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?

Can you get any purchase under the end or the corner of that plastic oblong? If you can, see if you can drive a couple of things in (something as wedge shaped as you can find), and keep trying.

Also, put the rubber band between the screw head and the screwdriver (assuming you have a rubber band), as that will counter the fact that the screw head is damaged.

I can't see how to do it, but taking the WC out of position should let you get at the fixings behind the shroud. If you can illuminate the holes it may photograph better.

Luckily your WC is not hidden in the wall and tiled over, which makes everything more difficult.

I expect the cistern has two screws into the wall, and the pan has two screws into the floor. If you undo those, and cut any silicone sealant gluing it in place, the WC should pull forward and the spigot should pull off the soil pipe socket. It is a push fitting into a rubber connector (or a plastic connector with a rubber sealing ring). There may be a residue of detritus. You will need rubber gloves, a bucket of hot water with household cleaner, a green nylon scourer, and some sponges to clean up all the mating parts before reassembly, and some white silicone plumbers grease to lubricate the rubber. I prefer to use stainless screws with rubber washers under the heads to reduce the risk of cracking the porcelain. Hex headed screws that fit a spanner are less likely to get damaged than slotted screws.

Try to avoid taking the cistern off the pan, if you do you will need at least a new rubber doughnut and preferably a cisrern coupling kit (ideally with stainless coach bolts and nuts). Always grease stainless as it can seize.

Do you have another WC in the house? Once you have taken it off you may find you need extra parts or tools.

@Borborygmus I've also searched for ages and can't find one the same unfortunately.

When your attached yours, do you know if it was top fixing, rather than having to attach a wing nut underneath?

I've bought a replacement that is top fixing, as I assumed that this must be what I need given that the underside of the fixing is inaccessible on my toilet, but a couple of other posters have suggested I might need to actually move the toilet to access the fixing.

I was thinking I'd just buy a hacksaw and cut off the bolt, but I don't want to do this and then find my new top fixing seat won't fit!

@PigletJohn do you think moving the toilet is necessary? Seems like a terrible design if so - I'd assumed that a new seat would be top fixing like in this video:

I took out the screw that isn't rusted, definitely top fixing so I don't need to move the toilet, phew!

Plan is to try and cut off the rusted one when Amazon delivers my hacksaw tomorrow.

All sorted, no saw even needed! I broke off the plastic thing on top and found the plastic bung in the other hole was partly pushed in. Tried to lever it out but it fell through instead. Leaving me two holes to attach my new top fixing toilet seat.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help!

Mine is bottom fixing, and has wingnuts underneath. However I have a very vague (and possibly wrong!) recollection that it came with both sorts of fitting, so you could use whichever was most convenient.

Surely the whole point of top fixing is for when you don't have access to the underside?

That bung is the insert I mentioned. Glad you are all sorted 👍

Came back to see if it was done. It's one of those things a DIYer that takes ages to work out first time, but will take 30 seconds next time. Guessing the new seat is on?

I'm off work today and bored, which is allowing time for me to over invest in your toilet seat 😂. It's important stuff!!!