Office Chair Hydraulic Rod Not Extending

If the hydraulic rod of your office chair fails to extend, you can troubleshoot and repair it using the following steps:

Check for Fault Causes

• Insufficient Air Pressure: If the chair slowly sinks or fails to support you after sitting, there may be an air leak or insufficient pressure.
• Stuck Mechanism: If you feel resistance when adjusting but the chair doesn't move, there may be debris or rust at the connection point of the lifting rod.
• Aging Seal Ring: If there are oil stains on the surface of the hydraulic rod, it indicates that the seal ring is damaged, causing hydraulic oil leakage.

Try Simple Adjustments

• Pneumatic Office Chair: When the chair is unoccupied, lift the control lever upward, and the seat will rise due to the rebound of high-pressure gas. If you lift the lever while sitting, the chair will lower. If you previously tried to raise the chair while sitting, you were using the wrong method.
• Screw-Type Adjustment: Turn the knob clockwise to lower the chair and counterclockwise to raise it. Ensure you are turning it in the correct direction.

Lubrication and Maintenance

• After ruling out operational issues, clean and lubricate the connection point of the lifting rod. Flip the chair over, use a screwdriver to unscrew the fixing screws connecting the chair legs and the base of the hydraulic rod, and separate the chair legs from the base.
• Hold the middle part of the hydraulic rod with both hands and shake it left and right. If it is tight, gently tap the edge of the connection point with a rubber mallet to help loosen it.
• Spray lubricating oil on the surface of the lifting rod and the connection gaps. Move it back and forth several times to allow the oil to penetrate inside, then reassemble and test.

Inflation Operation

If the chair is still weak after lubrication, it may be due to insufficient air pressure, and you can try inflating it. Locate the inflation port at the bottom of the chair (usually protected by a cover), and use a manual or electric air pump with an interface that matches the inflation port. Inflate slowly, with the recommended pressure range for office chairs being 0.5 - 1.0MPa. Observe the changes in the chair while inflating to avoid over-inflation and bursting.

Replace the Hydraulic Rod

If none of the above methods work, it indicates that the hydraulic rod is internally damaged and must be replaced. Raise the chair to its highest position (if possible), and gently tap it with a hammer to separate the seat part from the wheel frame, allowing the old hydraulic rod to detach. If you encounter resistance, you can add lubricating oil to assist. Insert the new hydraulic rod into its original position and ensure it is securely installed. The new rod may be slightly loose initially but will tighten after a few uses. Reassemble the chair legs and base, and tighten the fixing screws.

Repairing the hydraulic rod of an office chair can be dangerous. Ensure the chair is in a stable state before operation to avoid injury from the chair falling during the repair process. If you lack repair experience or are unable to solve the problem, it is advisable to seek the help of a professional repair technician.