View frequently asked product questions and answers across particular topics and knowledge.
Seating Products
What can I do if my chair wobbles when I am seated in it?
A wobble in a chair can be caused by a faulty control mechanism or chair base. To fix the wobble it is important to verify which of these is causing the wobble.
• Control Mechanism: With the base of the chair set on the floor, pivot the seat from side to side by alternately putting pressure on the right, then left side of the seat. If the seat “wobbles” where the pneumatic cylinder and control mechanism join, the control mechanism is faulty and may need to be replaced.
• Please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact the original purchasing dealer.
What should I do if washers have fallen from the bottom of the chair base?
The washer and the spring clip that hold the cylinder in place have fallen off. Please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your purchasing dealer.
What should I do if the cylinder on the chair touches the floor?
The base and cylinder will most likely need to be replaced. Please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your purchasing dealer.
What does it mean if there is leaking oil or grease under my chair?
First check to make sure grease or oil has not been transferred from the user’s shoe or pant leg to the floor. The user may have rubbed their feet across the grease applied to the cylinder and transferred it to another surface.
This issue could be caused by one of the following:
• The seal on the cylinder has broken.
• The chair's hubliner has come loose causing the cylinder to become misaligned.
• If the chair is new, there has been too much grease applied to the hubliner in the base.
• To resolve this issue with your chair, please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your purchasing dealer.
Where can I find chair functionality instructions?
You can find most chair functionality instructions on our YouTube channel.
What can I do to prevent my office chair from sinking whenever I sit in it?
Often, this problem is due to a faulty control mechanism or pneumatic cylinder and can be easily replaced on most Allsteel chair models. Please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your purchasing dealer.
How do I fix my office chair if it is frozen and I cannot raise or lower it?
Often, this problem is due to a faulty control mechanism or pneumatic cylinder and can be easily replaced on most Allsteel chair models. Please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your purchasing dealer.
What should I do if my chair is not moving up and down smoothly?
Your cylinder most likely needs a new application of grease to work properly. Use this cylinder maintenance guide for instructions.
For further assistance please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your purchasing dealer.
Storage and Files
Who do I contact if I’ve lost the key to my Allsteel lateral file and need to get in the cabinet?
Please contact your Allsteel purchasing dealer for assistance.
What should I do if the lock on my Allsteel lateral, credenza or pedestal cabinet spins when I turn the key, or if it makes a grinding noise when I open it?
Please download the Lateral File Troubleshooting Guide. Most common issues are addressed in this guide. If you have further questions, please contact your purchasing dealer.
I need to remove/install a drawer on my Allsteel lateral file. Where should I start?
Please download the Lateral File Troubleshooting Guide. Most common issues are addressed in this guide. If you have further questions, please contact your purchasing dealer.
What is the proper way to level my Allsteel lateral file?
Please download the Lateral File Troubleshooting Guide. Most common issues are addressed in this guide. If you have further questions, please contact your purchasing dealer.
The drawer on my Allsteel lateral file does not seem aligned and it will not close all the way. How do I fix it?
Please download the Lateral File Troubleshooting Guide. Most common issues are addressed in this guide. If you have further questions, please contact your purchasing dealer.
What should I do if the drawer on my Allsteel lateral file will not properly open all the way?
Please download the Lateral File Troubleshooting Guide. Most common issues are addressed in this guide. If you have further questions, please contact your purchasing dealer.
What are the follower blocks for in pedestal files and how are they installed in the drawer?
The follower block is used to keep hanging files from shifting in the drawer when the drawer is not full. It slides along the track in the drawer keeping the files from sliding to the back of the drawer. Please refer to the Installation Instructions. If you need a carton of follower blocks, you can buy one through your purchasing dealer.
Wheels and Casters
Are there caster recommendations for specific types of flooring?
No. A general rule of thumb is that soft casters are for hard surfaces and hard casters are for soft surfaces. Please consult with flooring manufacturing for specific glides or casters to be used.
What are our casters made of?
We have several different types of casters:
• Hard Casters – 1st Class Polymide (nylon)
• Soft Casters – 1st Class Polymide (nylon) comolded with a urethane overcoat/Neoprene faced wheels. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber.
• All Surface Casters – Neoprene with a softer durometer than a standard hard caster.
What is the difference between hard casters and soft casters—and how can I get different casters for my chair?
- Hard casters are recommended for use on “soft surfaces”, i.e. carpet. Soft casters are recommended for use on “hard surfaces”, i.e. wood floors, tile, chair mats.
- Most Allsteel chairs can be ordered with either hard or soft casters. You will need to check with your Allsteel dealer to verify if the model you plan to order can be ordered with soft casters.
- If you already have an Allsteel chair and would like to switch caster types, they are available for purchase. To ensure you are ordering the correct caster for your chair, please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact your Allsteel Dealer.
My casters seem to be “shredding”—there are black flakes on the floor around my chair. How do I fix this problem?
While it may appear the casters are “shredding”, in actuality, dirt has built up on the surface of the caster over time and is now flaking off. Most often this situation is the result of using a “hard” caster on a hard surface (wood floor, tile, chair mat).
- First, thoroughly clean the flooring area where the chair will be used and the casters to remove any built up dirt. Periodically clean the work area to remove the surface dirt and eliminate the build up.
- Consider switching to a “soft” caster if the chair you currently have has hard casters. Soft casters are available for purchase from Allsteel. To ensure you are ordering the correct caster for your chair, please locate the serial number on the sticker located on the underside of the seat and contact the original purchasing dealer.