Pocket Door Tune-Up

Tools:

ladder
pry bar
flashlight
rags
level
some shims
flathead screwdriver
hammer
safety glasses
white lithium grease

1. Remove screws and the access panel to gain access to the overhead rail and mechanisms of the pocket door (figure A).

2. Slide the door out, wedging the door up so that you may view the rollers that hang on the track. Use wood shims and a pry bar at the bottom to lift the door (figure B).

3. If the door will not pull out completely, there may be a plastic stopper in the track, remove this and continue to pull the door out.

4. If the roller or wheel is off the track, lift up the door or wheel and place it back on track (figure C).

5. If the wheel does not reach, it probably needs to be adjusted, which can be done by turning the adjustment screw on the end of the hardware (figure D).

6. Once both front and rear wheels are on track remove the wood shims.

7. Use a level to see if the door is plumb, meaning it hangs evenly from the track on both ends. If necessary turn the height adjustment screws to bring it into plumb.

8. If the door slides too deeply into the pocket hole, hammer a peg or stopper of the appropriate length into the back of the door.

9. Clean all the old grease off the track and lubricate the track with white lithium grease, available at auto parts stores (figure E).

10. Replace the access panel once everything's working smoothly.