolts and wrench to get them to fit. Better than using a pipe wrench, though. Nice landing, BTW. I did some of that about 30 years ago. Then I got married and everything changed.
Thank you for sharing your experience! And thanks for watching.
Why better than a pipe wrench? That has worked well for me. Am I missing something?
@@TheScreamingFrog916 It was a new chair. A pipe wrench would have destroyed the original cylinder preventing me from using it in another chair.
One of the best intros ever, well done Sir, just the laugh I need .
Thanks. Laughter IS the best medicine. Thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 It really is. It was a pleasure
Thanks for the video David. I've been resisting giving up my Office Chair. After watching your video, I decided to take a closer look at my chair. So I flipped the chair upside-down (one handed of course because, you know, I kinda workout) to take a closer look at the components. I had it in this position for a couple of minutes. I then put the chair right-side up because I needed to do a few things before making the attempt to try your method. Well guess what, now the chair is no longer sinking. It is working normally now. Strange right? Probably won't solve the issue for everyone. I've had this chair for several years. Do you think the lack of Up and Down action ( yes, trying to keep it clean here on YT) caused the malfunction? Maybe the fluid settled too long? Curious of your thoughts.
I agree completely. I found the same things and I made a video on this very observation ( ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html ) about a year ago. Unfortunately, I had to use two hands (and a couple arms and feet) to flip mine. LOL Thanks for watching!
@@LifewithDavid1 Great!! Thanks David. I'll take a look at that video. C'mon David. Pump that Iron. Start light though. Don't want anything to happen to you. No pain no gain. 💪
Great Video! Helped me understand the workings of a pneumatic cylinder! Thank you sir!
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Just came across this looking into the correct way to lubricate the piston! Even though I don’t have to do it yet. This is an awesome video and was very entertaining. Thumbs up for sure
Thank you! Check out my recent video on how to fix your chair even more easily. ua-cam.com/video/mWD3TvXOU0c/v-deo.html
Sounds great! Thanks!
Thanks for explaining how they work so well
Glad you like it!
great explanation for a simple matter
Glad you liked it
This is the video I needed. Thank you so much for the knowledge!
You are so welcome!
i just bought this chair and curious how its work, thankyou for the explanation :)
Thanks for the comment. Glad it helped.
Hi David, thanks for imparting this wisdom. I'd like to know if the seat is still holding....
Yes it is. However, once in a while, I turn the chair upside down, and cycle the chair up and down. That keeps the oil/ grease around the piston seal.
@@LifewithDavid1 Great, just to let you know that your video helped me alot. My seat is holding up but the only problem I have is the oil I used is too viscous. I'll be much better off when I get myself some heavier oil.
I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that chair. If you can't move it up or down, check to see if the height adjustment lever is actually pressing on the valve button on the "top" of the cylinder. Also there may be something jamming the mechanism. Good luck, and thanks for watching!
Daved. You are hilarious on purpose or not. You Rock. I subscribed after your opening on this video. Keep up the great work
Thanks for the sub, and thanks for watching!
as soon as I heard you say 2000 psi I was spooked so I got online and ordered one for 26 euro... used the pvc tube fix method over the top of the piston to set a permanent height while I waited for the delivery of replacement
Sorry you got spooked. 2000 psi may seem like a big number, but the steel in the springs in your car seat is under much higher stress. However, as I said; if you don't feel comfortable doing any of these activities; then don't! Thanks for watching!
Always wondered what was up (and slowly sinking), great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello, just watched two of your videos regarding the repair of, in my case, a gas lift. WorkPro PRO-767E Commercial Mesh Mid-Back Chair. Are you familiar with the brand? I purchased my chair in 2015 with very little use. No longer being able to lift the chair up or down makes my chair no longer useable. I actually enjoy repairing things myself because 1) saves me money and 2) satisfaction of fixing something when people think I will not succeed . 😀
It could also be that the gas cylinder has failed and needs to be replaced.
@@LifewithDavid1 Hi. That’s what I thought as well. Thank you so very much. I’ll let you know when I’ve finished the repair. BTW.. In one of your other videos you recommended the chair be turned upside down for a while. Would the same apply to my chair cause it’s been upside down since yesterday. 😀
@@DinFL It would; however if the cylinder is faulty, the fix won't work.
@@davidminderman3179 sending you a million thanks!
Great video. I am embarrassed to admit that I don't have a vise and you mentioned that the first time you did it was without disassembling the chair, can you explain how you do that? Thank you.
The first thing I would suggest is to simply flip the chair upside down and cycle the cylinder up and down (it's kind of awkward). Recently I've often seen that redistribute the oil/grease inside the inner cylinder and eliminate the need to use jack oil on the shaft. If that doesn't work, you can use the same position for the chair (upside down) and put a little jack oil on the shaft and again cycle the wheels up and down. The last thing I would try is to take the seat off and squirt a little jack oil around the valve button. It's messy without the foil dam; so do that as a last resort.
Thank you so much it was a well produced video😊...
Keep making...💯💯
So nice of you
Thank you for an explanation of how the mechanism works and all the tips!
Thanks for watching!
Great video! Fixed my chair! Thanks!
You're welcome. Glad it helped!
Done. I did mine so ... now time will tell is it worth or not.
Thanks!
Good luck! Hope it helps you as much as it did me.
I gave it a triple thumbs up. I subscribed to thank you profusely for your explanation. Unfortunately, I live in a flat lacking a lab or a garage I could replicate the repairs so I just bought a replacement to install instead. but I would be saving it in an attempt to fix it in future. thanks again for this very informative video
View my more recent video (pinned in the description) for an even easier fix. Many times you can perform the repairs without removing the cylinder at all. Thanks for watching!
I'm just a software developer who doesn't know anything about mechanical parts, trying to fix my chair. This video is really interesting
Try my newer video first, it's even easier.
Finally a video about these things.
Thanks. I couldn't find a video when I started my research so I thought I would put one together.