Older aluminum door rollers

Home Owner from Auburn, WA

Oct 7, 2020 6:14 pm

I can't find these rollers, from early 80s all aluminum door. There is not a vertical raise or lower adjustment on the roller. The screw just pulls the roller in the bottom channel back and forth. Also, it looks like you have to take the vertical rails off to slide out the roller from the bottom rail. The screw shown in the door picture holds the vertical channel in place, one screw on top/bottom. Maybe you can find this roller and offer suggestions on how to remove/replace them. It may cause me to reseal the glass if that vertical rail has to be removed?

Rich

3 user uploaded images

9 Replies

Tom from SWISCO

Oct 12, 2020 2:36 pm

I'm afraid I can't identify this roller while it's still installed. We need to see it out of the door; specifically we need to see the back end, top, and side.

I've never heard of a door that required you to remove the vertical rail to get at the roller. Bottom rail, sure, but you shouldn't have to remove the vertical. Is it preventing you from accessing the screw or is it physically preventing you from removing the part?

Home Owner from Auburn, WA

Oct 12, 2020 5:53 pm

I'm not sure how to remove the bottom rail? There is a screw on either end shown in picture 2 the holds the vertical rail to the bottom rail. If I remove both of these how do I pry out the bottom rail, should come off easy? The bottom rail fits inside the vertical rails. Do I have to remove the glass seal or should I just be able use a putty knife or piece of wood to pound out the bottom rail after 2 screws are removed? I just need to know the proper procedure to get the rollers out then I will take a picture and measure them and send to you. I don't want to break the door since its so old.

Home Owner from Auburn, WA

Oct 12, 2020 6:28 pm

more information, there is a 3/4" metal band shown in picture 1 just below the glass, do you think that has to be removed, not sure how to do that. There is one on the inside and outside. As you can see there is not really a good place to use a piece of wood to pound out bottom rail?

Dave Sr. from SWISCO

Oct 13, 2020 10:06 am

I can't make out what roller you have in your patio door, either. You will definitely need to remove it from the bottom door rail to get a better look and take some measurements to compare it to one of the types we carry.

To remove the bottom rail you will need to get a set of saw horses or a work table to lay the door on so your can work on it with a stable surface. You have an exposed screw on the lower side of the door stile. This is the screw that holds the door frame together. You will need to remove this screw on both lower ends of the door. With the screws removed, use a block of wood to "tap" off the bottom of the door. Just be careful you don't damage the door or glass.

With all that being said, your roller can be adjusted. The hole in the side of the door is there to give you access the adjustment screws. What I do to adjust the door would be to use that side hole to access the adjustment screws. It most likely is a Philips screw driver. Have someone lift up the door a little to take the weight off the roller and turn the screw clockwise to raise it or counter clockwise to lower it.

Home Owner from Auburn, WA

Oct 13, 2020 11:33 am

Thanks for your responses. The rollers themselves do not have an up/down adjustment, they just go back and forth in the bottom rail channel when the philips head screw is tightened or loosened. As for taking off the bottom rail it is still not clear how and where to "tap" with a block of wood to remove bottom rail. Look at the first picture, there is a metal band just below the glass, does that have to be removed or can I try to put a putty knife in between the metal and the gasket then tap the putty knife?

Home Owner from Auburn, WA

Oct 14, 2020 3:59 pm

Can somebody offer an opinion on how to remove that bottom based on the pictures I supplied? Again, it is unclear on how to tap it out after removal of the 2 screws and what to do with the metal band just below the glass riding on top of the bottom channel shown in picture 1? Thanks.

Dave Sr. from SWISCO

Oct 16, 2020 10:12 am

Turning the adjustment screw does pull the inside roller housing forward and back, but it also raises the height of the wheel. There's a little ramp on the inside housing that pushing it up and down as it moves forward and back. I've never heard of an adjustment screw that only moves it back and forth, that wouldn't make sense. What would be the point of it?

As for removal of the bottom rail, the procedure I outlined above is the way to go. I don't see anything in your photos that would prevent you from doing what I described. The metal band you mentioned is inside the insulated glass and should not be removed. If you are not comfortable trying, then it might be best to get a professional to do the repair for you instead of potentially risking damage to the patio door or glass.

Quick Learner from Miami, Florida

Sep 6, 2026 10:45 pm

Jeez. I think this person should have done a bit more homework on your site. A few videos and you'd know about the adjustment screws and removing the wheels. I hope they figured it out.