How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide
If your bifold doors are sticking, they probably require some maintenance. They might require cleaning, lubricated or adjusted. The issue could be caused by loose screws on the top pivot or by the top roller guide.
This kit contains all the hardware you need to restore your bi-fold wardrobe door to its best performance.
Take the door off
It may appear complicated and difficult to set up the bifold internal doors but for those who are DIYers with some experience, it's actually quite easy. Moving the frame isn't the problem The trick is getting the doors to fold and close quickly and precisely. Bifold doors are complex pieces of machinery and, as such they may require some tweaking to function correctly. It could be as easy as tightening the screw, or as intricate as taking off and replacing the door's pivot pin or roller.
You can usually fix these problems with some minor adjustments without having to remove the doors. You may find that your bifold doors are sliding and scraping the floor or slipping off track. The solution to these issues isn't a big deal, and with three simple steps your bifold doors can be back in no time.
One of the most common problems that bifold doors with internals have to face is the tendency to slide out of alignment. This could be due to loose screws, holes on the anchor/pivots or an unaligned bifold door. In the majority of instances, you can fix this by making a few simple adjustments, however if the door isn't moving, it may need to be removed and replaced.
To take the door off, you'll need a screwdriver and possibly a pair of pliers (to aid in loosening any pins that are tight to pivot). The screwdriver can be used to loosen the locking levers located on the bottom pivot bracket. The pliers are used to take off the pin.
After the top roller has been removed Once the top roller is removed, you can raise the door, turn it down and remove it from its track and pivot brackets. It's usually a straightforward process, but you must be cautious not to let the door strike the door frame. You should then be able to saw off the edge of the door which is scraping the floor, and then sand it until smooth. Then paint or refinish the door if required.
Take off the Roller Guide
This spring-loaded roller guide is mounted on the top edge of the bifold door to assist in smooth operation. It is designed to be used with Kenna frames and can fit doors that are 1 to 3/8 inches thick. It is made from steel, nylon, and plastic components. It can replace an old guide.
To begin removing the roller guide, remove the screws that hold it in place using the screwdriver and a little to loosen it. Use your hands to slowly lift it off the frame. This might take some effort, so you should have someone else help you keep the door in place while you take it off.
After the guide has been removed, carefully cut the remaining finish around the foot of the new guide with the help of a razor blade to separate it from the rod blank. This will make the guide's foot much easier to remove and will prevent any damage. Be cautious while doing this because the foot is extremely sharp and could cause injury to your fingers or cut them.
You may need to apply some force to remove the guide, but take care not to break or chip the foot. Once you have separated the old guide from the rod blank, make sure to remove all of the epoxy and threads that remain where it was affixed. This will help prevent any future problems with the guide.
After removing the old guide, you can test your replacement by placing it in its permanent location and applying a few rotations of masking tape or another form of guide tubing to keep it in the correct position. This will allow you to double examine the guide's spacing and alignment to make sure everything is set up properly. If you're eyeballing 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. Remember to tighten and replace any screws or pins you removed or loosen.
Remove the Bottom Pivot
Bifold doors make a gorgeous feature for any home, but sometimes they require some tweaking or adjustment to remain in great shape. While some of the more straightforward problems can be solved with the doors in place, others will require removal. This guide will show you how to remove the internal bifold door pins, rollers, and pivots.
Gathering your tools is the first step. Making sure you have everything in place ahead of time will save you some frustration later in the process. You'll also need pliers and a screwdriver. A set of basic tools can be purchased at a reasonable price from a local hardware store. Keep bifold door repairs on hand. This can be very useful in the event that you need to glue any of the rollers back into their original position.
Once you've gathered the tools, begin by opening the bifold doors, and then loosening the top track bracket with your screwdriver. Once it's loose the door should be free to slide off the top track completely. It may take a small amount of jiggling, but it should pop 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, so be sure to shut any interior doors that you are able to open. This will be much easier than working from inside. If the track at the bottom appears to be in good condition it is possible to lift the door and remove the track.
You'll need to replace the track if it's damaged. Hardware stores sell replacement tracks for bifold doors as well as swinging closet doors. If the track is severely damaged then you may need to replace it entirely.
It is now time to test your doors to ensure proper function. Make sure that the doors be moved into and out of their positions smoothly. You'll want to ensure that the edges of your door are aligned to the frame when it's closed. If they're not, you'll need to adjust the top pivot bracket and tighten or loosen the bottom screwscrew until the door's edge coincides perfectly with the frame.
Replace the Roller
Bifold doors neatly enclose closets, laundry nooks and pantries, but only if they function correctly. They are made up of two panels that hinge together and open up on a track that sits in the frame's top. Over time the roller guide bearings may wear out, causing the doors to sag and rub against the floor. Replacing the roller guide requires only a few minutes, and basic tools.
The first step is removing the roller guide from your door panel. The bolt that holds the bottom pivot must be removed and the screw that holds the guide to the top of the door panel must be removed. Once the guide is removed, lift the door panel up and off its track. Then, loosen the nut that holds the top pivot bolt and use an abrasive to remove it from the hole in the top header of the door frame.
A replacement top nylon roller guide with a 7/8 " diameter wheel and a base made of steel is available from Stanley, Cox or Acme. It is mounted on the top of the bifold door, which is 1 to 1-3/8 inches in thickness and comes spring-loaded to self-adjust in the upper track to ensure smooth glide.
A bifold door can also scratch the floor when it closes and opens. This is often the result of adding carpet or other flooring materials that require the doors to be raised to ensure proper clearance. This issue can be fixed by taking off the screws that adjust the bottom pivot by loosening the top track mounting screws, and moving anchor/pivot.
A new set of roller guides could be a low-cost solution to the problem of your bifold doors becoming difficult to operate. You can usually find them at your local hardware store in the door section however, they are also available on the internet through a variety of vendors. You will also need the squeeze-clamp and a tiny container of Elmer's wood glue, which is available in large box stores. The clamp is used to keep the repair area tightly closed after glue is inserted and allowed to dry.