Watch This: How Repair Bifold Door Top Pivot Is Taking Over And What You Can Do About It
How to Repair a Bifold Door Top Pivot
The top pivot of a bifold closet door can become loose and scratch the floor. This can be corrected by loosening up the screw that holds the top bracket.
The top pivot pin is a screw made of metal that is inserted into a cap made of plastic with a lipped end that stays in the track just above the door. You'll also require a screwdriver, or perhaps a pair pliers.
Remove the Bottom Pin
Bifold doors are great to save space in closets but they may begin to slide or scratch against the floor or pop out of their brackets. There are solutions to most issues with some basic adjustments.
The most frequent issue is the bottom pin that is loose or falls out of its bracket. You can correct this by depressing the spring-loaded wheel on the top of the door, and then swinging the door into position to align it with the bottom track. Once the gap is equalized, tighten the bolt that holds the top pivot bracket to hold the door in place.
A typical issue is the bottom edge of the door scrapes against the carpet. This could be due to the addition of carpet or the flooring material. It could also be the result of an uneven gap between the door and hinge-side jamb. This can be fixed by loosening the top guide and sliding it inwards or by removing the pivot point on top and then move it out or in.
The final common issue is when the upper track becomes misaligned with the door frame, and this can be solved by loosening the screw on the top of the set and shifting it in or out as required. After you've adjusted all the nuts and bolts holding the track in place, you should be capable of re-sliding it into its track bracket and secure it with the screw.
To remove the bottom pin to remove the bottom pin, hold both panels at the sides and lift them slightly off of the lower track and off their brackets. If the bracket with the lowest has locking levers, let them go and release them to free the pin. If the pin isn't mounted on a mounting bracket, insert an flat-head screwdriver between bottom of the flange of the pivot and the door to push it out of the door. Once you have an ensconced grip on the pin turn it left to right and then pull it out of the door. If you're unable to remove the pin, you could need to remove the entire panel from the track system. If this is the case, then put it on a set of saw horses to make it easier to handle.
Remove the pin with the highest point.
They are fantastic at saving space, but can be a pain if they start to sag or scratch the floor or jump off track. A few simple adjustments can often get them back on track.
If doors are sliding unevenly you can loosen the screw on the top pivot point bracket with an screwdriver and move it a little bit. Close the door and check if it is aligned well with the frame. If it does you can tighten the screw.
Another issue that is common to internal bifold doors is that the bottoms of the doors scrape against the carpet. If this is the problem, you can raise the bottom of the doors with the bottom pin adjustment. If the door is too high, you will have remove it and cut it with the help of a saw.
As time passes, the wood around the pivot and anchor pins can crack. If this is the case then you can apply epoxy to repair the damage and stop it from worsening. Simply apply an amount of epoxy to the crack and let it set before using the door again.
It could be that the bifold doors of your home are too spaced apart. You can fix this by moving top of the door up or down on the track.
Doing this manually can be challenging and therefore it's recommended to have a helper when performing this task. Begin by grasping the outer and interior panels of the door at the sides, then lift them up. Then stack them to make it easier for you to move them.
Release any locking levers on the pivot bracket. Hold the pin's top with pliers and turn it from left to right as you pull it out. Repeat the procedure on the opposite side of the door. After both pins are removed the door will then open and align with the track. If it doesn't, you can put the doors back in place and try again. You can use a drilling tool to straighten out the track if it's bent.
Reinstall the pin at the bottom.
If the bottom pin doesn't work properly, it can cause the door to bind and prevent it from closing and opening smoothly. Fortunately, it is usually simple to fix. Sometimes the issue is a missing or loose mounting screw is the culprit. If this is the case the best option is to replace the screw with a new one that's exactly the same length as the old one. Then screw it into the correct position and tighten it.
If you're serious about your bifold repair, use an air pressure gauge to test the top spring-loaded pin for proper compression. The gauge can also be used to determine if the pin is damaged or cracked. This is important information if you plan on replacing it.
An effective method to determine if the pivot pin is damaged or worn out is by measuring its diameter and the diameter of its pin cap. Then take a look at the measurements and compare them to the available replacement parts. This will allow you to find the right parts for your door.
Before installing the replacement pivot pin open the doors and lean them against each other to ensure they're in the right position for installation. If you're using set of closet door knobs to install the pivot pin, mark a line in the middle of each door's leading edge. bifold door repairs can use a long level to ensure that the top of the bifold track aligns with the jambs and is level.
After the doors have been put in after installation, insert the top pin in the pivot guide in the track. Swing the bottom of door into place until the pin is resting in the L-shaped bracket. If the door doesn't fit between the top bracket and the bottom guide you can raise or lower it by uncrewing the pivot adjuster at the bottom of the doors. Utilize a long level to mark a plumb-line across the middle of the frame. If the gap between the jamb on the hinge side and the door is not even adjustable, adjust the pivot at the bottom.
Reinstall the Top Pin
A bifold door is a set of hinged panels that fold back on tracks to one side of the door opening. They come in a variety of styles including louvered, paneled or solid. They are ideal for hallways, closets and bedrooms, or laundry rooms. If you have an existing pair of bifold doors which scrape the floor or aren't functioning properly, it's possible to adjust them by altering the pivots at the top and bottom.
Begin by removing the top pin from the track's upper and pivot guide. Then slide the bottom pin into its bracket, examining to determine if the gap between the door and jamb-side of the frame is even and correct.
If the gap between the bottom of your door and the frame is too big, you can raise it by loosening the pivot at the bottom of your door. This will move the door's bottom towards the frame, and reduce the gap. You can adjust the track hanger's height by loosening the screw on the bottom of the track and then adjusting the position with the help of a wrench.
Once you've got the track hanger and the bottom pin installed, it's time to put the top track bracket on the hinge-side of the door frame. Follow the instructions and diagrams that came with the kit to ensure that it is placed precisely. Be sure that the track is flush and level with the floor prior to fastening it.
When installing a new track, take measurements of the width and height of the door opening to make sure that you have the correct dimensions of track and hardware kit. If you're not sure how to set up your bifold doors, consult with a professional installer to ensure that your installation is done correctly. They will be able to tell you whether the bifold doors you've got are the proper size for the opening you have and can also assist you in selecting the most appropriate style of door that suits your home. They can also trim the doors to make them fit if required. This can help you save time and money in the long run.