How Do I Get This Tough Screw out?

meong on 22/10/2023 - 13:44
Last edited 22/10/2023 - 22:38

These are screws that are under the toilet seat which are accessible through the toilet base (not inside the toilet bowl).

There 2, left and right and both of them holds down the hinge for the toilet seat itself.

The reason that I need to take these screws out is because I want to install the seat mounted bidet (similar to the ones that have been posted here).

I have checked if there are any ways to remove the seat without removing these screws such as:
1. Check if there are secret buttons to unlock the seat hinges
2. Use a screw driver to try pry the chrome cover of the seat hinges

To remove these screws I have tried:
1. Using WD40 to get rid of the rust in the hope of loosening them (using a cloth and my own hand for example)
2. Using a wrench, or knocking the nut using a screw driver and a mallet… they did move maybe for half a turn then get stuck again

Is there a specific tool i should be using?

Photo is attached: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/107544/whatsapp_…

EDIT: Photo of the top part is shown here: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/107555/whatsapp_…

FURTHER UPDATE: the left hinge is finally able to be removed https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/14456296/redir

Thanks

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Nugs on 22/10/2023 - 13:48
    +1

    oxy acetylene
    that is one rusty bolt
    Based on the scratch marks on the porcelain, are you sure you haven't been tightening it in your attempts to remove it?
    "they did move maybe for half a turn then get stuck again" just keep rotating back and forth and it will dislodge loose rust particles bit by bit
    .

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 14:18

      yeah definitely doing it right (anti-clockwise)… i have enough anxiety from making that mistake in the past 😅

      those marks were indeed caused by me rocking it back and forth as you suggested… maybe i should keep on doing it…

      • Loopholio on 23/10/2023 - 13:30

        yeah definitely doing it right (anti-clockwise)…

        I think you got that wrong. It's lefty loosy, righty tightly when looking at the head of the bolt. Unless you mean to say you are doing it right, as in, correctly.

        • meong on 23/10/2023 - 14:43
          +1

          yes, right = correctly… :-D

  • jizmo on 22/10/2023 - 14:03

    Wire brush to clean the thread.
    Would be better off trying to, either get a grinder or Dremel to cut it off if you can get in there, or enough to snap it off without cracking the pan.
    Steel bolt could try and drill the head out, so as it falls through. Just start with a small bit like 3mm and work your way up.

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 14:22

      i have no such power tools 🥲

      and it was indeed hard just to get my head in there already…

      the head is not exposed on the other side so its hard to drill the head unless i try to crack the chrome covers for the hinges

  • skullster704 on 22/10/2023 - 14:06
    +4

    Is it actually screwed onto the bolt?

    Those little white plastic bits look like they might be releases for a ratchet type clamp that locks onto the "bolt" as you push the stainless steel clamp upwards.

    Try pushing them both in and then pulling the clamp downwards.

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 14:23

      yeah i wonder about those plastic bits… are they meant to be some sort of quick release? i dont know what this setup is called so i'm not sure what to google…

    • debb on 22/10/2023 - 16:47

      Yeah, looks like a push-button nut of some sort…

  • ausdday on 22/10/2023 - 14:21
    +1

    WD40 + some heat? The heat would expand the metal

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 14:22

      what kind of heat are we talking here? is a hairdryer good enough?

      • ausdday on 22/10/2023 - 14:24
        +1

        hair dryer or cigarette lighter maybe? Looks like it has plastic bit, maybe try with hair dryer first and go up from there

        • meong on 22/10/2023 - 14:32

          let me try that and get back to you

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/10/2023 - 14:32
          +1

          Heat might be able to soften the plastic bit then just get at it with pliers and lever it out

  • trex on 22/10/2023 - 15:12

    Check the other side, below/behind the screw. There might be a nut keeping in place.

  • ECE on 22/10/2023 - 15:15
    -1

    Yuck

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 16:12
      +2

      mind you those are stains from the rust after spraying them with WD40 😁

  • Loot N Plunder on 22/10/2023 - 15:26
    +1

    Cut the head off from the top with a hacksaw/grinder and the bolt will fall through

  • AustriaBargain on 22/10/2023 - 16:18
    +2

    Grinder.

  • Aust on 22/10/2023 - 16:31

    Would help if we can see a photo of the top part showing the screw head and mounting, i just installed a new seat from bunnings and pardon the pun but it was Pi$$ easy.

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 20:43

      Done, updated above

  • blitz on 22/10/2023 - 18:21

    OP, more pics would help - e.g. top and any other angle. Looks like there's an "M" marked on the bracket. Hmm.

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 20:43

      Updated photo

  • blitz on 22/10/2023 - 18:28
    +3

    OP, I think this is how that mechanism might work.
    Here's another diagram that shows how it works in more detail. Seems it's called a 'toggle' fitting.

    • Loot N Plunder on 22/10/2023 - 18:41

      You could be onto something there

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgGbBUaLRFE

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/10/2023 - 20:03

      Correct. I recently installed a new seat using these fittings.

      OP you're trying to undo the fitting from the wrong side.

      • meong on 22/10/2023 - 20:42

        i've posted the top side where the hinges are…

        should i just force pry the hinges open?

        • Loot N Plunder on 22/10/2023 - 21:14

          yes
          open the hinges and the chrome cap should lift off to expose the top of the bolts
          Use a flat screwdriver on the outside button looking things
          If you watch that youtube clip it should be as easy as breaking the plastic zip ties no need to undo the bolts

          • meong on 22/10/2023 - 21:29

            @Loot N Plunder: in my understanding the plastic zip ties are only to hold the screw casings in place and that there will be something screwed onto it?

            • Loot N Plunder on 22/10/2023 - 21:37

              @meong: Look at that youtube clip i posted
              It shows the guy undo the bolt and break the plastic tops off and the toggle should just fall to the floor at about the 2min mark
              The zip tie is there to only hold the toggle in place until the bolts are in

              • meong on 22/10/2023 - 22:35

                @Loot N Plunder: FYI… prying open the hinges didn't work… it actually chipped it…

                there is actually a way to get the hinges off!

                so, apparently on the back of each hinges, there is this hole that you can insert a hex key and turn it anti-clockwise to open it up… i somehow managed to do it on the left hinge but not on the right as the screw will not move at all (stripped). I was successful in removing the left hinge and managed to understand how it works:

                https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/107556/whatsapp_…
                https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/107557/untitled.…

                so the screws are holding the hinges onto another big screw that is threaded onto the toilet base…

                So the only issue now is how to remove the screw on the right hinge that is already stripped… considering its at such a weird angle i dont even know how to take it off…

                also, the way the hinge is designed it requires it to be firmly tight against the toilet base… im still thinking if its possible to even rise it and put the bidet underneath it…

  • singlemalt72 on 22/10/2023 - 23:00

    Just drill out from the front side in the location of the hex screw with a larger bit.

    • meong on 22/10/2023 - 23:17

      then how do put the hinge back on if it has been drilled off?

      • singlemalt72 on 23/10/2023 - 08:53

        If you are fitting a bidet I wouldn't think you need the hinge any longer.
        Anyway you could just install a roll pin if you needed to reuse it.

        • kiitos on 23/10/2023 - 10:34

          Why would the hinge not be required anymore?

  • saltypete on 23/10/2023 - 09:12

    Sounds like it’s at the point of needing the gentle caress of the angle grinder. 👍

    • meong on 23/10/2023 - 09:13

      haha it does sound like it isnt it… one screw issues after another… however, unfortunately i don't have one and have never used it myself…

      • saltypete on 23/10/2023 - 09:25

        Time to learn!!

        https://www.bunnings.com.au/xu1-500w-100mm-angle-grinder_p00…

        Also get glasses and some ear plugs.

        I’d be going diagonally down from the side to cut the bolt and the holder.
        Even doing both sides to make a V cut that finishes in the middle of the bolt at the porcelain level.
        Don’t try and cut across the porcelain.

        Watch a few YouTube’s on angle grinder use first and maybe practice on a few bits if you can.
        Go gentle and let that scary, spinning blade do the work.

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