Hydraulic Chair Repair

[Katy74]

Hello! I am at a loss to find a forum that fits what I'm looking for: I work for a Spa/Salon/Health & Wellness wholesaler & distributor. I have a customer who has 3 hydraulic salon chairs that are squeaking, with the hydraulics about to fail. I've called the manufacturer, who cannot help, basically told me that they don't have anyone. Also called other salon furniture folks who said the salon would need to send the chairs to them to fix, thousands of miles away, and also contacted the original furniture designer who is in Italy who has not responded. I am at my wits end, as well as my customer, and they need their chairs fixed.

Anyone good with hydraulic chair repair here? The chairs are beyond warranty, so that is not a concern. Thank you!!

[chandler]

Do they squeak when turned, or when pumped up? Do they pump up successfully and hold the pressure? Is it annoying or functional?

[RepairMan]

Well it is one year later. Did you ever learn how to get parts to repair stylists hydraulic chairs? There seems to be no end of manufacturers of chairs, most of whom will not even put their name on their product. Most of the junk comes from China, but no parts are available. I think I can repair anything, but I cannot find parts for these chairs. Any guidance that you learned will be helpful.

[djbyrd]

Well, did anyone out there ever come up with an answer for a parts source. The messages here seem to bear out what has happened to me. They want you to ship them half way round the world for repair but no parts are to be had! Sure hope some one comes up with a source. I need a hydraulic pumping part (cyl. and plunger)that screws into the bottom of the hydraulic ram housing, a piece of metal came off of something and mared the parts so that they no longer function properly.
djbyrd

[spdavid]

In my area some of the beauty supply companies refurbish used equipment.You might reach out to some of them and see what happens.I'd try local companies first rather than national chains but it probably wouldn't hurt to give them all a call.

[GregH]

Working in a hospital with hundreds of office and other lift chairs we have found that there are no suppliers of replacement parts.
We are able for some models to get complete replacement lift assemblies but in most cases they cost as much as a new chair.

[djbyrd]

Well, I reached out and pert near got my hand slapped. I feel as though they are protecting their territory, can't say as I blame them.

[Trying2Help]

dag-nabit, someone somewhere has to make replacement parts for these things.... My wife just opened a shop and she was wondering if I could modifiy one of her chairs to recline. Looking at the workings of a reclining chair, it looked like it would be quite possible. However, have run into the some thing as you did with the hydralic parts......Sure you can get the entire chair, but not the parts.
Since I am going to be the main source of repair in the salon, guess I will start chasing this down to see if there is anywhere to get repair/replacement parts. If anyone has found a source please let me know. If I do, I will post back here for all.

Just wondering, are there any markings on the pumps of the chairs that say who made them? Wonder if they have standard seals in them and would be able to get them through a "normal" parts store.

More to come when and if I locate anything.

[GregH]

Yes, we still try to get replacement parts but it seems that each chair maker has their hydraulics made to order so that jobber parts are impractical.

Our maintenance department lunch room is full of extremely expensive chairs, some leather, high-back but with bolts through the hydraulic ram to position them to sitting height.

I think another problem is even inexpensive chairs if not abused last a long time.
Parts do become a problem then when they are used past what the mfr would consider a normal lifetime.
Some of our new office chairs come with a five year, 100% mechanical warranty which if you were sat on for five days a week over five years you would be pretty much worn out!
(Actually, some of us might be. )