How to Remove a Stuck Toilet Seat Bolt in One Piece KOHLER with Hidden Anchor
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- This is Kohler one piece model K 3386 D. The toilet seat was stuck due to corrosion of bolt. Step one, cut toilet seat off. I recommend dremel or small flexible saw to cut the plastic part off. I made a series of horizontal cuts to remove the bit of plastic stuck between the porcelain and the bolt.
Use masking tape to prevent scratches.
Prybar method didn't work, it actually began to distort the top of one of the bolts as I applied pressure. Take off toilet lid cover before working on toilet to avoid accidentally chipping it.
Cutting the bolt off with hacksaw took a long time, and it didn't unstuck the bolt. It made less material to drill through though, so if you use hacksaw, then might as well cut as low as possible.
Then using a Cobalt drill bit(s), I drilled through the bolt, and it dropped down into the cavity.
This took a long time and several days (had to buy drill bits, hacksaw handle, and anchors).
The opening of the hold is 3/8". I used these anchors: H2o Kayaks H2o M5 Neoprene Well Nut Inc Stainless Steel Pozi Screw Long Type D (this is a metric anchor, FYI)
www.amazon.com/H2o-Neoprene-S...
I used plastic washers that cost a few dollars for a package. Also, apply anti-seize grease. I prefer marine, metal free. I use Loctite brand.
Hope this helps. I don't make any money off the brands, links, etc.
Mr Sikes, we have been dealing with this for days. Thanks for your knowledge and help!
It's a real hassle. I'm wishing you good outcomes! Take care.
I have the same problem right now with the same Kohler toilet bowl. I was able to remove completely the bolt and plastic (hardened glue) by soaking it with WD-40 and after about an hour, it came out without much effort. It's a clean hole just like the right one on the video. Now, I'm waiting for the Neoprene anchor bolt I ordered online so I can install the easy release Kohler toilet seat. Thanks for the video!
Glad you got the seat off. I have two Kohler toilets, and sadly I've become an expert in fixing them. I just changed the rubber valve and tank fill mechanism, and it was another pain. It's really not good design in terms of replacing parts. I'll try to make a vid talking about it. I can't video the actual process because it took a long time and some swearing involved.
Thanks for the anchor tip. The Kohler bendo-Tee anchors do NOT fit (too fat for 3/8”) hole in our 23 year old toidy. I found it easier to cut the old screw heads off with my diamond cutter blade from Bulldog Tools (nifty stuff) in 5 seconds each. Any cut off thin abrasive cut off Disc should work but I had a scape piece of aluminum to protect the porcelain. I wrapped the Aluminun wit blue painters tape for a no scrape protection. Thank you for posting video.
Thanks for responding so quickly. I'm gonna try everything you suggested, and if that doesn't work I'll just buy a new seat and have a local guy put it on.
what a helpful video. Kohler wanted something like $60 CAD for their removal tool to get the rivnut off. what a joke. I was in the exact situation as your video and that tool would never had worked on those ceased rivnuts and bolts. but following your procedure and investing in $10 worth of cobolt drill bits I was able to have 2 clean ceramic holes, waiting for those Neoprene Well Nuts to arrive now. thank you very much for doing the leg work and research on these replacement nuts & bolts and to document the replacement procedure.
Glad it worked out! Very poor design in toilet. I recently had to replace the flush valve assembly inside the bowl. Another terrible design. I had to use a piece of wood to wedge it in there, LOL.
I wish I'd seen this video 4 years earlier when we bought this house with the one piece seat. Maybe I wouldn't be struggling today, it's a nightmare. All I wanted to do was put on a "quick, easy" bidet attachment.
I was really hoping for some to tell I could save the stay, but I haven't found that video yet. Thank you, anyway
One piece toilets are the worst!
I’m in this exact position now. Probably going to have to send the bidet back because this seat will NOT come off 😢
Thanks! This helped a lot! Local hardware store had 3/8 expansion nuts. Had to use smaller diameter bolts so I hope they last
Smaller diameter bolts should get the job done. Not much torsion on a toilet seat....hopefully
I'll be trying to cut my bolts off tomorrow and hope to have better luck with a metal blade on a Oscillating Multi-Tool
Hey Jay, your mechanical knowledge is outstanding! POST THIS: Thanks Jay ... for research, knowledge and presentation; I've got the tools...and with your intellectual input and my lovely wife's encouraging me to sit down and relieve ....🙏the job is done. I'll bet you'd feel comfortable in my shop... machine...welding...lighting...
Great to hear you finished the job! I'm getting more handy as things in the home start to break, LOL. Still learning though.
Thanks! I’ve been dicking around with my toilet seat for a year. Bolts are tightly fused, can’t get the seat off any which way. The seat is tight and works fine, just wanted to change it to something nicer. You’ve convinced me to just leave it alone, LOL.
Ha ha. Yes, if the seat works it's probably best to just leave it alone... unless you have a whole day with nothing better to do, LOL
Thank you! I had the same problem with my Kohler one-piece toilet (Rialto). I was able to get both of the bolts and adapter inserts out after using a Dremel, hammer, and drill. When I ready to put the new KOHLER toilet seat on the KOHLER toilet i thought I was within sight of victory. Nope. Apparently Kohler didn't see the need of including new adapter inserts for KOHLER toilets with their own seats. Thanks to your work and thoughtful posting of the link to those zippy anchors, I hope to soon have a stabilized toilet seat (and happy wife).
Jay, the anchors are called well nuts,can be purchased in Lowe’s or HD,hacksawing the bolt off is a nightmare if you can get the bolt up high enough I got my 15 in lock cutter under the bolt head and wam cut it in 3 seconds and like you did the Japanese saw was excellent for cutting the plastic hinges
Thank you friend. I have another different toilet I need to change the seat on...let's hope it's easier and faster
Easy to install, czcams.com/users/postUgkxjA-hDN2m8_mi0Dg0JD8U6QiArozIAc4I and comfortable. No idea what other people were talking about when they said it was difficult to install or uncomfortable.
6.5 hours and I was able to drill through the bolt and punch it down Didn't need to drill the whole bolt just got to the surface of the porcelain and it became loose. Yay!
Nice to hear the hard work paid off!
What a nightmare toilet, going through pretty much what you're going through just to install a TOTO bidet.
Hope the install goes OK for you. I think a huge issue is lack of clear, easy to follow instructions from manufacturers.
Literally going through the same thing right now. I'm ready to buy a new toilet.
I wish I lived by you so I could hire you to come help me! Never will get a toilet that doesn't have a seat that doesn't have a wingnut underneath. I am debating getting a whole new toilet now instead of trying to do this right now. This is ridiculous technology.
Ha ha, if I was your neighbour, I would help you for free! Yes, horrible design. Such a pain. Good luck on yours, hope it goes well.
I was having a heck of a time gettin the plastic off when the bolts wouldn't loosen. Instead of saws I used an old soldering iron to melt the plastic around the bolts and even cutting the seat loose. i had to drill bolts out when they wouldn't give or pry out.Used the kayak holders showed in the video to hold plastic seat holder heads to toilet. No way i would use the holding system that came with seat. Amazon has the kayak screw kit w/o washers P/N: H2o Kayaks H2o M5 Neoprene Well Nut Inc Stainless Steel Pozi Screw.
THEY WORK GREAT AND WILL BE EASY TO REMOVE!
Great idea with the soldering iron. Glad it worked out for you!
Hi Jay. Very helpful video. I'm at the point now where all the plastic hinges are off and the head of the bolt is cut off. I've been drilling with cobalt drill bits for six hours now. Is there a better method for drilling out the seized up bolt and anchor out of the porcelain?
Yeah, it's a pain. I would recommend changing out the drill bits as they get worn down. It costs a couple more bucks which is a pain, but it saves time. I ended up going through several bits. Unfortunately, there is no easy way. Best of luck to you!
Interesting video. My issue is while one bolt will come out easily, the onther come maybe 1/2 inch and then just keep spinning but wont come out. Should I try to cut it off, drill it or just go buy a two piece toilet?
I would get a longer drill bit and carefully try to drill in the center. Start small and increase drill bit size. Hopefully the bolt will split in 2. It will fall back into the recess, but that's OK. That being said, this toilet is also a hassle to replace the valve on the refill tube (those get rotten over time), so it's not a bad idea to get a better toilet if budget allows.
Is the word you were searching for is “fused”? The bolt and assembly were fused together?
Thank you for that. They were def fused together!
I used bolt cutters to cut the bolt head off. Was really fast and really easy to do
Glad that worked out for you. I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I did.
After you cut the head off, arent you still stuck with the bolt inside the anchor?
I soaked the bolts with W-D 40 for days. Used a high torque screwdriver. They won’t budge.
Sorry to hear that. I think at some point the metals almost weld together into one clump
trying to find kayak anchor parts online, can only find size "m5". Thought you said 3/8" in video. Can you post the amazon link showing the anchor part?
Hello, here is the amazon link for the kayak bolt anchors www.amazon.com/H2o-Neoprene-Stainless-Steel-Kayaks/dp/B009CVLCTQ
@@jaysikes4256 thanks
I'm having the same problem with my Kohler toilet. Why did anyone use stainless steel bolts? The replacement parts are all plastic, and more likely to not seize up like these bolts. I've independently gone through your steps up to getting the bolts out and am now stick. Will try your ideas, but also am thinking of buying a pulley remover that seems right fora the job. Ugn!
Yes, it's a flawed design for a toilet. I think it's a scam to make everyone just pay for a whole new toilet.
Where did you find the anchor bolts?
I got the anchor bolts off Amazon
Going through this removal issue with a Kohler toilet right now at my mom's house.
This experience and total lack of support from Kohler has made me decide to never buy from this brand, ever. It's pretty unbelievable how bad this design is - removing a toilet seat should take seconds, and instead for most people it takes days.
Agreed. Company won't support their products, makes me not want to buy their products. Maybe they want you to replace the whole dang toilet?? $$$
Junk product. I now know what not to buy.
Yes, I would avoid. Funny thing is, this is supposed to be a "fancy" toilet, LOL
hjmmmmmmmmm.......