Removing An Old Rusty Toilet Seat Screws And Nut

newbie99 | 18:37 Sun 15th May 2016 | Home & Garden

11 Answers

I am having trouble undoing the old rusty screws from a buttery nut underneath the toilet. The access to the butterfly nut is very tight if you could imagine that it is fitted underneath and out of sight position.
I can put my hand underneath the toilet and feel the nut but when I turn the screw, the screw just turns as I can't put a plier to grip it.

Any advice on how to tackle this problem before I ask a plumber to remove the whole toilet bowl?

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tonyav

Can you not get a screwdriver to hold the screw while you turn the butterfly nut.

bodeker

Sounds good Tonyav

Togo

If you are just changing the seat newbie, take a hacksaw to it and stop struggling. Once the bolts are free in the toilet you can use a bolt cutter or hacksaw. Have your replacement seat on site otherwise you will have nothing to go on.

douglas9401

After Togo's gentle persuasion smear the new screws with Vaseline along their whole length to help stop rusting the next time you have to change it.

newbie99

Question Author

I can use a screw driver to turn the screw but I can't use a plier to grip the butterfly nut. The nut is not in my sight. It is below, behind the bowl.

newbie99

Question Author

The space is very tight, it is a bad design and I made a bad choice buying this toilet. It was good looking as it conceals bottom of the toilet but not when replacing the seat as I experience now.

tonyav

Quite a lot of modern toilets are like that these days, newbie. You just have to do it by feel.

Togo

Douglas most replacement loo seats now come with plastic nuts and bolts. Unless you want to "splash out" on a very expensive one. (*_^)

alavahalf

As a rule if I can't get hold of the nut with a proper pair of long nosed molegrips ... I always take a grinder to them and grind the screw head off... never fails.

newbie99

Question Author

I have considered using g a grid er to remove the screw head. But I am concern about a slight slip of the grid er it will break the toilet bowl.

beegeebee

Plumbers merchant/DIY should be able to supply an elongated 'key' similar to the ones used for opening Gas/electricity boxes, to do the job.

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