Pocket door question; removing the door?

[skeer]

So yeah, downstairs we have a pocket door that I need to remove the door itself so I can access the drywall within. Now to paint a more accurate picture here.. the door is a 36x78 solid oak. The opening in trimmed in oak and for whatever reason, the trim is caulked. The old man/previous owner caulked every bit of trim in this house.. so removing it for easier access is a chore I'd rather avoid.

The 'carriages' look to have three wheels each and have bearings so Im guessing it's not the cheap kind. But I cannot see much of the bolt part that engages with the bracket on the top edge of the door to figure out how to unhook it. I also do not have the special pocket door wrench either..

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Hi Skeer, sad to say you have to cut the caulk and remove the upper and inner side of your trim to get the door off to troubleshoot and repair your pocket door. When you clean it all up and replace it use trim head screws to reattach your trim for future maintenance. Here’s mine.

 

[wssix99]

^ This. Instructions on modern pocket doors direct installers to install the trim so the door can't be removed.

You will have to invent your own system if you want to be able to make the trim removable so you can service the door. (I have solid doors, also and realize this process involves experimentation and is NOT fun with heavy doors.)

For mine, I am able to remove just the top part of the inside trim. My doors have a "T" bar that I can push off the bogies with a screw driver, which drops the door down off the track. From there I can wiggle the door out of the opening. With the door out of the way, the hardware can be serviced.

 

[jar944]

See if have enough room to drop the door clear of the head jamb and angle it out.

 

[skeer]

See if have enough room to drop the door clear of the head jamb and angle it out.

the dropping the door part, is what I'm not able to figure out yet.

 

[skeer]

@gahrajmahal Yeah that's a solid idea right there.

 

[rust in the eye]

If like mine (Johnson hardware) there will be a bracket(s) attached to the door top which clip onto the trolleys, there is a small release lever. The trolleys remain in place.
Once the trim is out of the way it ought to be self explanatory.
Edit:
"36 x 78 solid oak" just sank into my thick head. I doubt your door will be suspended on these I've shown but perhaps a similar arrangement.
Glad I won't be lifting those doors.

 

[skeer]

If like mine (Johnson hardware) there will be a bracket(s) attached to the door top which clip onto the trolleys, there is a small release lever. The trolleys remain in place.
Once the trim is out of the way it ought to be self explanatory.
Edit:
"36 x 78 solid oak" just sank into my thick head. I doubt your door will be suspended on these I've shown but perhaps a similar arrangement.
Glad I won't be lifting those doors.

Oooo thanks for that pic. So mine have what appears to (possibly) be that latch except it's white plastic. I can feel it snap into place when I push it to the right.

 

[skeer]

So I'm going to try pushing that plastic 'lever' to the left. Pry upwards on that end of the door and try to pull the trolley forward and see if it unhooks.

 

[rust in the eye]

FWIW
At least on the ones I have and shown the fit of the trolley's stud into the bracket is tight, it takes a nudge to slide into the groove. A 100# + door hanging on it can't make it any easier.

 

[skeer]

FWIW
At least on the ones I have and shown the fit of the trolley's stud into the bracket is tight, it takes a nudge to slide into the groove. A 100# + door hanging on it can't make it any easier.

Right.. no I plan on levering the door upwards with a pry bar for sure.

 

[skeer]

So I'm looking at if I remove the trim there's still some plywood between air and the trolley channel. I don't think it's going to be as cut and dry as a few think.

 

[thammel]

I had a pocket door installed on a new room 2 years ago. I removed it to paint it. Definitely have to remove that piece of molding at the top. As I recall there was a lever or two that had to be moved. I will say that it was not an easy task to remove and especially to reinstall. But I like pocket doors for the lack of intrusion into the room spaces.