How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide

If your bifold door seal replacement door is sticking, it's likely that they require some maintenance. You may have to clean and lubricate them or adjust them. The problem may be caused by an unfastened screw on the top pivot or by the top roller guide.

This kit contains everything you need to restore your bi folding door repair-fold wardrobe door to its best performance.

Remove the Door

It may appear complicated and difficult to install a set of bifold internal doors however for DIYers with a little experience, it's actually quite easy. The frame isn't the problem, but getting the doors to fold and close smoothly is. Because bifold doors are intricate machines, they may need some tweaking to ensure they are functioning correctly. This could be as easy as tightening a screw or as complex as taking out the door and replacing the pivot pin or roller.

Most of the time you can fix these issues with a couple of simple adjustments, without having to remove the doors. It is possible that your bifold door glass replacement doors are sliding or scraping the floor, or jumping out of track. In order to fix these issues, it isn't difficult, and with three simple steps the bifold doors will be back in short time.

One of the most common problems that internal bifold doors encounter is sliding out of alignment. This could be due to loose screws or holes in the anchor pins or simply a door that isn't aligned properly. Most of the time it can be fixed by making a few minor adjustments. If, however, your door doesn't move in any way, you might have to replace it.

You'll have to take off the door with an screwdriver, and perhaps pliers to loosen any pivot pins that are tight. The screwdriver is used to break any locking levers that are on the bottom bracket of the pivot and the pliers will let you wiggle the pin to release it and then take it off.

When the top roller has become loose it should be possible to lift the door and swivel it down and allow you to pull it off of its track and pivot brackets. It's usually quite simple, but be careful not to let the door slam against the door frame. Then, you can sand down the edge of the door to smooth it. Then paint or refinish the door if necessary.

Take off the Roller Guide

This spring-loaded roller guides mounts on the top of a bifolding door to aid in smooth operation. It is designed to work with Kenna frames and will fit door panels that range from 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches thick. It is constructed of steel, nylon and plastic components. It is able to replace an old guide.

To begin the process of removing the guide roller, take out the screws that hold it in place. Do this using an screwdriver as well as a bit to loosen it. Make use of your hands to gently remove it from the frame. It may take some effort, so let someone else help you keep the door in place as you take it off.

Once the guide you used to guide your child is removed, carefully cut the remaining finish around the foot of the new guide using a sharp blade to remove it from the rod blank. This will make the guide's foot easier to remove and prevent any damage. Be careful when doing this, as the guide foot is very sharp and could cut or snag your fingers.

You may have to use some force to remove the guide, but you must be careful not to chip or break the foot. Once you have separated the guide from the rod blank, make sure to remove all of the threads and epoxy that remain in the place where it was affixed. This will avoid future issues with the guide.

After you have removed the previous guide, you can test the replacement by putting it in its permanent position. Apply a few rotations with masking tape or guide tubing to secure it in its place. This will allow you double check the guide spacing and alignment to make sure that everything is properly set up. It doesn't matter if you're looking at it from a distance or using the dependable CRB Spine Finder and Deflection System, this step is important to avoid any problems in the future.

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

Remove the Bottom Pivot

Bifold doors can be an attractive addition to any home, but they often require tweaking or adjusted to ensure they remain in good shape. While some of the more straightforward problems can be solved with the doors still in place, others require removal. This guide will guide you through the process of removing internal bifold door pivots, pins and rollers so that you can make your doors slide like new again.

The first step is to gather your tools. You'll avoid frustration if you gather all your tools in advance. You'll also require pliers and a screwdriver. You can pick up an assortment of basic tools at your local hardware store at a reasonable price. It's recommended to have some wood glue on hand. This can be very useful if you have to glue any of the rollers back in their original position.

After putting together your tools then open the bifold doors and loosen the top track bracket with your screwdriver. Once the bracket is loose, the door should be free to slide off the top track completely. It might take a bit of jiggling but it should eventually pop off the track.

The next step is to remove the bottom pivot from the frame. Close all doors to the interior before beginning. This will make it much easier to do instead of working from the inside. If the track at the bottom is in good shape it will be possible to simply lift the door and take off the track.

You'll have 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 might need to replace it entirely.

Now that your track is repaired or replaced it is time to test the doors to ensure the proper operation. Make sure that they are easily able to move between positions. You'll want to make sure that the edges of your door are in line with the frame when it's closed. If they aren't, then you'll need to adjust the top pivot bracket and tighten or loosen the bottom setscrew until the edge of the door is perfectly aligned with the frame.

Replace the Roller

Bifold doors neatly enclose closets, laundry nooks and pantries, but only if they work properly. They consist of two door panels that are hinged together and open using the track that is located at the top of the frame. Over time, the roller guide bearings may wear out, causing the doors to slide and scrape against the floor. Replacing the roller guide requires only a few minutes, and basic tools.

The first step is to remove the roller guide from your door panel. This involves removing the bottom pivot bolt and loosening the screw that holds the guide on its top. After removing the guide, pull the panel from the track. Then using a wrench remove the top pivot bolt from the hole in the header of the frame by loosening the nut.

Stanley, Cox and Acme offer a top nylon replacement roller that has a 7/8-inch diameter wheel on a steel base. It is mounted on the top edge of a bifold door that is 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches thick and is spring loaded to self-adjust the upper track for smooth glide.

Another issue that is common to a bifold door is that it scrapes against the floor when it opens or closes. This is often the result of adding carpet or other flooring materials that require the doors to be raised slightly to ensure proper clearance. Removal of the pivot adjustment screw on the bottom, loosening the top track's mounting screws and moving the anchor pin typically enough to eliminate this issue.

A new set of roller guides is a cost-effective solution to the problem of your bifold doors being difficult to operate. They are typically available at your local hardware shop in the door section. However, they can be ordered on the internet from a variety of vendors. Along with a brand new top guide for rollers, you'll need a small container 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 area being repaired sealed after the glue has been placed in and dried.