How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide
If your bifold doors have become stuck and squeaking, they may need a little maintenance. They might need to be cleaned, lubricated or adjusted. The problem may be caused by loose screws on the top pivot or by the top roller guide.
This kit includes everything you need to restore your bi-fold wardrobe door to its optimal performance.
Remove the Door
Installing a set of internal bifold doors could seem like a complex and challenging task however, it's actually easy for DIYers with a little experience. The frame is not the problem, but getting the doors to fold and close smoothly is. Since bifold doors are complicated machines, they might require some tuning to keep functioning correctly. It could be as simple as tightening the screw, or as complex as taking off and replacing the door's pivot pin or roller.
It is usually possible to fix these issues with a few simple adjustments, without having to remove the doors. You may notice that your doors are sagging, scraping the floor, or they are jumping out of their track. It's easy to fix these problems. Follow these three easy steps and your bifold door should be back in the right direction in the shortest amount of time.
One of the most common problems that bifold doors with internals face is that they are sliding out of alignment. This can be caused by loose screws or holes in the anchor/pivot pins or simply a door that is not aligned. The majority times, this can be corrected by making a few minor adjustments. If, however, your door isn't moving in any way, you might need to replace it.
You'll need to remove the door with an screwdriver, and perhaps pliers to loosen any pivot pins that are too tight. The screwdriver is used to release the locking levers at the bottom pivot bracket. The pliers are used for removing the pin.
Once bi-fold door repair is free, you should be able to raise the door and swivel it down, allowing you to take it out of its pivot brackets and track. It's usually a simple procedure, but be careful to not let the door hit the door frame. Then, you'll be able to saw off the edge of the door that is scraping the floor and sand it down until it's smooth. You can then paint or refinish the door as needed.
Take off the Roller Guide
This spring-loaded roller guide is mounted on the top edge of bifold doors to aid in smooth operation. It is designed to be used with Kenna frames and will fit doors that are 1 to 1/8 inch thick. It is made of nylon, steel and plastic components. It can be used to replace a worn or damaged guide.
Remove any screws holding the roller guide in place by using the screwdriver. Use your hands to carefully remove it from the frame. It might require some effort to take off the door, so ask someone else to assist you.
After removing the guide, carefully cut the remaining finish off the foot of the guide with a razor to separate it from blank rod. This will make the guide foot easier to remove, and also prevent any damage. Be cautious while doing this, as the guide foot is extremely sharp and could potentially cut or nick your fingers.
You will probably have to apply a little force to take the guide off, but take care not to chip or break the foot. After you've removed the old guide, remove any epoxy or threads left in the place where it was fixed. This will avoid future issues with the guide.
After removing the old guide, you can test your replacement by placing it in its permanent location and then applying a few rotations of masking tape or another form of guide tubing to keep it in its place. This will allow you to double examine the guide's spacing and alignment to ensure 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.
If the guide is set properly and functions according to its intended function the next step is to reinstall the door in place. Remember to tighten and replace any screws or pins you removed or loosen.
Remove the Bottom Pivot
Bifold doors can be a beautiful feature for a home, but they sometimes require tweaking or adjusted to ensure they are in good condition. Some issues can be addressed by keeping the doors in place. Other issues will require the doors be removed. This guide will show you how to remove the bifold internal door pins, rollers and pivots.
Gathering your tools is the first step. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration if you collect all your tools in advance. You'll need a screwdriver, pliers and maybe a wrench. A set of basic tools is available at a reasonable price at your local hardware store. It's also a good idea to keep some wood glue on hand. This will come in handy when you need to glue any of the rollers back into place.
Once you've gathered your tools, start by opening the bifold doors and then loosening the top track bracket with your screwdriver. Once the bracket is free, you'll be able to slide the door off the top track. It may take some dancing but it should eventually pop off the track.
The next step is to remove the bottom pivot from the frame. Close all doors in the interior before beginning. This will make it much easier to do than trying to work from the inside. If the track on the bottom is in good shape it will be possible to lift the door and remove the track.
You will need 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.
After your track has been repaired or replaced You'll need to check the doors for proper operation. Check that the doors can move into and out of their place easily. Also, you should ensure that the edges of the door are parallel to the frame when it is closed. If they're not, you'll need to adjust the top pivot bracket and tighten or loosen the bottom setscrew until the edge of the door coincides perfectly with the frame.
Replace the Roller
If they are installed correctly they can be used to enclose pantries, laundry nooks and closets. Bifold doors are made up of two panels that are hinged and slide on an incline at the top of the frame. Over time, the roller guide bearings can wear out and cause the doors to slide and rub against the floor. The guide roller can be replaced in a matter of minutes using a few tools.
The first step is to take the guide roller from the door panel. The bottom pivot bolt must be removed, and the screw that holds the guide to the top of the door panel must be loosened. After the guide has been removed then lift the door frame up and away from its track. Then using a wrench remove the top pivot bolt from the hole in the frame's header by loosening the bolt.
Stanley, Cox and Acme offer a top nylon replacement roller that has a 7/8-inch diameter wheel that rests on a steel base. It mounts at the top edge of bifold doors which are 1 to 1-3/8 inches thick. It is spring-loaded and adjusts automatically in the upper track to ensure smooth sliding.
A bifold door can also scratch against the floor as it closes and opens. This can happen after adding carpet, or other flooring materials which require the doors to be slightly raised to allow for clearance. Removing the bottom pivot adjustment screw and loosening the top track's mounting screws, and moving the anchor/pivot pin is typically enough to eliminate this issue.
A new set of top roller guides is an inexpensive solution to a problem that may make bifold doors difficult to operate. You can usually find them at your local hardware store in the door section, but they're also accessible on the internet from a variety of sellers. You'll also require an elongated squeeze-clamp as well as a small container Elmer's wood adhesive, which is available in big box stores. The clamp is used to keep the area being repaired shut after the glue has been installed and dried.