Office Chair Caster Broken
If the casters of your office chair are broken, you can try the following solutions:
Check and Clean Debris
When there is a problem with the office chair casters, first carefully check if there are any small pieces of paper, dust, or hair stuck around the casters. If debris is found, handle it according to its type. For small pieces of paper, use tweezers to pick them out; for dust, use a hairdryer to blow it away; for hair, use a brush to brush it off.
If the debris is stuck tightly, turn the office chair upside down, hold the caster bracket with your hand, and gently pull the caster outwards (most office chair casters are of a snap-fit design and do not require tools). If the caster is extremely tightly stuck, use a flat-head screwdriver to gently pry the edge of the snap-fit. At this time, place a soft cloth underneath to avoid scratching the bracket. After removing the caster, use tweezers to pick out the long hairs and carpet fibers from the caster gaps one by one. Be sure to pick in the direction of the caster rotation to prevent the hair from getting more tangled. Then, use an old toothbrush dipped in a small amount of neutral detergent to gently scrub the caster surface and the bearing gaps to remove residual dust and oil stains. Finally, rinse the caster with water (avoid getting water into the bearing part), dry it with a dry cloth, and let it air-dry in a well-ventilated place for 10 minutes.
Replace the Casters
If the casters are severely worn or cracked, cleaning the debris will not solve the problem. In this case, you need to replace them with new ones. First, measure the size of the casters, and then search for compatible chair casters on e-commerce platforms. After purchasing them, follow the instructions to replace them. You can also prepare tools such as a wrench, screwdriver, rubber mallet, and casters. Pick up the wrench, unscrew the broken casters. If the casters are very old, directly replace them with a new set of casters.
Lubricate the Chair Axle
Check if the chair axle is rusty or dry. If so, it will also affect the normal rotation of the casters. You can apply some lubricating oil to the axle. Choose the appropriate lubricating oil, such as ordinary mechanical lubricating oil or office equipment-specific lubricating oil. Avoid using cooking oil because cooking oil easily attracts dust. Apply the lubricating oil to the key parts of the axle, and then rotate the casters to evenly distribute the lubricating oil, reduce friction, and make the casters rotate smoothly.
