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