How can I easily Uncouple this slide and lock on an office chair?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of uncoupling the slide mechanism of an office chair, with participants sharing various methods and tools to achieve this. The scope includes practical problem-solving and potential techniques for disassembly.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their struggle to loosen the slide while attempting to lift and push the chair components, indicating a need for a creative solution.
  • Another participant questions whether the goal is to fully disassemble the chair or just to separate specific parts, suggesting a review of the assembly manual for clarity on the "click" mechanism.
  • A third participant compares the mechanism to a snap ring on a shaft, proposing that squeezing the split shaft with pliers might help in removing it.
  • Suggestions include using WD40 for lubrication, cautioning against potential damage to textiles, and recommending a stronger tool for impact, although there is confusion about the appropriate tool name.
  • One participant identifies the tool as a "punch," while another humorously suggests a need for sharpening a chisel instead.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views and methods for uncoupling the slide, with no consensus on the best approach or solution. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most effective technique.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unclear references to the assembly manual and the specific nature of the "click" mechanism, which may depend on the chair's design. The effectiveness of suggested methods is not confirmed.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals facing similar challenges with office chair assembly or disassembly, as well as those interested in practical problem-solving techniques for mechanical issues.

12john
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While my hunky husband was lifting the chair up, and my brawny brother pushing the frame down, I kept hitting the top of the slide with a screwdriver, to try to loosen the slide. But these parts are still wedged too tightly! We ran out of energy and ideas! How can we life hack this please?

Colored Edited Diagram.jpg



GIF from this video. Illustration from this PDF. Chair manufacturer's page list these both.
 
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What are you trying to do?
Fully diassemble the chair, or just separating top, column and base?
Could the person that assembled bottom and back of the top reverse steps 4b and 4a?
It is not clear how are those, or what that "click" means, as per the published assembly manual.
 
I can't accesss the video or assembly manual, but the "click" referenced by @Lnewqban reminds me of a snap ring on a shaft.

The snap ring gets slightly compressed when the shaft is inserted into a hole, when fully inserted the snap ring expands into a groove in the hole.

An alternate implementation is that the shaft shown with a split in the end compresses as it enters the hole. Then expands when fully inserted, locking in place, again with a ring-and-groove approach.

Try squeezing the split shaft together with a pair of pliers while trying to pull the shaft out.

Please let us know any results... or lack thereof!

Good Luck,
Tom

p.s. Next step, try to find 'Customer Service' at the mfg. or distributor... or look at another non-assembled chair to see what the heck is going on.

p.p.s Dealers list can be found here:
https://www.stressless.com/en/services/find-dealer

Other Services can be found at the bottom of this page:
https://shop.stressless.com/en/c/accessories
 
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WD40 (be careful with the textile, it may damage/stain it: use it only on the metal parts)
Stronger screwdriver/chisel, and a delicate but firm smack with a hammer

Ps.: no, not a chisel. Sorry. How is that chisel-like tool called with a blunt tip:doh:
 
Rive said:
How is that chisel-like tool called with a blunt tip
Punch.
 
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I would have called it the you need to sharpen your chisel bucko but ok punch works too.