Office Chair Support Rod Touches the Ground

The main reasons why the support rod of an office chair touches the ground are component aging, base structure issues, mismatched ground environment, and abnormal height adjustment of the gas lift rod, which require targeted troubleshooting and handling.

1. Component Aging
Aging or reduced sealing of the rubber ring at the bottom of the gas lift rod is a common cause. Using the chair for more than 2 years or in high-temperature environments (such as near radiators) can accelerate the aging of the sealing ring, leading to weakened support and the rod sinking to touch the ground. Long-term overloading (e.g., body weight exceeding 90kg) can speed up the wear of the sealing ring, causing nitrogen leakage and automatic lowering of the gas lift rod's height. Recommendation: Stop using chairs with severe scratches, replace the gas lift rod with one that meets the GB/T2280 standard (with a service life of about 5-8 years), and avoid long-term overloading.

2. Base Structure Issues

• Base Tilt or Design Flaws: A tilted five-claw base, excessive tolerances at connections, or deformation of the explosion-proof steel plate (accounting for 27% of products in the hundred-yuan price range) can cause the axis of the gas lift rod to shift. Recommendation: Tighten the base screw set (3-4 M8 screws) with an Allen wrench, check if the base steel plate is deformed, and replace the base if necessary.
• Loose Swivel Mechanism: Displacement of the screws on the swivel mechanism at the bottom of the seat (common in overweight individuals or long-term tilted sitting positions) can cause the support system to tilt. Recommendation: Regularly check and tighten the swivel screws, and avoid long-term unilateral loading.
• Base Material Degradation: Thin steel or low-quality plastic bases can twist under long-term loading, forcing the gas lift rod to sink. Recommendation: Choose a base material with strong load-bearing capacity and avoid low-priced, inferior products.

3. Mismatched Ground Environment

• Uneven Ground: Gaps between floor tiles, carpet thickness differences exceeding 5mm, or ground undulations exceeding 3mm can cause the trajectory of the casters to shift, increasing the probability of the gas lift rod touching the ground (experiments show a 40% increase in probability). Recommendation: Lay EVA interlocking mats on the ground (each mat with a thickness of ≥8mm) to fill gaps or undulations.
• Caster Friction: Friction between hard casters and rough ground (such as concrete) can produce vibrations, causing the fixing screws of the gas lift rod to loosen. Recommendation: Regularly check the rotational flexibility of the casters and replace worn casters.

4. Abnormal Height Adjustment of the Gas Lift Rod
The bottom end of the gas lift rod should be 2-5cm above the ground. If pressed too hard during adjustment or if the design stroke is exceeded (the adjustment range of mainstream gas lift rods is 10-13cm), the metal head at the bottom of the support rod will directly touch the ground. Recommendation: Adjust the chair height during daily use so that the knees form a 90-degree angle with the ground, and avoid violent adjustment; for long-term high-frequency use, perform a lifting cycle test every six months (manually lift and lower 30 times to observe sinking).