How to Repair a Bifold Door Top Pivot
A bifold closet door's top pivot can be loosened and scrape the floor. This can be fixed by loosening the set screw on the top bracket.
The top pivot pin is an iron screw that fits into a plastic cap that has a rounded end and remains in the track above the front door. You'll also require a screwdriver, and possibly an assortment of pliers.
Take off the pin at the bottom.
Bifold doors are ideal for maximizing space in a closet but they may begin to buckle or scrape the floor, or even pop out of their brackets. It is possible to fix the problem with a few basic adjustments.
The most common problem is loose bottom pins or bracket. You can fix this by depressing the spring-loaded wheel on the top of the door and swinging the door into position to align it with the bottom track. Once the gap has been adjusted, tighten the screw fixing the top pivot bracket to keep the door in position.
A typical issue is the edge of the door's bottom scrapes against the carpet. It could be due to adding carpet or changing flooring materials. It could also be caused by an uneven gap between the door and hinge side jamb. You can solve this by loosening the top guide and sliding it inwards or removing the pivot point on top and shift it out or in.
The last issue that is common is when the track becomes out of alignment with the door frame, and this can be solved by loosening the top set screw and shifting it in or out as necessary. Once you've adjusted all the bolts and nuts holding the track in place, you'll be able to slide it back into its track bracket and secure it with the screw.
To remove the bottom pin from the bracket, lift the panels slightly and hold them in place. Release the locking levers on the bottom bracket to let the pin go. If the pin isn't mounted on an attached bracket, place an flat-head screwdriver between bottom of the flange of the pivot and the door to pry it off of the door. Once you have a good grip on the pin and you are able to pull it out, turn it from left to right. If you're unable to remove the pin, you may have to remove the panel from the track. If this is the case, you can put it on saw horses to make handling it easier.
Remove the Top Pin
Bifold doors are great for saving space, but they can be frustrating when they start to sag and scrape against the floor or slam off the track. Simple adjustments can often get them back on track.
If the doors slide unevenly you can loosen the screw at the pivot point on the top of the bracket and move it slightly. Close the door and verify whether it is aligned with the frame. If it does then tighten the screw.
Another common problem with internal bifold doors is that the bottoms of the doors scrape against the carpet. If this is the issue, you can raise the bottom of the doors with the bottom pin adjustement. But if the door is too high, you'll have remove the doors and trim them with the help of a saw.
The wood around pivot pins and anchors can get damaged over time. If this is the case you can use epoxy to repair the crack and stop it from worsening. Apply an amount of epoxy to the crack and allow it to dry before opening the door again.
It could be that your bifold doors are too separated. You can fix this by moving top of the door up or down on the track.
It's not easy to do this project by yourself, so you'll need an assistant. Take the interior and exterior panels of the door along the sides. Then lift them up. They can be stacked to make to make it easier to handle.
If there are locking levers on the pivot bracket, let them go. them. Otherwise take the top of the pin by using vise grips, and twist it left to right while pulling it out. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the door. Once both pins have been removed, the door will open and align smoothly with the track. If it doesn't, you can try reinstalling the doors and try again. You can use a drilling device to straighten out the track if it is bent.
Reinstall the bottom pin
If the bottom pin isn't working properly, the door might bind, preventing it from closing and opening smoothly. Fortunately, the issue is usually simple to fix. Most of the time the issue is a missing or loose mounting screw is at fault. If this is the case the best option is to replace the screw with a brand new one that's exactly the same length as the one you have. Screw it into place and tighten.
If you're looking to become more serious about your bifold door repair then you can use a device like an air pressure gauge to test for proper compression of the top pin that is spring-loaded. The gauge can also be used to determine if the pin is broken or cracked. This is crucial information to know if you are planning on replacing it.
Measurement of the diameter of the pin cap as well as the diameter the pivot pin can help you determine if the pin is damaged or worn out. Then take a look at the measurements and compare them to what's available online for replacement parts. This will help you find the right ones for your door.
Before you replace the pivot pin to the doors, open them and lean them against each other to make sure they're in the proper position for installation. If you are using a set closet door knobs to attach the pivot pin, mark a line in the middle of each door's leading edge. You can use a long level for this to ensure that the top of the bifold track aligns with the jambs and is level.
When the doors are in place, insert the top pin into the pivot guide inside the track and swing the door's bottom into position so that the bottom of the pin rests in the bracket that is shaped like an L. If the door does not fit between the top bracket and the bottom guide, you can raise or lower it by unscrewing 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
Bifolds are hinged panels that are folded back on tracks and then placed on either side of the door opening. They come in different styles like louvered, paneled or solid. They can be used in laundry rooms, closets, hallways or even bedrooms. If you have an existing pair of bifold doors which scrape the floor or don't function properly, it's possible to adjust them by adjusting the pivots at the top and bottom.
Remove the top pin first from the upper track. Slide the bottom pin into the bracket and check if there's an even and consistent gap between the jamb side of the frame and the door.
If the gap is too wide it is possible to raise the bottom of the door by loosing and fixing the pivot adjustable at the bottom of the door. This will push the bottom of the door towards the frame, which will reduce the gap. You can adjust the height of the track hanger by loosening the screw at the bottom of the track and then adjusting the height using the help of a wrench.
Once you've got the track hanger and bottom pin installed, it's time to install the top track bracket on the hinge side of the door frame. Use the instructions and diagrams that came with the kit to determine the exact position. Be sure that the track is flush and level with the floor prior to fixing it.
When installing a new track, take measurements of the width and height of the door opening to make sure you have the proper dimension of track and the appropriate hardware kit. If you're unsure about how to set up your bifold doors, consult with a professional installer to ensure that the installation is completed correctly. They can determine if your bifold doors are the right size for the opening, and will help you select the best style of door to suit your home. If required, they will cut the doors to ensure that they fit. This could save you lots of time and money in the long in the long.