Office Chair Reclining Broken

If an office chair breaks when reclining, targeted handling can be carried out according to the cause of the damage, as follows:

Check the Damaged Parts

First, it is necessary to identify the cause of the damage. Common problems include:

• Loose Screws: Check whether the screws at the connection between the base and the seat, as well as the armrests, are loose, especially the five hexagon socket bolts (usually distributed in a pentagram pattern).
• Malfunctioning Gas Lift: If the chair sinks or cannot be fixed when reclining backward, the gas lift may be damaged. Check whether the bottom screws have fallen off, whether the interface is deformed, or observe whether the gas spring is slowly sinking (a typical sign of internal nitrogen leakage).
• Broken Backrest Connection: The connecting parts between the backrest and the seat (such as plastic buckles and metal brackets) may break due to long-term use.
• Faults in Other Components: For example, the buckle of the gradient adjustment handle breaks, abnormal noises from the metal spring structure, and slippage of the plastic gear teeth.

Self-repair Methods

Choose the handling method according to the type of damage:

• Loose Screws: Turn the chair upside down and use a hexagon socket wrench to tighten the five hexagon socket bolts at the connection between the base and the seat, and at the same time, tighten the screws on the base and armrests.
• Gas Lift Replacement: Select an appropriate model with SGS or TUV certification. Release the internal pressure before disassembly (to avoid the risk of high-pressure gas spraying). If the gas spring has a slight leak, wrap a rubber tube from a car tire valve core around the sleeve three times and fix it with 502 glue to delay the pressure loss for about half a year.
• Damaged Backrest Connecting Parts: Contact the original manufacturer to purchase spare parts and install them according to the instructions; if the plastic buckle is broken, use a thin iron wire to wrap around the broken part temporarily for fixation.
• Other Situations: When the metal spring structure makes abnormal noises, use a thickened binding tape to pass through the metal rings at both ends of the spring and wrap it in two strands. After tightening, leave a 5-millimeter elastic space; when the plastic gear teeth slip, stack 2-3 metal hairpins on the same tooth position and fix them with tape, and control the reclining angle within 30 degrees.

Seek Professional Repair

If self-repair is difficult (such as damage to the internal structure of the gas lift or breakage of the chair frame), it is recommended to contact the brand's after-sales service (such as Herman Miller and Okamura, which provide lifetime repair services). When choosing a third-party repair, confirm that the institution has the certification qualification of the China National Furniture Association to avoid safety hazards caused by the use of non-standard spare parts.

Consider Replacing with a New Chair

If the chair has been used for more than 5 years or the repair cost exceeds 30% of the original price, it is recommended to replace it with a new one. When purchasing, refer to GB/T 2280-2023 'Office Chair Safety Standard' and give priority to products with a five-star foot design and a gas lift with a steel stamp mark to ensure safety and durability.