How the heck do I remove this old loo seat? Rust!

[bellabelly]

Am so frustrated! Have bought shiny new loo seat, went to take old one off and the screw and wingnuts are rusted solid. I can't shift it. DH had a go last night (mainly bashing at it with a hammer which seemed like a terrible idea, tbh) - didn't work.

I've sprayed it repeatedly with WD40 silicon spray - now feeling slightly high on the fumes - and have tried twisting it by hand, gripping with pliers and really giving it some welly but it's just not shifting.

I had a quick google and looked on youtube too but all the ideas on there seem to involve power tools that I don't have , blowtorches etc.

Please, wise mn diy-ers, if you have any tips, please share. I don't want to be defeated by a toilet seat!

metal bolts do corrode, is it a wing nut beneath and a bolt on top? Have you tried using a socket on the bolt with some one holding the wing nut with pliars? If nothing will budge it, you may have to drill off the nut.

Hi Ifailed, thanks for replying! It is a metal wingnut beneath and a metal bolt. If the wingnut were'nt screwed so far up the bolt, I might have been able to hacksaw if off but there's just no wiggle room at all.

How would I drill off the nut?

Just googling "socket"... not sure what it is but pretty sure that no, I haven't tried that!

the prob with loo seat bolts is that you may crack the china if you use heat or force. Leave the WD40 to soak in for a while. For your new one, choose stainless (or plastic) bolts and nuts and grease before assembly. You can order stainless bolts on ebay in small quantities. IIRC they are M8 coach bolts. Coach bolts gave a round, not hex, head so you can't turn them with a spanner. They have a square section on the shank which fits into the thing you poke them through. This means the hole will crack or break if you turn the bolt.

If you can lay your hands on a Dremel or similar, you can slice through the bolt or the nut. If you cut through one side of a nut and twist, it will usually split or come loose. You can also cut the head off the bolt. As you are scrapping the old seat it does not matter if you cut through it on the hinges which will make the bolt free.

You can also use a hacksaw blade without the frame. Bind one end with rags to use as a handle. Avoid cutting your fingers off.

post copious photos please

I had to do exactly what pigletjohn suggests. Used a hacksaw blade to begin with. Took a long time but got there in the end.

So, cutting the wingnuts with a hacksaw might work? I don't have a dremel - not sure what that is, will have a look on google!

So far, I have soaked kitchen paper in wd40 and draped over the nut/bolt and secured with a rubber band. Hoping that might soak in a bit better. I've also ordered some WD40 anti rust spray which probably won't arrive for a couple of days...

I'll try to post a pic or two but it's a very awkward space - tiny downstairs loo. Please note that any brown marks are bits of rust, NOT poo! I feel like I'm just making a right old mess for no good reason!

The toilet seat is a fancy child/adult size combined one. Was so pleased with it when we got it. Now it's rusted to hell and I feel a bit stupid for not maintaining it better. Grrr!

I struggled to remove my old loo seat too despite wd40, but leaving it overnight (before I was tempted to attack it with a sledgehammer!) then the next day is finally gave in.

Ooh - that is encouraging, Breakfast. Yes, I've had to put the hammer away in case I just attack the whole stupid toilet. It's making me really cross!

Anyway, have distracted myself by taking some [grim] photos, being careful not to drop my phone down the toilet. Will try to upload.

Here you can see the rusty wingnut/bolt combo. Same on the other side. Both not budging a mm. [sigh]

Also the way the fancy hinge works, it doesn't seem possible for me to attack / unscrew from the top, it's all sort of one big unit and all teh gubbins are hidden under the rust shiny chrome.

Thank you, PigletJohn for the tip about greasing the new one before putting on. I'll definitely do that - if I ever manage to get this one off!

And for your viewing pleasure [boak], the other wingnut covered in WD40-soaked kitchen paper.

Don't worry, we all know that is rust! Without risk to hitting the toilet, have you tried putting a screwdriver up against the the right-hand wing of the nut and hitting the handle with a hammer? Once you get it moving you may have to add a bit more WD40.

I was going to suggest WD 40. Try and aim the spray of the oil at the washer (which is closest to the underside of the toilet) so that it can work its way down through the threads of the bolt.

Too scared of smashing the toilet bowl (by accident but possibly on purpose if I get REALLY annoyed!). DH had a go with a hammer last night but it didn't seem to do much. Not sure if he was using a screwdriver with it.

Whatcha - that's a great tip about the washer - I'll try that now. Then I might summon up my courage to use the hammer... Just convinced I'll mis-aim and end up smashing the toilet and creating a whole new problem...

A Dremel is more expensive than I remember. It is like a miniature electric drill, but instead of a drill bit you put a steel pin in the chuck, on which is fastened a spinning tool. You want a cut-off disk which is like a tiny circular saw but made of thin brown abrasive material (buy lots because you will break the disk. The cutting disc cuts a slot and will cut through the wingnut (given much time it would cut through the bolt).

the reason you will break the disks is that they are thin and brittle, and holding the tool in your hand you will not be able to keep it perfectly straight. If you are working on a bench with a vice and a hand-steady you will break fewer.

I got a knockoff brand in Aldi, and a box of assorted discs on fleabay.

You can also get other tools to fit, such as tiny grindstones, diamond engravers, burrs, wire brushes and polishing mops. They are frustrating to use because so slow.

You might be able to borrow one, but promise to buy a pack of discs.

stainless coach bolts probably M8

wingnuts

don't forget your washers

special grease

if you get them all from the same place it will save postage

Thanks PigletJohn!

I have just had another fiddle and could make both of them move - a tiny bit. Am worried that I have now tightened them up - supposed to be pushing anti-clockwise, aren't I? I'll be so cross with myself if I've tightened them! Going to give the WD40/kitchen paper a bit longer to hopefully work some magic.

Had this problem the other day and couldn't be bothered with power tools so took a hammer to it, fortunately was sufficiently corroded to give way.

Ooh, Faez, you are braver than me! Did you hit the wingnut and just sort of smash it off? I might give that a go if I can summon up my courage!

I had this , in the end I managed to detach the toilet seat from the screws, cuth through the washer them the screw dropped through.

Yes, OP, anticlockwise to undo them. If they are starting the move the WD40 must be having an effect, hang on in there.

Thanks, I'm going to spray a bit more on and fiddle about a bit more now I know I'm twisting in the right direction! Will update with any exciting news... don't hold your breath

If no luck...

In your second picture is a long metal bar that forms the hinge. It looks to have a finial on each end. If you can unscrew one of them, the bar will probably pull out and the seats and lid can be lifted off. You will need a pair of pliers or a mole wrench on each finial if they have no flats.

You should then be able to see the tops of the bolts. They might be threaded into parts of the hinge.

If you can get person A to hold the wingnuts steady with a large pair of pliers from underneath, person B might be able to grab the hinge part with an adjustable spanner and unscrew it. Or you might be able to see enough of the bolt to saw through it with your hacksaw blade and rag. If so, try to let the blade ride on the washer so it does not scratch the porcelain.

BTW a new WC is not as expensive as you think

Thanks, PigletJohn! No more progress with unscrewing so I'm going to wait until the special wd40 anti rust spray arrives from amazon - hopefully soon - and then I'll update.

If that doesn't work, I'll try lifting the finials but I've got a horrible feeling it'll be really difficult - I did try to wiggle them earlier and they feel really solid.

Then, if all else fails, a brand new loo might be quite nice!