When I sit in my office chair, it slowly lowers down all the way. It will lift all the way up, but then goes back down about 1" at a time in little "jumps". Can this be repaired, or do I need to buy another chair?

sylvie jenkins, February 2008

The Sock worked Great... Thanks

Barry, July 2015

This is how I fixed it with no replacement cylinder. Cost me nothing and was done in 20 mins: http://www.veshapidze.com/diy/office-chair-pneumatic-gas-lift-cylinder-repair-20140502/

Makker, May 2014

I put a worm (hose) clamp in it. Had to cut a little of the black boot away. Working so far!!

patty, April 2012

for impoverished students like me: some blue tack would also do the trick

P, December 2011

Easy fix, use a damn sock. Slide up the plastic cuff, take an old sock, tie it around once, then wrap again, tie again, wrap tie around the post. Slide the cuff down.

Olyve, September 2011

Remove the cylinder and use 2" pvc pipe around the cylinder housing (it fit perfect on my housing)...cut PVC to hold desired height....I can still rotate the chair, however I don't know how long the PVC will last,,,it works fine now,

Steve D

Steve, May 2010

I am so jazzed! The petroleum jelly really worked, at least for now. Except for that problem my chair is the most comfortable office chair, better than all my work chairs.
Thanx very much. This is the first site that could actually give me a possible solution!

Denise, August 2009

Using the worm screw clamp worked great! Setting the height I wanted, and tightening the clamp with a socket wrench held it in place well. Very easy fix!

Jim, April 2009

First, I have to agree with Ken, above, but you can usually get a few more months of operation before resorting to a fixed height. Put a little grease (I use petroleum jelly from the medicine cabinet) on the shaft, all the way around. Hold the lever which lowers the chair, while lowering the chair and letting it raise back up two or three times. I try to raise both plastic sleeves, and use a finger to put a little grease (it takes very little) where the shaft enters the cylinder, as the top plastic cover removes most of it if the grease is just applied where the shaft is exposed.

Chester, February 2009

There is no "fixing" a failed lift as it is very difficult to disassemble... and replacement cost for a new one - for all but the most expensive chairs - wouldn't be work the time and trouble. BUT you can get your chair to hold at a desired height.
Pull the Chair up to the height you desire to fix it at. Then carefully lay the chair on its side at this same height. You may have to cut back some of the TOP black plastic sleeve's bottom ( it won't show) to expose the pneumatic cylinder shaft. Clamp the shaft inplace above the piston body with several 2 - 3 inch common automotive type worm screw hose clamps. Done! Go back to enjoying your chair.

Ken Diamond, MD, December 2008