Hi everyone,
I have several height-adjustable bar stools like the ones shown in the attached photos, and they have developed the same problem.
The stools use a lever underneath the seat to adjust the height. When I pull the lever without sitting on the stool, the seat rises normally and can be adjusted to its maximum height. However, once I sit on it, the mechanism does not seem able to hold the pressure/height anymore.
Under my weight, the seat gradually sinks until it reaches the lowest possible position. If I stand up and operate the lever again, it rises normally, but the same thing happens as soon as I sit down.
The stools are otherwise in good condition, so I would prefer to repair them rather than replace them.
From what I understand, these stools probably use a gas-lift/pneumatic cylinder similar to an office chair, but I have never disassembled this type of mechanism.
I would appreciate some advice on:
- Is this symptom usually caused by a worn or failed gas-lift cylinder?
- Could the adjustment lever or valve mechanism be keeping the cylinder slightly open instead?
- Is there any practical way to repair/recondition the existing cylinder, or is replacement normally the only solution?
- Are these cylinders generally standardized, or would I need to measure the existing one before ordering a replacement?
- What measurements/specifications should I check to find a compatible replacement?
- How difficult is it to remove the old cylinder from the base and seat mechanism without damaging the stool?
I have several identical stools, so if the cylinders are the problem, I would ideally like to repair all of them rather than replace the entire set.
Photos attached showing the stools, adjustment lever, base and central column.
Any advice on diagnosing the problem before I start taking them apart would be very helpful.
Thank you all for your comments. Understood, I won't even try to repair. At this point it sounds like it's going to be more feasible to get new ones :( Any advice on how to avoid this happening again if I buy new ones?
But you have a marvellous opportunity to add a slow slide whistle and some whimsy to your life
I think when buying new ones, you'd only have to make sure they're built at least for your weight - and then some, to avoid the same thing happening again. Maybe don't skimp and make sure you get quality. To make sure you can use them, a) see my previous comment and b) get precise measurements!
I just posted a problem with the gas lift in my office chair and happened to see your post. It appears in my case, that gas lift is never coming out of its sockets again, I have tried a number of different ways. It's so precisely fitted into these openings, it's not moving the slightest fraction of a mm. So if you decide to replace those gas lifts, before ordering I highly recommend you first try a couple to see if you're able to remove them at all - it might simply not work, and you could be stuck with these like I am