IKEA BJURSTA Spare Parts: Extension Mechanism, Maintenance and Repair of the Extendable Table
The BJURSTA is the IKEA extendable table that furnished thousands of small apartments in the 2000s-2010s. Its principle is clever: a tabletop that extends to twice its minimum size, with extension leaves stored under the tabletop. All locked by a proprietary mechanism that you won't find anywhere else.
Problem: the BJURSTA is no longer manufactured. Discontinued by IKEA, it is now an orphaned table. When the locking mechanism starts to seize or the leg screws refuse to tighten properly, you enter a particular territory: that of spare parts for discontinued furniture.
This guide covers everything you need to know to maintain, repair or find parts for a BJURSTA still in service.
Anatomy of the BJURSTA: what you have in your hands
The BJURSTA rests on a solid pine structure for the frame and legs, with a tabletop made of particleboard covered with ash or oak veneer depending on the version, all protected by a transparent acrylic varnish. It is not solid wood on the surface — it is a neat veneer that resists light scratches well but shows impacts.
The four legs are screwed directly into the frame with long screws. This is precisely the point that many owners report as difficult during initial assembly and when disassembling. The tightening torque required is high, and the position under the table makes access uncomfortable.
The tabletop itself consists of two half-tabletops that slide on solid wood rails. The extension leaves — one or two depending on the configuration — slide into the central opening. A proprietary locking mechanism then locks the whole thing in the closed position. This mechanism is at the heart of the main IKEA BJURSTA spare parts requests.
BJURSTA models: dimensions and variants
The BJURSTA existed in two main formats, corresponding to different uses.
Compact format — 90/129/168 x 90 cm
This is the version for small spaces. At its minimum size (90 cm), it can accommodate 4 people tightly or 2 people comfortably. With its two extensions deployed (168 cm), it goes up to 6 people. The depth of 90 cm is generous: no elbow to elbow.
Large format — 140/180/220 x 84 cm
The living room version, longer than deep. It goes from 4 places (140 cm) to 8 places with the two extension leaves (220 cm). The depth of 84 cm is slightly narrower than the compact format, making it more suitable for rectangular rooms with a circulation corridor around the table.
| Format |
Minimum size |
1 extension |
2 extensions |
Max people |
| Compact |
90 x 90 cm |
129 x 90 cm |
168 x 90 cm |
6 |
| Large |
140 x 84 cm |
180 x 84 cm |
220 x 84 cm |
8 |
Available finishes
The BJURSTA was produced in brown-black, white, brown (oak veneer) and birch veneer depending on the years and markets. In France, the brown-black and white versions were the most distributed. The brown version (warmer, with a natural tint) was marketed in some European markets but was less common in France.
The height is identical for all models: 74 cm, the standard height for a dining chair.
The extension mechanism: understand before repairing
This is the central piece of the BJURSTA, and this is where everything happens.
Unlike a classic extension table where you simply place a leaf in the opening, the BJURSTA uses an integrated locking system under the tabletop. Metal or plastic latches (depending on the version and year of production) hold the two half-tabletops together and rigid once closed. Without this locking, the table "rattles" in the center: the two halves separate slightly under the pressure of plates or elbows.
The mechanism works by rotation: a movement of the latch in the closed position locks the two half-tabletops against each other. When opening, unlock, spread, insert the extension, close, lock.
What degrades over time
Two phenomena appear after years of use:
The first is seizing. The mechanism slides on wooden rails and rests on metal parts. Dust, crumbs, and moisture accumulate gradually. The tabletop becomes difficult to spread, the locking difficult to maneuver. This is the most frequent problem and the easiest to solve.
The second is loss of rigidity. With wear, the locking mechanism no longer holds the two half-tabletops as firmly. A slight vertical movement appears at the central joint. This is not dangerous but it is uncomfortable to use.
Why is this mechanism not available as standard?
IKEA designed this locking in a proprietary way. There is no equivalent on the shelf in hardware stores. If the part is broken, you have two options: find a second-hand part (dismantling another BJURSTA) or order the part via specialized retailers in discontinued IKEA parts.
Maintaining the mechanism: the right method
Before considering replacement, start with maintenance. In the majority of seizing cases, proper lubrication is sufficient to restore the mechanism to its original fluidity.
The lubricant to use: silicone spray
Use exclusively a silicone-based spray lubricant. Why silicone and not a classic oil or grease? Because the mechanism is in contact with wood. A greasy grease or oil penetrates the wood fibers, attracts dust and crumbs, and eventually creates an abrasive mixture that accelerates wear rather than slowing it down.
Silicone spray, on the other hand, forms a dry film that lubricates without embedding itself. It will not yellow, become sticky, or stain the surface of the table.
Procedure
- Open the table to access the rails and the locking mechanism.
- Wipe a clean cloth over the rails to remove accumulated dust.
- Apply the silicone spray to the sliding rails and the moving parts of the locking mechanism.
- Open and close the table several times to distribute the lubricant.
- Wipe off the excess with a dry cloth.
Repeat this operation once a year as a preventive maintenance, even if the mechanism works well.
The leg screws: the underestimated problem
The second most frequent complaint about the BJURSTA concerns the leg fixing screws. These long screws pass through the frame to anchor into the leg — a solid pine leg. The problem is twofold.
During assembly, these screws require a high tightening torque in an uncomfortable position (under the table, arm extended). Many owners stop too early, convinced that the resistance felt is the final stop. However, IKEA explicitly recommends retightening the screws two weeks after initial assembly: the wood settles and the screws lose torque.
If your table wobbles slightly or a leg "gives" under pressure, start by checking the tightening of the four leg screws before any other intervention.
Recommended tool: a long Allen (hexagonal) key, not a short one. The short version supplied with IKEA furniture does not provide enough leverage to achieve the correct torque on these long screws. A simple extension or a bent Allen key radically changes the ease of operation.
If the screw turns in the void: the wood is worn around the hole. Classic solution: remove the screw, insert a toothpick or two with wood glue into the hole, let dry for 24 hours, then re-thread the thread by reinserting the screw. Do not force it dry.
BJURSTA discontinued: what this changes concretely
IKEA has stopped production of the BJURSTA. This has two practical consequences.
The IKEA after-sales service can no longer help you with specific parts. For generic hardware (screws, bolts, wedges), IKEA can still provide. But for the proprietary locking mechanism, you will have to go through specialized retailers who reconstitute stocks from dismantled furniture.
The second-hand market is active. The popularity of the BJURSTA in small apartments means that many are resold or dismantled. Parts of the locking mechanism circulate on the second-hand markets, on platforms like eBay or Leboncoin, and with specialized IKEA parts retailers.
The official IKEA alternative is the INGATORP. If repair is no longer viable, the IKEA community and IKEA France recommend the INGATORP as the closest successor. Same extension philosophy, comparable dimensions, streamlined style. The migration is not a fallback — it is an upgrade to a more recent model with available spare parts.
Specific cases to know
The central joint that is never perfectly flush
On some BJURSTAs, especially older versions, the joint between the two half-tabletops has a slight misalignment: one half is slightly higher than the other. This is generally not a mechanism problem — it is the tabletop itself that has slightly warped over time and humidity.
Temporary solution: slide a small wedge under the foot on the lower side to compensate. Permanent solution: if the warping is significant, the tabletop should be replaced. At this point, the INGATORP becomes a more economically sensible option.
The extension that refuses to insert
The tabletop opens correctly but the extension leaf no longer inserts easily. Probable cause: deformation of the wooden rails or swelling of the leaf itself (in case of humidity). Check that the rails are clean and lubricated. If the leaf has swollen, light sanding of the edges (120 grit paper, a few light passes) can restore the necessary play.
Assembly after moving
The BJURSTA dismantled and reassembled several times may have increased instability. The wooden dowels that align the panels wear slightly with each disassembly. If the table is less rigid after a move, check that all the dowels are well inserted into their housings before re-tightening the screws.
FAQ
Can you use a BJURSTA without the locking mechanism?
Yes, technically. The table slides and the extension is placed. But without the locking, the two half-tabletops move slightly relative to each other. For occasional use, this is acceptable. For a daily dining table, it is quickly irritating.
How to find the exact article number of my BJURSTA?
The label is glued under the tabletop, usually on one of the sliding rails. It indicates the 8-digit article number. This number is essential to order the correct parts, as several versions of the BJURSTA have coexisted with slightly different mechanisms.
Is the brown-black BJURSTA the same structure as the white BJURSTA?
The structure is identical. The difference is only the surface finish: dark stain on veneer for brown-black, white stain for the white version. The mechanism parts are common between the two finishes for the same format (compact or large).
Can the locking mechanism be replaced with a standard hardware mechanism?
No. The BJURSTA mechanism is proprietary: it is sized to fit precisely into the frame housings and has no equivalent in standard trade. No hardware mechanism adapts without significant structural modification of the frame. For this part, you absolutely need an original part from a BJURSTA or a specialized IKEA discontinued parts retailer.
What is the maximum load supported by the BJURSTA?
IKEA has not published an official maximum load for this table. As a guide, with its solid wood rails and solid pine frame, the table easily supports standard dining table use. Avoid sitting on the tabletop or placing very heavy point loads (large cast iron dishes, drink crates) in the middle of the tabletop, especially when the extension is in place.
Sold out
Sold out
Sold out
Sold out
Sold out
