Replacing toilet seat

[Utini]

I'm trying to replace an old top fixing toilet seat, but having issues because our old one has a fitting that seems to be non standard.

It has a knob in the middle that twists to move some hooks underneath to release the old seat, rather than what Google suggests is the standard design with posts that the toilet seat fits onto.

I would just remove the old fitting and replace with a standard one, but the screw on the right is a rusty mess and won't unscrew - it turns but doesn't loosen. I think the thing that the bolt screws into must just itself be turning in the hole.

So does anyone know how I can either

1. Remove this screw or
2. Find a toilet seat that will fit onto the existing fittings?

You need @pigletjohn if this works to tag him!

Can you get a better picture of the inside of the rusty bit please @Utini ?

The hole in the toilet pan is bigger than the bolt that goes through, so somehow, you need to put pressure on the top while undoing the nut from underneath. If you can get some WD40, spray it on the rusty thread to help release it.

If you have one of the old thick rubber bands, try and hook that underneath the rusty screw as it will help it grip.

It will look something like this in cross section.

You're trying to use the rubber band to hold the rusty screw so you can undo the nut.

@HappiestSleeping this is a close up

OK, so if you have a rubber band, see if you can hook it under the screw, otherwise, press down really hard. The nut will undo from underneath. So as long as you can hold the screw steady, you can do what you need to from the nut end.

Do you have screwdrivers and an adjustable spanner?

Thank you but if I'm understanding your post correctly I need to have access to the underneath, which I don't!

Interesting. Hold the line please caller.....

I'm not sure if the tag in this post worked as it's not in bold, so if @pigletjohn has any suggestions that would be much appreciated!

OK, so, there are two holes underneath the plastic bar, each if them has a plastic insert that the screws screw into.

My guess is that one of these may have either been pushed through, or lost its grip.

We need to get it to grip again while you undo the screw from the top, so if you have something flat that you can slide under the plastic bar at that end to apply upward pressure, you might be able to get the plastic insert to hold while you undo the screw.

Do you have the correct screwdriver size?

Slide the knife under the right side where the arrow is and lift.

You need to pull the toilet away from the wall so that you can get to the nuts. Grab the other side with some pliers to stop it spinning, and unscrew from top with a Philips screwdriver. It's a back to wall toilet, so wild punt, it's a flexible pan connector that will concertina out as you pull the pan away from the wall. Like an accordion opening. The toilet may be fixed down though, in which case you'll have to release the fixings into the floor and any into the wall through the cistern.

The easiest way to get that screw off is spray with some penetrating oil, give it half an hour) then hold the bolt/ wing nut underneath with a wrench /spanner. Turn screw with screwdriver. If all else fails get a small hacksaw and cut through.

By the way, I think you will need it out from the wall to fit the new seat anyway. But could be wrong.

Hmm, good idea. I've been trying similar by gripping with pliers and trying to pull upwards while turning, but it's hard to get a good grip for long as the screw head is a bit rounded and there's a washer underneath.

I'll try it your way with a knife and screwdriver. I already sprayed with WD40 a couple of hours ago.

@Elephantswillnever I can't access the underneath though, see photo up thread.

I could possibly try and cut it off but I think I'd have to break the plastic fitting off first as I can't get a saw in there at the moment, and I'm a bit reluctant to do that in case I can't cut it and am stuck with no toilet seat!

@Itradehorses not sure I'm comfortable trying to take the toilet off the wall in case I break something. It shouldn't be this hard!!

From what I've seen you shouldn't need to do this to fit a new one; the top fixing kits have a grippy plastic thing that goes into the hole for the screw to go into, without needing access to the underneath.

@HappiestSleeping this didn't work unfortunately, I got a knife under there and tried upwards pressure but I think the insert is still not gripping in the hole.

I take it no one has seen a seat fixing like this before and knows of a seat that will just fit onto the old fixing? Sadly no brand name on the seat!

Only other suggestion, run a hacksaw blade under the plastic flange to cut through the screws.

We actually have that same toilet seat, with the same mechanism. It was purchased from Screwfix around 8 years ago. It has always struck me as being a great design and I'd replace it with another the same if I could. Unfortunately despite a lot of searching I've never been able to find one.

The only thing wrong with ours is that the rubber seat bumpers are starting to split, and there's zero chance of getting replacements anywhere.

Should the OP ever manage to locate somewhere that sells these seats please let me know!

@Utini Mine is similar to yours, but is wall hung. The seat is attached more like in this youtube video. Definitely do not need to take the pan away from the wall to fit a new seat.

I saw the screw was looking a bit rounded, hence asking whether you had the correct size screwdriver. That looks lok a Phillips and not a pozidrive.

You can buy a brand new loo for £49.

Great - I'll start a new thread and see if anyone knows how to fit a new toilet! Must be easier than this!