HOME REPAIR GUIDE
Crooked bifold door: align the Johnson 1825FD top pivot
Steady matching Johnson 1825FD bifold panels, correct a small upper-pivot side misalignment, and secure the socket before testing.
Open the MP4 video · Written steps below
Match your repair
Existing Johnson 1825FD two-panel interior bifold with 1810 upper pivot socket, 1801 top pivot/guide, 1807 adjustable lower pivot and 1811 lower bracket. Minor upper side-clearance error only; the lower pivot is securely seated and correctly positioned, track and jamb are sound, and no height correction or part replacement is needed. Use a light, manageable specimen meeting its manual; IN1825FD Rev. 3/23 specifies up to 30 lb per panel.
Safety and stop conditions
- No pivot pin or guide is removed. The lower pivot stays seated and the helper controls both panels throughout adjustment.
- Only 1810 clamping/adjustment screw is loosened. Track-to-header screws,1811 fixing screws and the 1807 height nut remain untouched.
- Do not mistake this for 1700FD,111FD or 100FD top-hung hardware; those use different support and locking arrangements.
- Stop for missing/broken parts, an insecure bracket, cracked pivot holes, a door that cannot be controlled safely, or any binding that needs force.
Tools and materials
- Hand screwdriver correctly fitting the 1810 locking/adjustment screw
- Ruler
- Spirit level or plumb reference
- Removable reference marker
- A capable adult helper to steady the panels
- Stable step stool if needed for access
Before you start
- Close gently and compare the jamb-side gap at top and bottom. Select the case where the top pivot has shifted but the bottom is correctly placed.
- Check the track, fasteners, panel hinges, pivot inserts and jamb; stop for any damaged or loose mounting.
- Verify upper pivot socket should align vertically over the lower pivot socket. A bent track, out-of-square opening or displaced lower bracket requires a broader repair.
Repair steps
Match the mechanism
Match your hardware to Johnson eighteen-twenty-five-FD. This fixes a small upper side-gap error. Stop for loose tracks, damaged pivots, cracked doors, or an opening that is out of square.
Steady both panels
Partly fold the doors so the upper socket is accessible. Have a helper steady both panels, keeping every pivot seated. Do not lift the door out of its bottom bracket.
Release the adjustment
Mark the upper socket’s position. Loosen only the eighteen-ten socket’s adjustment screw, just enough for movement. Leave the track mounting screws and bottom pivot bracket firmly secured.
Correct the side gap
Slide the socket slightly so the upper pivot sits directly above the lower pivot. Keep both pivots seated. Stop if the socket resists or the needed movement exceeds its travel.
Secure before testing
Hold the socket in position and retighten the same screw securely. Check that the socket cannot slide and both pivots remain seated before your helper releases the panels.
Check the whole movement
After tightening, close and reopen slowly. Check for an even quarter-inch jamb gap, floor clearance, and smooth folding. Stop for binding, renewed slipping, or a larger correction.
Check the result
- Upper/lower pivots vertically aligned; even 1/4 in jamb-side gap; secure locked 1810 socket; pivots fully seated; no rubbing through complete opening and closing.
Common questions
Does this raise a door scraping the floor?
No. This is horizontal upper-pivot alignment. Height adjustment is a separate procedure.
Which screw should I loosen?
The 1810 socket’s own adjustment/clamping fastener identified in the manufacturer drawing, not screws securing the track to the doorway.
Do I need to take the door off?
Not for this limited adjustment. A helper steadies it while all pivots stay seated.
Why not move the bottom bracket too?
This tutorial assumes the lower pivot is already correctly located. Moving both changes the repair scope and can affect safe support.