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Repairing Bypass Closet Doors
Repairing Bypass Closet Doors
Bypass closet doors were very popular for use in closets, a few decades ago. You still see them in many homes and some homeowners prefer them to bifold closet doors. These are also called sliding closet doors. 'Bypass' or 'Sliding' the idea is that one door moves in a straight line, in front of or in back of the other door. Unlike normal doors, this type has no hinges.
Instead of hinges they have hanger – roller assemblies, that are attached to the top of the door. The rollers follow a track that is mounted to the head of the door frame. The rollers ride on a metal track the full length of the closet opening
Bypass closet doors, as the name implies, pass by the other door. This is the main drawback to sliding doors. Only half the closet is visible when one of the doors is open. There must be an unwritten law that states that the thing you are looking for will always be on the hidden side of the closet. Bifold doors have increased in popularity in recent years. One of the reasons for this is that they open completely, not hiding anything.
Issues with Bypass Closet Doors
You may have guessed that the door hangers – rollers are the main trouble spot. When the door comes out of the track it can be hard to move and will scrape the floor. Some types of track are more prone to this problem. Learning how to put the door back on track can save calling a repairman.
The hangers are also where you adjust the door. There is an adjustment nut on each hanger. the height of the door and the margins on the sides can be adjusted by these nuts. There are guides at the bottom of the doors. These will keep the doors in alignment as they move back and forth. When the doors get outside the guides they will not move correctly.
Finding Help With Bypass Closet Doors
There are three main issues this type of closet door. (1) The lubrication of the rollers is important. When the rollers start to tighten the door will be hard to move. Trying to force the door will cause it to jump off the track, making the situation worse.
(2) Putting the doors back in the track or guides is a common problem. The door may be impossible to move when it is off the track. It could also fall if both hangers pop out of the track. (3) Adjusting the door is another concern. You may notice uneven gaps on the sides of the doors or the door may rub the floor or carpet when it moves. When this happens, adjustment is the only answer.
Repairing Bypass Closet Doors Summary
Did you learn what you needed to know about bypass closet doors? Most of the problems are pretty easy to fix. Lubrication and adjustment are two common problems. You can do this in just a few minutes.
Putting the doors back on track is another repair that needs to be done regularly. This can involve lifting the door, hopefully, you had some help. The article on repairing sliding doors should have given you all the information you need. Time to move onto your next home repair job.
Lubricating Bifold Closet Door Hardware
Lubricating bifold doors is the solution when things are sticking or making noise. Just like other door hardware the hinges can start to squeak. A little oil can do a lot of good on a troublesome door.
The hinges, rollers and pivot pins are the moving parts. Use a good quality silicone lubricant. Keep a rag handy and don't over do it. Work the door panels back and forth until the move freely and don't make noise. Watch for drips and clean them up with the rag. Lubricating bifold doors move is not rocket science and you should be able to focus on the spots that are causing problems.
You may need to work the door back and forth a few times after you oil it. Keep a rag handy for the oil that oozes out. While you are at it, check all the moving parts on the door. Add some oil gingerly and you won't have to do this again for a while. That's all there is to lubricating bifold doors.
Replacing Bifold Closet Door Hardware
Replacing bifold door hardware is not difficult. You can purchase both individual parts and complete kits for bifold hardware. Try to isolate which part is bad and find a matching component.
Before you assume that you need to install new hardware, you should see if the door can be repaired. See the articles 'Repairing Bifold Doors' and 'Adjusting Bifold Doors' for information on getting an existing door working properly.
How the Hardware is Installed
The pins and rollers are press fit into the holes in the door panels. The tracks and base clips are screw attached to the door frame and floor. There are also hinges and alignment clips, these are screw attached.
New Bifold Hardware Cost
Replacing bifold door hardware begins with a new kit. You can get a complete hardware replacement kit for between $15 and $30, depends on the size of the door. Individual parts can be as little as a couple of dollars. Before you buy anything, try lubricating the parts. Step Five talks about this. Although it's a simple concept, if it moves, oil it.
Installing the New Hardware
When you purchase parts, you will probably get some instructions. I hate to say this, but take a look at them and follow the steps. I consider myself fairly handy. I wish I could get an accurate count on how many times I have tried to install something, messed it up and humbly had to go back and check the instructions. Save time, take a look at them. The parts for a bifold are pretty straightforward, so I am not spending a lot of time on them. After you have installed the hardware, you can pat yourself on the back. You have completed an interior bifold door repair. Well Done!
Adjusting Bifold Door Height and Margins
Adjusting bifold door height is accomplished by using the second adjustment feature of the bottom pivot pin. Two reasons that I can think of that would require you to adjust the height of the door.
Not sure if this is your problem? See the articles 'Troubleshooting Bifold Doors' and 'Solving Closet Door Problems' for a listing of all of the closet door topics.
Adjusting the Bifold Door Height
(1) You have a four panel dour and the margins are all parallel, but the two sets of panels don't line up. You can adjust the height until they do.
(2) The rollers are popping out of the track when you use the door. Raise the door until the rollers stay in place.
The bottom pin can adjust the height due to the fact that it is threaded. Just get a wrench and turn it turn clockwise to lower the door and counterclockwise to raise it. The design of the floor bracket should allow it to turn in place without disturbing the other alignment you may have done. Every thing working? Good job, you have been successful at adjusting bifold door height on your door.
Adjusting the Bifold Door Margins
Adjusting bifold doors is part of the installation. There is a clip in the track that the top pivot fits into. This clip has a set screw that holds it in place. Assuming that the opening is square and plumb you want the margins around the door to be even. You loosen the set screw and move the door closer to the frame or father away. Is the door binding on the frame when you try and open it? It is too close to the frame and needs to be moved away. Is the door binding against the other door or the far side of the frame? In that case you want to move the pin closer to the frame.
The safest thing to do is take the door out when you adjust the clip. Lift the door up and tilt the bottom out of the opening. The problem with this is that you have to keep putting the door in and out to check the adjustments. With the door open you can hold onto the door (better yet, have someone else hold it), and loosen the set screw with the door in place. Adjust as needed and tighten the screw.
Depending on where the door is binding, you may have to also adjust the bottom pin. The idea is to have the door far enough away from the frame so that it opens without friction. The door should not be so far away that it binds with the other door or the far side of the frame. A quarter of an inch of gap is about right, although it could be wider.
A properly aligned door should have a consistent margin along the top, sides and if it is a four panel door, down the center. For a four panel door the tops of the two doors should be even with each other and the center gap should be even. It takes a little practice to get the sense of how the movement of the pins affects the overall alignment of the door. Be patient, once you get the idea you'll always have that understanding.
The bottom pivot pin works similarly to the top one. The difference is that this pin is set in a toothed clip. To adjust the margin on the door you pick the door up and move it toward or farther away from the frame. The same adjustment principles apply with both pivot pins. Remember also, that moving the pin in or out also affects the top margin. I know, sometimes it can be aggravating. Use a pry bar to lift the door and try to move it one notch at a time until you get it right. The notch system is a little less sensitive than sliding the top clip. You may need to make a minor adjustment on the top, once you have the bottom pin the way you like it.
Okay, I know, you're probably wondering why I didn't tell you to work on the bottom pin first. If it is clear that you will have to move both pins, then this is a good idea. Unfortunately, it is usually not that clear and sometimes you go back and forth between the two of them, or four if it is a four panel door. Right, wrong or indifferent, I always start with the top pin. So that's how I wrote the article.
Keep making adjustments until everything lines up and the doors operate freely. Adjusting bifold doors takes time, but it is worth effort to have a door that operates smoothly.
Summary
Adjusting a bifold door involves some trial and error. However, after a few minutes, you should be able to get the door working again. If you have not done so already, you want to lubricate the hardware to keep things running smoothly. See the article, 'Lubricating Bifold Doors' for instructions.
Is the door too far gone or damaged? You may need to consider replacing it. See the article 'Replacing a Bifold Door' for more information.
Adjusting Bifold Closet Door Hardware
Adjusting bifold closet door hardware is a needed periodically when the doors start to operate poorly. Most of the time it only takes a few minutes to adjust the door. It is easier when you have some help to hold the door.
For related topics, see the articles 'Troubleshooting Closet Door Problems' and 'Fixing Residential Doors' for a full listing of all the door topics.
Adjusting the Top Pivot Pin
The first step in adjusting bifold hardware is the top pivot. There is a clip in the track that the top pivot fits into, it will be near the jamb. This clip has a set screw, usually a Phillips tip, that holds it in place. Hopefully, the opening is square and plumb you want the margins around the door to be even.
You loosen the set screw to move the top of the door closer to the frame or father away. Does the door bind on the frame when you try and open it? It is too close to the frame and needs to be adjusted. Is the door binding against the other door or the far side of the frame? In that case you want to move the pin closer to the frame.
You should probably take the door out when you make these adjustments. Lift the door up and tilt the bottom out of the opening.See the articles 'Removing a Bifold Door' and 'How To Install a Bifold Door' for instructions on taking the door in and out.
The problem with this is that you have to keep putting the door in and out to check the adjustments. With the door open you can hold onto the door (better yet, have someone else hold it), and loosen the set screw with the door in place. Adjust as needed and tighten the screw.
A properly aligned door should have a consistent margin along the top, sides and if it is a four panel door, down the center. For a four panel door the tops of the two doors should be even with each other and the center gap should be even. It takes a little practice to get the sense of how the movement of the pins affects the overall alignment of the door. Be patient, once you get the idea you'll always have that understanding.
Adjusting the Bottom Pivot Pin
Adjusting bifold pivot pins is a key element. The bottom pivot pin works similarly to the top one. The difference is that this pin is set in a toothed clip. To adjust the margin on the door you pick the door up and move it toward or farther away from the frame. The same adjustment principles apply with both pivot pins. Remember also, that moving the pin in or out also affects the top margin.
I know, sometimes it can be aggravating. Use a pry bar to lift the door and try to move it one notch at a time until you get it right. The notch system is a little less sensitive than sliding the top clip. You may need to make a minor adjustment on the top, once you have the bottom pin the way you like it.
Okay, I know, you're probably wondering why I didn't tell you to work on the bottom pin first. If it is clear that you will have to move both pins, then this is a good idea.
Unfortunately, it is usually not that clear and sometimes you go back and forth between the two of them, or four if it is a four panel door. Right, wrong or indifferent, I always start with the top pin. So that's how I wrote the article.
Keep making adjustments until everything lines up and the doors operate freely. It works like you expect. That is good news, you can continue repairing your other interior bifold doors. Only one was bad? Then your done, move on to your next project.