How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide

If your bifold door is sticking it's likely they need some maintenance. You may need to clean or lubricate them, or even adjust them. The problem could be caused by an unfastened bolt on the top pivot or by the top guide roller.

This kit comes with all the hardware needed to bring your bi folding door repair-fold closet door system to its best performance.

Take the door off

Installing a set of internal bifold door seal replacement doors may seem like an involved and challenging task but it's actually easy for DIYers with a few years of experience. Moving the frame isn't the problem but the trick is getting the doors to fold and close smoothly and precisely. Bifold doors are complex pieces of machinery and, as such they could require some tweaking to function correctly. It could be as easy as tightening up a screw, or as intricate as taking off and replacing the door's pivot pin or roller.

The majority times you can resolve these issues with a few simple adjustments, without having to remove the doors. You might find that your doors are sagging or scratching the floor, or that they're bouncing off their track. It's not difficult to fix these problems. Follow these three easy steps and your bifold door will be back on line in short time.

The most common problem that internal bifolding doors encounter is the sliding out of alignment. This could be due to loose screws, holes on the anchor/pivots or an unaligned bifold door. In most instances, you can fix this issue with a few simple adjustments, however if the door isn't moving, it may need to be removed and replaced.

You'll need to open the door using a screwdriver, and possibly a pair pliers to loosen any pivot pins that are tight. The screwdriver can be used to break any locking levers that are on the bottom pivot bracket and the pliers will allow you to pull the pin to release it and then take it off.

After the top roller is loose, you should be able to lift the door and swivel it down and allow you to pull it off its pivot brackets and track. It's usually a straightforward procedure, but be careful to not let the door strike the door frame. Then, you can sand down the edge of the door to make it smooth. You can then repaint or finish it according to the requirements.

Take off the Roller Guide

This spring-loaded guide roller is mounted on the top edge of a bifold door to help with smooth operation. It is designed to work with Kenna frames and will fit the door's panel from 1 to 1-3/8 inches thick. It is made of steel, nylon and plastic components. It can be used to replace a worn-out or damaged guide.

Remove any screws holding the guide to the roller by using a screwdriver. After that, carefully use your hands to lift it out of the frame. This might take some effort, so have an assistant help you keep the door in place while you remove it.

After the guide has been removed, carefully cut the remaining finish around the foot of the new guide using the help of a razor blade to separate it from the rod blank. This will make the guide's foot easier to remove and prevent any damage. The foot is extremely sharp, and it can cut or nick fingers.

You may need to apply some force to remove the guide, but you must be careful not to chip or break the foot. After you've separated the guide from the rod blank, make sure to take out all of the threads and epoxy that remain in the place where it was attached. This will prevent future problems with the guide.

After you have removed the previous guide, you can test the replacement by placing it at its permanent location. Make a few turns with masking tape or guide tubing in order to ensure it stays in place. This will let you double verify the guide's spacing and alignment to make sure that everything is properly set up. Whether you're eye-balling it or using the always accurate CRB Spine Finder and Deflection System This step is crucial to avoid any problems in the future.

The last step is to replace the door. If the guide is in the correct position and functions in the correct way, then you're ready to proceed. Make sure that any screws or pins that you removed or loosened should be replaced and tightened appropriately when you're done.

Take the Bottom Pivot off.

Bifold doors make a gorgeous addition to any home, but sometimes they need a little tweaking or adjustment to stay in great shape. Certain issues can be solved with the doors still in place. Other issues will require the doors be removed. This guide will walk you through the process of removing internal bifold door pivots and rollers, as well as pins and pins, to get your doors sliding as new.

Gathering your tools is the first step. Getting everything together ahead of time will help you avoid a lot of frustration later on in the project. You'll require a screwdriver, pliers and perhaps a wrench. A basic set of tools is available at a reasonable cost from your local hardware store. It's recommended to keep some wood glue in your kit. This can be useful in the event that you need to glue one of the rollers back in their original position.

After assembling your tools and tools, open the bifold door and loosen the top track bracket by using your screwdriver. Once the bracket is in place, you should be able to lift the door off the top track. It might take a bit of jiggling but it should come right off the track.

Next, you'll need to remove the bottom pivot from the frame. You'll want to do this from the outside of the house Be sure to shut any interior doors you have open. This will make it much easier to do rather than working on the inside. If the bottom track still looks good it is possible to lift the door and remove the track.

You'll have to replace the track if damaged. Hardware stores offer replacement tracks for bifold doors as well as swinging closet doors. If the track is severely damaged, you may have to replace it completely.

It is now time to test your doors for the proper operation. Make sure that they are able to move smoothly from position to position. You'll want to make sure that the edges of your door are in line with the frame when it is closed. If they're not, you'll need to readjust the top pivot bracket and tighten or loosen the bottom set screw until the door's edge coincides perfectly with the frame.

Replace the Roller

If they are installed correctly, bifold doors can neatly cover pantries, laundry rooms and closets. They comprise two door panels that hinge together and open up on tracks that are positioned in the frame's top. Over time the roller guides may wear out and cause the doors to sag. Replacing the guide roller takes only a few minutes and the most basic tools.

The first step is removing the roller guide from your door panel. This involves removing the bottom pivot bolt and loosening the screw that holds the guide on its top. After the guide has been removed and the door panel is lifted up and away from its track. Then, loosen the bolt that secures the top pivot bolt and employ an abrasive to pull it out of the hole in the top header of the door frame.

A top nylon replacement guide with a 7/8 " diameter wheel and a steel base is available from Stanley, Cox or Acme. It is mounted at the top edge of repair bifold door top pivot doors that range from 1 to 1-3/8 inches thick. It is spring-loaded and adjusts automatically in the upper track to ensure smooth sliding.

Bifold doors can also scratch the floor as it closes and opens. This is often the result of adding carpet, or other flooring materials which require that the doors be elevated to allow clearance. Removal of the bottom pivot adjustment screw and loosening the top track's mounting screws, and moving the anchor/pivot pin is typically enough to resolve this issue.

A set top roller with new guides can be an inexpensive solution to your bifold doors being difficult to operate. They are typically found at your local hardware shop in the door section. However they can be ordered on the internet from a variety of suppliers. You will also need the squeeze-clamp and a tiny container Elmer's wood adhesive, which can be found in big box stores. The clamp is used to keep the area being repaired shut after the glue has been installed and dried.