Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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 HON 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?

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.

How do I disassemble or take apart my chair?

For instructions on how to disassemble your HON chair, visit HON's Disassembly Instructions.

Where can I find chair functionality instructions?

You can find most chair functionality instructions on the chair functions section of our website.

How do I adjust the hinges on my HON office furniture?

The concealed “European” hinges on HON doors allow easy three-way adjustment of door alignment.
•    To raise or lower the door, locate the recessed Phillips screw farthest to the rear of the hinge. Rotate this screw to adjust the height of the door. You do not need to loosen the center locking screw to make this adjustment.
•    To adjust the side-to-side gap between the doors, adjust the Phillips screw closest to the door on the surface of the hinge body. You do not need to loosen the center locking screw to make this adjustment.
•    To adjust the in-out pitch of the doors faces, carefully loosen the center locking screw and slide to the correct position. CAUTION: Do not move this screw outside the adjustment seat range or the door may dislodge and fall. Tighten the center locking screw when the correct adjustment has been made.

My overhead unit was attached to the desk with double-sided sticky tape. How do I move or remove the overhead unit without damaging the laminate surface?

The tape used to hold the unit in place is industrial strength. Do not use force to remove the unit, as the laminate surface will be torn loose before the tape releases.
To remove the tape:
1.    Apply mineral spirits along the bottom edge where the tape is holding the end panel to the desk surface. Allow this to seep under the edge and begin to dissolve the tape’s adhesive.
2.    Take one end of a strong, thin piece of wire (piano wire works best) in each hand.
3.    Slowly work the wire between the bottom of the end panel and the desk surface.
4.    Apply firm pressure to gently slide the wire between the end panel and work surface. Take care in this process not to damage the end panel or laminate surface.
5.    Once the wire has separated the end panel and work surface, the remaining tape and adhesive can be removed with mineral spirits. Apply the mineral spirits to a cloth and wipe the tape residue away with firm pressure.
6.    Clean both surfaces with a clean, damp cloth to remove any remaining mineral spirits.
7.    Additional double stick tape can be ordered for reattachment. Please see your local HON Dealer for assistance.

I have many HON desks and files in my office and would like them to use the same key. Can this be done?

Yes, since January 1997 all of our Laminate Desks come standard with a core removable lock system. You can order keyed alike replacement lock cores from your HON dealer. If your HON filing cabinet was made prior to January 1997, contact customer support to determine if your cabinet can be retrofitted with a replaceable lock.
Refer to the following if you have a variety of HON furniture in your office you would like keyed alike:
•    Laminate Casegoods (1997-present): F23B Lock Kit (Black Face Lock)
•    Lateral Files (1997-present): F23C Lock Kit
•    Vertical Files (1997-present): F24 Lock Kit
•    Steel Desks (1997-present): F23C Lock Kit (Chrome Face Lock)
•    Veneer Casegoods (1997-present): F23B Lock Kit (Black Face Lock)
•    If you are unsure about what you need to order, please locate the serial number on the sticker on the exterior right side of the upper most drawer, and contact your purchasing dealer..

Who do I contact if I’ve lost the key to my HON desk and need to replace it?

You can buy a replacement key on our HON webstore www.honaccessories.com or you can contact our customer support team for assistance in ordering a replacement key.

What do I do if I am having trouble unlocking my HON desk?

If you need a key, you may purchase one on our HON webstore, www.honaccessories.com or you can contact our customer support team for assistance in ordering a replacement key.

How do I remove the drawer on my laminate series desk?

For a Box drawer:
1.    Fully extend the box drawer.
2.    Depress the black tab located in the center of the slide channel.
3.    Continue to pull the drawer out.

For a File Drawer:
1.    Open the file drawer slightly.
2.    Depress the black tab located on the slide behind the drawer front.
3.    While pressing in on the tabs, lift up on the front of the drawer.
4.    Once the front of the drawer has separated from the slide, continue to pull the drawer out along the slide.
5.    If you have any questions at any point, please locate the serial number on the sticker on either the outside, knee space side of the top drawer or the underside of the top and contact your purchasing dealer.

Where can I find the Hardware Pack for my product?

You can use the following document to find where the hardware pack is located for your product. Hardware Pack Locator.

How do I disassemble or take apart my desk?

For instructions on how to disassemble your HON desk, visit HON's Disassembly Instructions.

Who do I contact if I’ve lost the key to my HON lateral file and need to get in the cabinet?

Please visit www.honaccessories.com to purchase a replacement key or you may contact HON Customer Support for assistance.