How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide

If your bifold doors are sticking, it's likely that they require some maintenance. They could need to be cleaned or lubricated, or even 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.

Remove the Door

Installing a set of internal bifold doors could appear to be a complicated and difficult task however, it's actually easy for DIYers with a bit of experience. The frame isn't the issue however, getting the doors to fold and close smoothly is. Bifold doors are a complex piece of machinery, and as such, they might need some 'tuning up' to ensure that they function properly. It could be as easy as tightening up a screw, or as intricate as taking out and replacing the door's pivot pin or roller.

The majority of the time you can fix these issues with a few basic adjustments without removing the doors. You might find that your doors are sagging or scratching the floor, or that they are bouncing off of their tracks. It's simple to fix these problems. Just follow three simple steps and your bifold door should be back in the right direction in short time.

One of the most frequent problems that internal bifold doors encounter is sliding out of alignment. This could be due loose screws, holes in the anchor/pivots, or a misaligned bifold door. In most instances, you can fix this by making a few simple adjustments, however if the door isn't moving, it might need to be removed and replaced.

To take the door off to open it, you'll require an screwdriver and perhaps two pliers (to aid in loosening any pins on the pivot that are stuck). The screwdriver can be used to loosen the locking levers at the bottom pivot bracket. The pliers are used to take off the pin.

Once the top roller is loose and the top roller is loose, you should be able to lift the door and swivel it down, allowing you to take it off its pivot brackets and track. This is typically quite easy however, be sure not to let the door hit against the frame of the door. Then, you can sand down the edge of the door to smooth it. You can then repaint it or replace it with a new finish as needed.

Remove the Roller Guide

This spring-loaded roller guide mounts on the top of a bifold door to help with smooth operation. It is designed to work with Kenna frames and can be fitted to a door panel 1 to 3/8 inches thick. It is made of steel, nylon and plastic components. It will replace an old guide.

To begin the process of removing the roller guide, remove any screws that are holding it in place. Do this using the screwdriver and a little to loosen it. Use your hands to slowly pull it from the frame. This may require some effort, so have an assistant help you keep the door in place while you remove it.

After removing the old guide, carefully cut the remaining finishing on the foot of the guide using a razor to separate it from the blank rod. This will make the guide foot much easier to remove and prevent any damage. The guide foot is extremely sharp, and it could cut or nick fingers.

It is possible to use some force to remove the guide, but be careful not to chip or break the foot. After you've removed the guide, you must remove any epoxy or threads left in the area it was anchored. This will help avoid future problems with the guide.

After removing the guide, test out your new guide by putting it in its permanent location and then applying a few rotations of masking tape or some type of guide tubing to hold it in its place. This will allow you to double check the alignment of the guide and spacing to ensure everything is set up correctly. If you're eyeballing it or using the always accurate CRB Spine Finder and Deflection System This step is crucial to prevent any issues in the future.

If the guide is set properly and is functioning in the way it should the next step will be to put the door back in its place. Remember that any screws or pins that you removed or loosened must be replaced and tightened properly when you're done.

Take the Bottom Pivot off.

Bifold doors are a stunning feature for any home, but sometimes they require some tweaking or adjustment to stay in good shape. Some issues can be resolved with the doors in place. Other issues will require the doors be removed. This guide will walk you through the steps to remove internal bifold pivots for doors, pins and rollers so you can get your doors sliding like new again.

The first step is to gather your tools. Getting everything together before time can help you avoid a lot of frustration later during the construction. You'll also need pliers and a screwdriver. You can pick up an assortment of basic tools at your local hardware store for a reasonable price. It's also a good idea to have some wood glue handy. This is helpful in the event that you have to fix the rollers into place.

After gathering your tools then open the bifold doors and loosen the top track bracket using your screwdriver. Once the bracket is loose the door should be capable of sliding off the top track completely. It may take a small amount of jiggling, but it should be able to pop right off the track.

The bottom pivot of the frame needs to be removed. You'll want to do this from the outside of your home So, make sure to shut any interior doors that are open. This will be much simpler than working from inside. If the track on the bottom appears to be in good condition it is possible to raise the door to remove the track.

You'll have to replace the track if damaged. Hardware stores offer replacement tracks for bifold doors repair doors as well as swinging closet doors. If the track is badly damaged, then you might need to replace it entirely.

After your track has been repaired or replaced, you'll need to test the doors to ensure proper operation. Verify that the doors be moved 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 set screw until the edge of the door lines up perfectly with the frame.

Replace the Roller

If they are installed correctly the bifold door repair doors can easily cover pantries, laundry nooks and closets. Bifold doors are made up of two panels that are hinged and slide down a track at the top of the frame. Over time the roller guides may wear out and cause the doors to slide. Replacing the roller guide requires only a few minutes, and the most basic tools.

The first step is to take the roller guide from the door panel. The bolt that holds the bottom pivot is to be removed, as well as the screw that holds the guide to the top of the door panel needs to be removed. Once the guide is removed, lift the door panel up and away from its track. Next, loosen the nut that secures the top pivot bolt and use a wrench 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 base made of steel is available from Stanley, Cox or Acme. It mounts at the top of repairing bifold doors doors that range from 1 inch to 1-3/8 inch thick. It is spring loaded and adjusts automatically in the upper track to ensure smooth sliding.

Another issue with a bifold door glass replacement door is that it scrapes the floor when it closes or opens. This can occur after adding carpet or other flooring materials that require the doors to be raised for proper clearance. The removal of the bottom pivot adjustment screw, loosening the top track's mounting screws, and moving the anchor/pivot pin usually enough to clear this issue.

A new set of roller guides can be an inexpensive solution to the problem of your bifold doors becoming difficult to operate. They're usually available at the hardware store near you in the door section however, they are also available on the internet through a variety of vendors. You will also need an elongated squeeze-clamp as well as a small container of Elmer's wood glue, which is available in big box stores. The clamp is used to keep the area being repaired sealed after the glue has been placed in and dried.