A customer in West Drayton called because his bi-fold door was becoming progressively harder to operate.
Once the hinge caps were removed, the cause became obvious: one of the bi-fold hinges had failed.
There are a large number of different bi-fold hardware designs, so carrying every possible hinge in van stock is not practical. I identified the correct part, ordered it and returned the following day.
After fitting the replacement hinge, it also became clear why the old one had failed. The door leaves were badly out of alignment and the hinge had been working under unnecessary strain.
I realigned the bi-fold system and adjusted the leaves so they moved together properly.
The door then became substantially easier to operate.
Bi-fold doors are large and heavy, and their parts can be expensive. If they start rubbing, becoming draughty or getting noticeably harder to push and pull, early adjustment or servicing can prevent that extra strain from developing into a broken hinge or locking component.
