My sliding patio door from 1972 is grinding on the track. I want to adjust the wheels so I can try to get it off and replace the rollers.
I'm fairly sure the adjustment screw is behind this weird 7-point cover but for the life of me I can't get it to budge with a flat-head screwdriver. I've removed the tiny screw next to it and tried lubing around it but it will not wiggle. Any ideas here?
If your sliding door works like other doors I've known, then the 7-point thing is the wheel height adjuster, which is not intended to be removed. You've been trying to turn it counterclockwise, but it is already at its limit of fully retracted wheels.
The screw that you already removed is intended to stop rotation of the 7-point adjuster so that wheel height does not change after you set it.
Try raising the door in its track by lifting it with a pry bar, such as a Wonderbar. Lift from the center of the door at its balance point so the entire door rises. Then turn the 7-point adjuster clockwise to extend the wheels.
When you release the pry bar, you should find that the door now rolls on its wheels instead of scraping. Refine the height adjustment up or down until you feel that you have the wheels extended to the ideal height.
Finally, re-install the screw to prevent the height adjustment from changing.
If you find that the wheels are actually broken and need repair, retract the wheels fully, then lift the door with the pry bar high enough to pass over the lip, then swing the bottom of the door inward toward the living space to remove the door from its track.
