How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide

If your bifold door is squeaking it's likely they need some attention. They may need to be cleaned and lubricated or adjusted. The issue could be caused by an unfastened screw on the top pivot or the top guide roller.

This kit contains all the hardware required to restore your bi-fold closet door system to its optimal performance.

Take the door off

Installing a set of internal bifold doors could appear to be a complicated and challenging task, but it's actually quite easy for DIYers with a little experience. Getting the frame into position isn't a major issue but the trick is getting the doors to fold and close easily and precisely. As bifold doors are complex machines, they may need some 'tuning' to continue functioning properly. It could be as simple as tightening a screw or as complex as removing the door and replacing a pivot pin or roller.

The majority of the time, you can solve these issues with a few simple adjustments, without having to remove the doors. You may find that your bifold doors are sagging and scraping the floor or slipping off track. It's simple to fix these problems. Follow these three easy steps and your bifold door should be back on track in no time.

The most common issue internal bifolding doors face is that they slide out of alignment. This can be due to loose screws, holes on the anchor/pivots or a misaligned bifold repairs near me door. In the majority of cases, you can correct this by making a few simple adjustments, but if your door isn't moving, it might need to be removed and replaced.

You'll have to take off the door with the help of a screwdriver and possibly pliers to loosen any pivot pins that are too tight. The screwdriver is used to disengage any locking levers on the bottom pivot bracket and the pliers allow you to pull the pin out and off.

When the top roller is loose and the top roller is loose, you should be able to raise the door and swivel it down and allow you to pull it out of its track and pivot brackets. It is usually a simple process, but you must be cautious not to let the door hit the door frame. You should then be able cut off the edge of the door which is scraping the floor and sand it down until smooth. Then paint or refinish the door if necessary.

Take off the Roller Guide

This spring-loaded roller is mounted on the top of the bifolding door to aid in smooth operation. It is designed to be used with Kenna frames and can fit a door panel 1 to 3/8 inches thick. It is made from nylon, steel and plastic components. It can replace bifold doors an old guide.

Remove any screws holding the guide to the roller using a screwdriver. Use your hands to carefully pull it from the frame. This may require some effort, so you should have an assistant help you keep the door in place as you take it off.

After the guide has been removed, carefully cut through 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 foot easier to remove and also prevent any damage. Be careful when doing this as the foot is very sharp and could potentially cut or nick your fingers.

It is likely that you will need to use a bit of force to pull the guide off, but be careful not to break or chip the foot. Once you have separated the old guide from the rod blank, make sure to get rid of all the threads and epoxy remaining in the area where it was attached. This will prevent future problems with the guide.

After removing the previous guide, you can test the replacement by putting it in its new location. Make a few turns using masking tape or guide tubing in order to secure it in its place. This will allow you double verify the guide's spacing and alignment to make sure that everything is set up correctly. This step is crucial to avoid future problems regardless of whether you are using the CRB Spine Finder & Deflection System or eyeball it.

The final step is to replace the door. If the guide is in the correct position and functioning in the correct way, then you can proceed. Make sure to tighten and replace any screws or pins that you removed or loosened.

Remove the Bottom Pivot

Bifold doors are a beautiful addition to any home but sometimes they need a little adjustment or tweaking to stay in good shape. Certain issues can be solved by keeping the doors in place. Other issues will require the doors be removed. This guide will guide you through the steps to remove internal bifold door pivots, pins and rollers so you can make your doors glide like new.

The first step is to gather your tools. You'll avoid frustration if you collect all your tools in advance. You'll need a screwdriver, pliers and maybe a wrench. You can pick up an assortment of basic tools at your local hardware store for a reasonable cost. Keep some wood glue in your kit. This will be useful when you need to put the rollers in their place.

Once you've gathered your tools, start by opening the bifold doors and then loosening the top track bracket using your screwdriver. Once it's loose the door should be capable of sliding off the top track completely. It may take a bit of jiggling but it should be able to pop right off the track.

The pivot at the bottom of the frame needs to be removed. You'll want to do this from the outside of the house Be sure to shut any interior doors that you are able to open. This will make it much simpler rather than working from the inside. If the track on the repairing bottom of bifold door is in good shape, you'll be able to just lift up the door and remove the track.

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

Now that your track is repaired or replaced it is time to check the doors for the proper operation. Make sure that they are capable of moving 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 set screw.

Replace the Roller

Bifold doors neatly enclose closets, laundry nooks and pantries, but only when they function properly. The bifold doors consist of two panels that are hinged and slide along tracks at the top of the frame. Over time, the roller guide bearings could wear out and cause the doors to slide and scrape against the floor. Replacing the roller guide takes only a few minutes, and a few basic tools.

The first step is to take the roller guide from the door panel. This requires taking off the pivot bolt at the bottom and loosening the screw that holds the guide on its top. Once the guide is removed then lift the door frame up and off its track. Then using a wrench remove the top pivot bolt from the hole in the header of the frame by loosening the nut.

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 is mounted on the top of a bifold door that is 1 to 1-3/8 inches thick. It comes spring-loaded to self-adjust in the upper track to ensure smooth gliding.

A bifold door may also scratch the floor as it closes and opens. This is often the result of adding carpet, or other flooring materials which require the doors be elevated to allow for clearance. This issue can be solved by getting rid of the screws that adjust the bottom pivot, loosening up the top track mounting screws and moving anchor/pivot.

A new set of roller guides is a cost-effective solution to your bifold repairs near me doors becoming difficult to operate. They are typically found at your local hardware store in the door section. However they can be ordered online from several suppliers. In addition to a new top guide for rollers, you'll require a small bottle of Elmer's wood glue which is sold in large box stores as well as a squeeze clamp. The clamp is used to keep the repair area closed tightly after the glue has been placed in and dried.