Removing Corroded Toilet Seat Fittings

wait4me

A picture tells a thousand words. No matter what I do, oil etc I cannot remove these fittings as I am treating the toilet like an eggshell. Any ideas on how I could remove them? Thanks. w4m

Keith186

Dremel type tool to cut through the nut as much as you can then break it off minding not to damage the toilet.

10-10-20

I had to angle-grind a set of brass ones off last month. Doesn't seem to be that unusual.

jos28

I feel your pain, I had a similar problem that took me days to fix. I eventually used a dremel and a new pack of discs. It took me a couple of hours to remove them. I taped an old cloth around the fittings to protect the toilet. Persevere, you'll get there.

The Continental Op

Whats the problem OP? Clean off the thread with a wire brush good load of WD40 and a spanner or socket on the nut and a pair of mole grips or pipe grips on the wing nut and that will fall off.

Believe me thats an easy one. I've had them where you couldn't recognize any thread at all.

pauly58

It can be a hell of a job alright, I had to do one a few days ago. Wirebrush & WD40 to start, then the wings off the wingnut both sheared off. I used a pair of vicegrips to get the nut off but for a while it looked like it would have to be an angle grinder.

The Continental Op

Well OP how did you get on?

Are you flushed with success?

Pete M.

Might still be pi$$ed off

SuperBowserWorld

Had to use a hacksaw on similar on two different toilets recently. The replacement seats do not have this problem and should be easier to remove.

Literally a pain in the arse 🤣

wait4me

I'm holding off until after the Christmas and then giving it a good shot 😁. Last thing I want is to damage the jacks and then a lot of people would be pi$$ed off.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

The Continental Op

Just to add to my point and noting what pauly58 said unless they come off easily try not to put much force near the ends of the wingnuts. Ideally get a grip with something like mole grips on the meaty part of the wingnut and don't overtighten the mole grips as with smaller nut sizes you can deform the nut making it even tighter on the thread. With plenty of time you could give it a daily dose of WD40 perhaps putting a cloth under each nut to collect any run off.

monseiur

A 4'' angle grinder should do the job, cut tight between the washer & nut but not the washer itself as it'll protect the bowl when cutting, it will fall off when bolt is cut.

Option 2 is to remove as much as possible of the rust with a small wire brush, the smaller ones are no bigger than a tooth brush. Spray with WD40 Fast Release Penetrant Spray or similar an leave for 12 hours, then use wire brush again and clean with cloth and spray with WD40 again and leave for another 12 hours. Gently tap bolt with a hammer at both ends, cover bolt at bottom to protect threads. Use vice grip to hold nut and turn bolt from above with a socket (anti clockwise of course)

If you plan to fit a complete new toilet seat just shear the top off the bolts with an angle grinder and the bolts will fall out, again cutting in between bolt head and washer, the washer will protect the bowl while cutting. Indeed, on mature reflection, that's the best and easiest option. Use a 4'' angle grinder, it's much easier to control than the more powerful and awkward 9'' one

The Continental Op

btw OP you don't need to treat the toilet like an eggshell they are surprisingly tough. Personally although I have several 115mm angle grinders I wouldn't use one in this case. The bolt just isn't big enough to justify it, often if well rusted (OP's isn't) the bolt will just snap when you apply a bit of force to undo it. If that fails then the traditional tool for the job is a pad saw (https://www.amazon.co.uk/ENGINEER-Handheld-Hacksaw-Fitted-Plastic/dp/B002F9MNZO/) basically a handle to hold a hacksaw blade. There is no way with that you can damage the toilet bowl. You can just as easily go even more old school and hold a hacksaw blade wrapped in a bit of rag to stop it cutting your hands.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002761#Comment_120002761

Sometimes you just gotta.

Mr Toilet-Seat, meet Mr Angle-Grinder (Christmas edition):

...and yes, those are burns from the sparks on the sheet of fiber-board. 😆

The Continental Op

Were you doing that from the top? If so I agree but often the bottom is the easier method of attack and thats where I wouldn't be using an angle grinder.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002841#Comment_120002841

Yes, very recessed bolts/wingnuts on that toilet, couldn't even grip them with a pliers-wrench.

The things we do for our wives. 🤩

Deregos.

Toilet seat fittings are awful crap nowadays. I've even bought expensive seats and they've still corroded or broken easily.

wait4me

Eventually got to this after the seat broke off! Made it much easier to access the bolts from the top. What was more difficult was the hacksawing @The Continental Op with a pad saw. A lot of sweat eventually got through the bolts. New seat fitted and lots of happy asses in that house 😂 Thanks everyone