How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide
If your bifold doors are sticking, it's likely that they need some maintenance. You may have 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 return your bi-fold closet door to its best performance.
Take the door off
It may appear complicated and difficult to set up an internal set of bifold doors, but for DIYers with some experience it's actually a breeze. Moving the frame isn't a major issue but the trick is getting the doors to fold and close quickly and accurately. Because bifold doors are intricate machines, they might require some tweaking to ensure they are working properly. This might be something as simple as tightening screws or as complicated as removing the door and replacing the pivot pin or roller.
The majority of the time, you can solve these issues by making a few simple adjustments, without having to remove the doors. You might find that your doors are sagging or scraping the floor, or that they're bouncing off their tracks. Getting these issues under control isn't difficult. With three simple steps, your bifold doors should be back in no time.
One of the most frequent issues that internal bifold doors face is that they are sliding out of alignment. This could be due loose screws, holes on the anchor/pivots or an unaligned bifold door. In the majority of cases, you can correct this with a few easy adjustments, however if the door isn't moving at all, it could be necessary to have it removed and replaced.
To take the door off, you'll need an appropriate screwdriver, and possibly a pair of pliers (to aid in loosening any pins that are tight to pivot). The screwdriver is used to release the locking levers located on the bottom of the pivot bracket. The pliers are used for removing the pin.
After the top roller is free and the top roller is loose, you should be able to lift the door and then swivel it downwards, allowing you to take it out of its pivot brackets and track. It is usually a simple procedure, but be cautious not to let the door hit the door frame. Then you can sand the edges of the door to smooth it. Then paint or refinish the door as required.
Remove the Roller Guide
This spring-loaded roller guide mounts on the top of bifold doors to aid with smooth operation. It is designed to be used with Kenna frames and will fit the door's panel from 1 inch to 3/8 inches thick. It is made of nylon, steel and plastic components. It can replace an old guide.
Remove any screws holding the roller guide in place by using the screwdriver. Make use of your hands to gently pull it from the frame. It might require some effort to take off the door, so make sure you ask someone else to assist you.
After removing the guide, carefully cut the remaining finish on the guide's foot by using a razor to cut it from the blank rod. This will make it easier to remove and prevent damage to the new guide foot. Be cautious while doing this because the foot is very sharp and could cause injury to your fingers or cut them.
You will probably have to use some force to pull the guide off, but take care not to break or chip the foot. After you have removed the guide from the rod blank, be sure to get rid of all the threads and epoxy remaining in the area where it was affixed. This will prevent future problems with the guide.
After removing the guide, you can test the replacement by putting it in its new location. Make a few turns using masking tape or guide tubing to ensure it stays in place. This will allow you to check the guide alignment and spacing to make sure everything is properly set up. This is vital to avoid any future issues regardless of whether you use the CRB Spine Finder & Deflection System or eyeball it.
If the guide is placed properly and functions as it should the next step is to put the door back in its place. Make sure that any screws or pins that you loosened or removed must be replaced and tightened correctly when you're finished.
Take the Bottom Pivot off.
Bifold doors can be a stunning addition to any home, but they may need to be tweaked or adjusted to ensure they are in good shape. Some issues can be resolved with the doors still in place. Others will require that the doors be removed. This guide will teach you how to remove the internal bifold door pins, rollers and pivots.
Gathering your tools is the first step. You will save yourself some frustration if you gather all the tools you need in advance. You'll also need pliers and a screwdriver. You can pick up an assortment of basic tools at your local hardware store for a fair cost. It's important to have some wood glue on hand. This is useful if you need to glue the rollers into their place.
After putting together your tools then open the bifold doors and loosen the top track bracket using your screwdriver. Once the bracket is loose, you should be able to slide the door off of the top track. It might take a few jigglings but it should pop right off the track.
Next, you'll need to remove the bottom pivot from the frame. Close all doors in the interior before you begin. This will be much simpler than working from inside. If the bottom track is still in good condition you'll be able to simply lift the door and take off the track.
If the track is damaged, you'll have to replace it. Hardware stores offer replacement tracks for bifold doors as well as swinging closet doors. If the track is severely damaged, you might need to replace it completely.
It is now time to check your doors for the proper operation. Make sure they're able to move smoothly between positions. 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 by tightening or loosening the bottom setscrew.
Replace the Roller
When they are properly installed the bifold doors can easily enclose laundry nooks, pantries and closets. They consist of two door panels that are hinged together and open using the track that is located at the frame's top. Over time the guides for the rollers can wear out and cause the doors to bow. Replacing the roller guide requires just a few minutes and the most basic tools.
The first step is to take the guide for the roller from the door panel. The pivot bolt at the bottom must be removed and the screw that holds the guide to the top of the door panel must be removed. After taking off the guide, lift the panel from the track. Then using a wrench remove the top pivot bolt from the hole in the frame's header by loosening the nut.
A replacement top nylon roller guide with a 7/8 inch diameter wheel and a steel base is available from Stanley, Cox or Acme. It is mounted at the top edge of bifold doors that are 1 to 1-3/8 inches thick. It is spring-loaded and self-adjusts in the upper track to ensure smooth glide.
Another issue with a bifold door is that it scrapes the floor when it is closed or opened. Suggested Resource site can happen after installing carpet or other flooring materials that require the doors to be raised slightly to ensure proper clearance. The removal of the pivot adjustment screw on the bottom and loosening the top track's mounting screws, and moving the anchor/pivot pin typically enough to resolve this issue.
A set top roller with new guides could be a low-cost solution to your bifold doors being difficult to operate. You can usually find them at your local hardware store in the door section but they're also available on the internet from a variety of vendors. In addition to a brand-new top roller guide, you will require a small amount of Elmer's wood glue that is available in big box stores and a squeeze clamp. The clamp is used to keep the area being repaired shut after the glue has been installed and dried.