Tips on getting off a bolt stuck on a toilet seat?

[y_p_w]

Since I'm helping out my parents today, I wanted to see what I could do about fixing up some of their bathroom stuff. I just installed a new toilet seat to replace one where the plastic was all cracked. I am having problems with the bolts though. It's Kohler Quick-Attach hardware, which is anything but. Maybe it's easy with a two-piece toilet, but I'm installing on a one piece toilet where this hole is recessed and it's hard to get the nut in place. It's got these weird nuts that need to clamp down on the bolt as a cone shape is tightened against the mounting hole. It's not that great and maybe the plastic got stripped. I figure Kohler is good for a replacement part since it's new. But that's at least working and I can contact them later. This is a replacement kit that looks like the package that came with it other than I don't see a washer. The long plastic part is a bumper that snaps into the seat I guess to cushion it a bit when it hits the bowl.

https://www.amazon.com/Kohler-1236365-Replacement-Part/dp/B01ENU9L3O/

However, I'm looking at another toilet in the house where the seat has been kind of weird for a while. It's just loose at one of the mounting bolts. I know I'm the one who originally installed it, but I'm pretty sure that I only used the original hardware. It came with similar Kohler hardware, although several years older. I'm sure I didn't install what I see now. My dad wouldn't have done it, but I'm thinking maybe a handyman they hired installed it when the previous nut failed. Used a steel nut with washer, but it's absolutely rusted and I can't get it off. Obviously not stainless steel or brass, and the original Kohler nut that's on the other side is black plastic similar to the photo above. I'm trying to clamp down on it with pliers, but it doesn't seem to loosen with it all rusted in place. Maybe something to penetrate the rust?

Took a photo:

 

[cptbarkey]

pb blaster and a deep socket with an extension should take care of that with a firm grip up top, perhaps locking pliers.

worst case cut the head off the screw on top with an angle grinder. good times.

 

[y_p_w]

pb blaster and a deep socket with an extension should take care of that with a firm grip up top, perhaps locking pliers.

worst case cut the head off the screw on top with an angle grinder. good times.

Sounds like it could come in handy for other rusted stuff. I have the feeling that whoever did this work just had a zinc-plated steel nut and washer but didn't think of what toilet would do to it.

The thing that sucks about that seat is it can slip while being used,

 

[vavavroom]

The thread title gave me a very unpleasant visual. Wish I could inspect an in-focus image. Don't want to guess at what I'm looking at.

 

[y_p_w]

The thread title gave me a very unpleasant visual. Wish I could inspect an in-focus image. Don't want to guess at what I'm looking at.

I tried. Couldn't get an in-focus image even when I lit up the target with a light. Might have been too close and there were weird angles.

It's not bad. Just a rusty steel nut and washer. The other stains aren't particularly nasty. The bolt is otherwise spotless.

 

[vavavroom]

nut splitter

 

[dishdude]

Get a deep well socket and crank on it, hopefully it'll break right out of the plastic.

 

[y_p_w]

Get a deep well socket and crank on it, hopefully it'll break right out of the plastic.

Not sure what size it is. On top of that, it's metal on metal. An OEM metal bolt that Kohler uses that doesn't seem to corrode, but with a steel nut and steel washer that are really, really rusted.

 

[facility1]

needle nose vise grips on top screw head or Knipex alligator plyers, liquid wrench ,a 1/2 or 9/16 deep socket ,some hard twisting will work,,or if enough thread exposed under screw/bolt head a single fine tooth hack saw blade & holder,,trying not to damage toilet and finish.

 

[cptbarkey]

Not sure what size it is. On top of that, it's metal on metal. An OEM metal bolt that Kohler uses that doesn't seem to corrode, but with a steel nut and steel washer that are really, really rusted.

When I travel with tools I usually bring a full set of sockets in various lengths to tackle whatever it is. Eventually you might be able to eyeball bolt and nut sizes but I still don’t risk that.

 

[97prizm]

Since I'm helping out my parents today, I wanted to see what I could do about fixing up some of their bathroom stuff. I just installed a new toilet seat to replace one where the plastic was all cracked. I am having problems with the bolts though. It's Kohler Quick-Attach hardware, which is anything but. Maybe it's easy with a two-piece toilet, but I'm installing on a one piece toilet where this hole is recessed and it's hard to get the nut in place. It's got these weird nuts that need to clamp down on the bolt as a cone shape is tightened against the mounting hole. It's not that great and maybe the plastic got stripped. I figure Kohler is good for a replacement part since it's new. But that's at least working and I can contact them later. This is a replacement kit that looks like the package that came with it other than I don't see a washer. The long plastic part is a bumper that snaps into the seat I guess to cushion it a bit when it hits the bowl.

https://www.amazon.com/Kohler-1236365-Replacement-Part/dp/B01ENU9L3O/

However, I'm looking at another toilet in the house where the seat has been kind of weird for a while. It's just loose at one of the mounting bolts. I know I'm the one who originally installed it, but I'm pretty sure that I only used the original hardware. It came with similar Kohler hardware, although several years older. I'm sure I didn't install what I see now. My dad wouldn't have done it, but I'm thinking maybe a handyman they hired installed it when the previous nut failed. Used a steel nut with washer, but it's absolutely rusted and I can't get it off. Obviously not stainless steel or brass, and the original Kohler nut that's on the other side is black plastic similar to the photo above. I'm trying to clamp down on it with pliers, but it doesn't seem to loosen with it all rusted in place. Maybe something to penetrate the rust?

Took a photo:

View attachment 249014

Freeze off let it penetrate then a small torch should get it off. If not maybe a dreamel tool?

 

[shortyb]

Second the Dremel with a cut-off wheel attachment. Saved my, uh, butt, on many occasions.

 

[Kira]

Don't do what my BIL did.
He got a chisel and attempted to shear off the top bolt head.

"The metal bolt is stronger than the porcelain toilet bowl", he thought....after swinging the hammer.
He broke a chunk off the top of the bowl.

The only bright side is that the toilet's water passages weren't affected.

I was called to fashion a securement for the new seat.

 

[y_p_w]

I'm not sure what happened with the new toilet seat hardware. I might have mistakenly pushed it into the nut and stripped the plastic rather than tapping into it. However, it still kind of works and I know worst case I can buy new hardware. I'll just try seeing if they'll sent a replacement under warranty. I'm looking at the warranty terms, and they say go to the seller. Since it was Amazon, I don't think that's going to work. They don't say it, but I'm thinking little things they can do through a customer service phone call. However, the other option they give is to write a letter. I haven't written a letter in a while, so I'm just going to try doing it the old-school way, especially since there's no urgency.

And the old one - I think I'll just get the PB B'laster. HD seems to have the small can for less than $5. I can't really justify a larger can as I don't come across rusted bolts/nuts that often. I figure a replacement hardware set (whether by warranty for the other seat or bought should fit, and I only need one for the new seat and one for the old.

 

[y_p_w]

At least with the new one, I was able to torque it where it’s secure without reaching the point where it slips and pops. But if I try to tighten it any further, I’m sure the nut will just slip. It’s an interesting design. Not sure if maybe there’s a slight manufacturing defect or whatever.

All the toilet seats in this house now have Kohler Quick-Attach seats. I actually swapped the newer seat with an older seat from a higher use toilet (with the rusty bolt). One of them in the house isn’t a slow close type. Maybe I’ll replace that since my dad has a habit of slamming the toilet seat.

 

[y_p_w]

OK - the PB B'laster worked. Never used it before. The small 4 oz can doesn't come with a straw and the labels says that it's got a directional stream that doesn't need a pinpoint straw. It does spray a very tight stream, but fortunately I could spray it from above through the toilet seat bolt mounting hole. I wouldn't want to be on my back spraying it upwards and having it fall/drip back down on me. A pinpoint straw and a paper towel would have been OK. And the smell is something, although not as bad as I've heard - like claims that the smell will fill up a room. I did get it on my hands and I'm wondering how long it's going to take for that smell to go away.

Wasn't sure how long it was going to take before I could move the nut. I've heard any time from immediately to overnight. But I tried, sprayed a bit more and waited. It finally seemed to budge (after about 15 minutes) and all I needed was pliers on the nut and a flat head screwdriver on the toilet seat bolt. I couldn't use a Phillips head (initially) because that probably would have stripped the screwdriver.

Unfortunately I don't have the replacement nut I need (thinking maybe Kohler sends a kit to deal with the other bad hardware). For the time being I cleaned the nut/washer and put it back where I could actually tighten it. It actually holds better than one of those plastic nuts, although I'm thinking Kohler uses plastic to prevent people from overtorquing and cracking the toilet at the seat mounting holes, and it won't rust. The plastic nuts will either break or slip before it gets to the point where the porcelain will crack.

 

[vavavroom]

OK - the PB B'laster worked. Never used it before. The small 4 oz can doesn't come with a straw and the labels says that it's got a directional stream that doesn't need a pinpoint straw. It does spray a very tight stream, but fortunately I could spray it from above through the toilet seat bolt mounting hole. I wouldn't want to be on my back spraying it upwards and having it fall/drip back down on me. A pinpoint straw and a paper towel would have been OK. And the smell is something, although not as bad as I've heard - like claims that the smell will fill up a room. I did get it on my hands and I'm wondering how long it's going to take for that smell to go away.

Wasn't sure how long it was going to take before I could move the nut. I've heard any time from immediately to overnight. But I tried, sprayed a bit more and waited. It finally seemed to budge (after about 15 minutes) and all I needed was pliers on the nut and a flat head screwdriver on the toilet seat bolt. I couldn't use a Phillips head (initially) because that probably would have stripped the screwdriver.

Unfortunately I don't have the replacement nut I need (thinking maybe Kohler sends a kit to deal with the other bad hardware). For the time being I cleaned the nut/washer and put it back where I could actually tighten it. It actually holds better than one of those plastic nuts, although I'm thinking Kohler uses plastic to prevent people from overtorquing and cracking the toilet at the seat mounting holes, and it won't rust. The plastic nuts will either break or slip before it gets to the point where the porcelain will crack.

Sometimes it's better to apply a penetrant with a small brush. Just spray a small quantity in a disposable condiment cup or similar and use an acid brush to apply the penetrant. That way you avoid drips and excessive odor by not aerosolizing an unnecessary quantity of product.

 

[y_p_w]

I'm a bit impatient so I went out and ordered this. It looks like the right bolt/nut pair combo for the Quick-Attach hardware. Less than $4 and with Prime there's one day shipping without a minimum. Worst case scenario is that it's not the right nut and I can return it without opening the package.

KOHLER 1239016 Seat Assembly Hardware Pack, Unfinished​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015JYRA8G

All the toilets in this house are Kohler and the seats all use the Quick-Attach hardware. Kind of different where the seat can be wiggled off (ostensibly for cleaning), but it has to be deliberate.

 

[y_p_w]

So the replacement hardware kit arrived. Way too much packaging though. One big plastic bag with the part number printed on it, and a smaller bag inside with the warranty into and basic instructions on how to attach a Kohler Quick-Connect seat. Just two metal bolts and two of those weird plastic wing nuts with a cone shape. No washers. I had it delivered to my parents' place and I was there. Odd watching the location of the Amazon delivery van in more or less real time, which I could do in the Amazon app.

New nuts tightened perfectly, and I took the opportunity to replace one of the bolts that was covered with PB B'laster on another toilet seat with a rusted metal bolt. I previously tried wiping that stuff off, but some stayed stuck on the metal bolt threads.

I had a look at the new nuts, and they have threads. They're not self-tapping like I previously thought. But I think I might have pushed the bolt into a nut first, and that might have scraped off (or pushed in) a bit of the plastic threading of the nut. Reading reviews of the replacement hardware, apparently some people find that the nuts may not hold after a few years and people buy the replacement kits to deal with that.

The strange thing with this toilet seat is that the instructions don't seem to match the actual seat design. It doesn't show the Quick-Attach mount. The instructions were on a pressure-sensitive label on the shrink wrap. This label has the seat model number and name, so I would have thought that the instructions should match. It shows a more traditional hinge mount with a washer (which isn't needed for this design). And washers were in the hardware bag.

 

[vavavroom]

Waiting for a celebratory flush.