Removing Gas Lift from Base of Office Chair

MBix on 18/05/2022 - 13:48

Purchased a decent enough office chair from ZQRacing in September last year and the gas lift suddenly stopped working. They've sent me out a new one however I'm having an absolute hell of a time getting the old one removed. Have got it off the chair itself, but can't get it separated from the metal base. Hit it with multiple hammers from both sides, got some WD-40 in there, two of us trying to pull it free, pipe wrench on one end. The little sucker just will not budge. Have read a heap of posts on Reddit etc and tried some suggestions (heating/cooling) but nothing is working so I thought I'd bring it to the brain trust here at OzB in the hope of something I might not have tried

ZQRacing have suggested I purchase a replacement base for the chair, which is obviously an option, but a little annoying given the age of the chair.

Home & Garden Chair Office Chair

Comments

  • Cheaplikethebird on 18/05/2022 - 13:54
    +2

    Have you tried turning it with the pipe wrench to loosen it up a bit? I had the same issue and that's what did the trick. I basically had to put the pipe wrench on then hit the wrench with a mallet.

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 13:56

      Tried turning it with the pipe wrench with one of us holding the base and the other turning, but will give it a whirl with the mallet! Thanks mate

      • Cheaplikethebird on 18/05/2022 - 13:58
        +1

        No worries and good luck! I remember it being a massive PITA.

    • HeWhoKnows on 19/05/2022 - 20:32
      +1

      Premature failure regardless of any warranty
      The entire chair should be replaced free nof charge

  • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 14:10
    +1

    Never had to do it but the obvious answer is to ask the supplier what needs to be done.

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 14:11

      Appreciate the response, have covered that in the original post however.

      • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 14:50
        +1

        I've read it several times and I don't see where. Only that they sent you the part and suggest buying a new base.

        • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 14:52

          I thought it was pretty obvious I had spoken with the supplier about what needs to be done but my mistake for assuming. To clarify for you, I’ve spoken to them, they’ve showed me instructions via a YouTube video not made by them on what needs to be done. It’s a fairly common process which has been covered many a time on YouTube etc, mine isn’t playing nice so I went back to them which is why there is a suggestion to buy a new base there.

          • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 15:02
            +4

            @MBix: OK I'll assume the chair is under warranty so given you can't fit the supplied part they either need to supply someone to do the repair or return and exchange or refund the chair. If you damage something do it yourself they're not going to do anything about it.

            • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 15:04

              @apsilon: Thanks mate, I've headed back to them now letting them know I've tried an abundance of solutions and nothing has come of it. This post was more so just trying to find a solution I may have overlooked, but you're spot on with the fact I don't want to go overboard and end up damaging the base

  • djones145 on 18/05/2022 - 14:22
    +4

    it was only purchased last sept, you would think warranty is still applicable (which is why they ahve sent you a new part)
    they should at least provide adequate instructions or if not, if they require another part (like a replacement base for the chair) they should sent it to you

    you should continue to push the company!
    send someone to fix it, or pick it up to get it fix, or give better instructions or send me a replacement base!

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 14:50

      Yeh I think once I’ve run out of trying different things that may be what I need to do. They sent me a link to a YouTube video (not theirs) on how to do it, for the most part it’s meant to be pretty simple I think. There’s a tonne of videos about it, mine just isn’t playing ball

  • websterp on 18/05/2022 - 14:24

    I feel your pain as I've done this myself. I actually got one of these for free with a gas lift replacement kit but if nothing works here is one you can buy and this makes the removal job a breeze. Also Youtube has plenty of guides showing different different methods to remove this so choose one that works for you.

    This is how the above mentioned tool works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAVHOz24n60&ab_channel=Indec…

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 14:46

      Thanks mate, was actually one of the videos I watched earlier haha, I managed to get the top part removed from the chair it’s the base that’s giving all the grief, might need to pick up a dead blow hammer as it’s now the one thing I haven’t attempted.

  • serpserpserp on 18/05/2022 - 15:10
    +1

    use a chainsaw. It is the only way.

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 15:14

      hahaha honestly some of the suggests have been use a jigsaw for a vertical cut and it'll come loose, but I don't know if they mean the cylinder at the bottom or the thin piston type cylinder which connects to the seat of the chair (which has been removed) Given it's a gas canister I'd probably screw it up and explode leading the neighbours to think I'm cooking meth

  • payless69 on 18/05/2022 - 15:37

    Dr youtube!

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 15:48
      +2

      I've watched so many videos on it, majority of them give the thing the lightest tap and it pops out, every time I watch one like this my rage intensifies. Hopefully it'll get to the point where the rage levels are so high I just remove it with my thumb!

      • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 16:09

        I wonder if they've used some kind of adhesive to secure it? Wouldn't be normal but would explain why it's so much more difficult than it sounds like it should be.

        • resubaehtgnolhcs on 18/05/2022 - 16:38

          won 't be adhesive, it's your weight from sitting down on it thousands of times! OP how much you weigh?

          • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 16:49

            @resubaehtgnolhcs: I had my Aeron 10.5 years before the gas strut was replaced (under warranty on site) and from what I saw it came out fairly easily. From what OP has said it should've come out with what they've tried.

          • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 17:13
            +1

            @resubaehtgnolhcs: Nah definitely not adhesive, I assembled the chair myself and just pops in. Wedged in there good and proper but I come in well and truly under the weight recommendations of the chair (150kg weight limit and I'm just over 100kg, so carrying a few extra kegs than I should be, but still nothing outrageous) Have emailed their Customer Support back hopefully they'll help out with a solution. Still going to give a few things a whirl in the meantime though.

      • payless69 on 19/05/2022 - 09:07

        I ended up wearing safety goggles and full face protection and a mallet! Got 4 out of 5 chairs done, last one the OW repl leaked. You can actually swap sleeves to save money.

  • bradl822 on 18/05/2022 - 21:59

    Honestly just needs a good solid hit, use a mallet rather then a hammer. A hammer will often damage the gas lift making it hard to remove. Sit the star base on something solid, turned upside down obviously with the gas lift hanging off the side. Then hit with everything you have. It will come off. If your aim isn't good get someone else to hold the chair and put a block of wood in the bottom of the gas lift and try again. Bonus is if you miss it hurts your friend not you 😉

    • MBix on 18/05/2022 - 22:10

      Someone suggested a dead blow hammer which I might have to look into I smacked the absolute crap out of it with a mallet today, even had a bit of dowel I was hammering into and it just wasn't budging. I had it upside down between two things to hold it steady so the lift was hanging out. I honestly don't think I could hit it much harder than I was at one stage. was very cathartic. Gonna take it around my old mans tomorrow, hopefully two of us having a second go at it may work, if not I think I'll have to try convince the supplier to help out / buy the base.

      • bradl822 on 19/05/2022 - 07:36

        Only other option is sit a blue of wood on the ground with the base up the correct way. Sit the bottom of the gas lift on the block and work your way around hitting the star base, that might free it up a bit more. Good luck

  • MBix on 19/05/2022 - 00:45
    +1

    Just an update for everyone - ZQRacing have tonight agreed to send out a new base. Randomly received an email at about 10pm from them, but happy they're helping out. I'm happy to send them the wedged one back I told them but I also have a sick desire to do everything I can to get that little sucker out. I don't want it to defeat me like this!

    Thanks for the comments and suggestions. If I get it popped out I'll report back how much the jackhammer set me back

  • bbinc on 19/05/2022 - 08:45

    Wait! These suckers can explode if the cylinder gets damaged. Check this out https://chairpickr.com/can-office-chairs-explode/

    • MBix on 19/05/2022 - 12:21

      Okay okay, no jackhammer :D

  • OzHunterNSW on 19/05/2022 - 15:32

    If it is not meant to be replaced, then you will have to either buy a new chair or risk damaging the one you have - even more

    • MBix on 19/05/2022 - 16:02

      They’re definitely meant to be replaceable, unfortunately in my case it’s not as easy as it should be

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