Replacing a toilet seat with no access beneath the bowl

[Fozzie Bear]

I can’t see the second picture but have a toilet seat a bit like that maybe. Don’t attack it.

ETA - just swiped and saw the second photo. We need to see under the whole lot like I posted I think?

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Press the small rectangular metal bit If you have one?

 

[existentialist]

I can’t see the second picture but have a toilet seat a bit like that maybe. Don’t attack it.

If you hover over the pic, you'll get arrows to click to switch photos.

 

[existentialist]

Press the small rectangular metal bit If you have one?
View attachment 271098

When you can see the second pic, you'll see it's the old-school thing - no release levers or soft-close.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

When you can see the second pic, you'll see it's the old-school thing - no release levers or soft-close.

Ah yeah I just did that. Hmmm.

I assume there must be a non-violent and low cost solution to this.

 

[existentialist]

Ah yeah I just did that. Hmmm.

I assume there must be a non-violent and low cost solution to this.

I'd like to see a photo of one of those hinge attachments from a vantage point a little nearer the cistern. I'm pretty sure there's going to be a nice countersunk Pozidriv head sitting there.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

I'd like to see a photo of one of those hinge attachments from a vantage point a little nearer the cistern. I'm pretty sure there's going to be a nice countersunk Pozidriv head sitting there.

No such luck, there's nothing apart from the cover.

 

[existentialist]

No such luck, there's nothing apart from the cover.

Using that ubiquitious screwdriver, have a go at gently trying to lever up one of those plates. ISTR that my last bog seat had little thin metal plates that went over the castings doing the heavy lifting.

Another option might be to unscrew the seat and lid from the hinges, and see whether that reveals anything of interest. You may even be able to rotate each hinge plate to unscrew it...but don't apply too much force, in case it's somehow positively located into the pan. Pan breakage would be a serious and pricey PITA.

 

[existentialist]

Ah. In doing some research, I discover that it is not unheard-of for a plumber to fit a toilet seat, then install the toilet. So the worst-case scenario is that there ARE wingnuts available underneath the pan, but they're going to be impossible to reach.

Which probably means drilling out the hinge plates (work out where you think the centre of the bolt is likely to be), and start with a 2mm drill. Assuming you've aimed correctly, and you're drilling down into the bolt, go up a couple of drill sizes, and repeat. You may want to correct off-positioning by angling subsequent drillings - eventually, you'll remove enough of the bolt that the wingnuts will drop off behind the pan, and you'll be good to go.

To avoid future problems, get a "top fix" seat to replace it. Or, if you've already got the seat, Google for "top fix securing bungs", to get something like this:

 

[wtfftw]

Toilet seat tool?

Type

the"new" Universal Rela Toilet Seat Installation wrench with longer Application possibilities: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

the"new" Universal Rela Toilet Seat Installation wrench with longer Application possibilities: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Ah. In doing some research, I discover that it is not unheard-of for a plumber to fit a toilet seat, then install the toilet. So the worst-case scenario is that there ARE wingnuts available underneath the pan, but they're going to be impossible to reach.

This does seem to be the case. I unscrewed the seat and lid to get at the hinges, then when I tried rotating them, one of them sheared off completely leaving nothing but a pile of rust and the bent metal plate that the central bolt it still connected to. I can't lever them off with brute force, so I think trying to drill out the bolt is the only option.

I suspect this installation may be the work of the previous owner, since we've had to work around quite a few of his bodged jobs in the past.

 

[TopCat]

Buy a new loo seat. It comes with the required magic spanner.

 

[JimW]

Light a candle to St Rita of Cascia, among the various impossible causes she aids, tricky plumbing conundrums count as small beer.

 

[mauvais]

I reckon existentialist will be right and you need to get off the chrome covers somehow to reveal a screw. I've been stumped by this before.

Take some more photos.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Final update: There were no hidden screws or tools needed. As existentialist guessed, the seat had been fitted (with a bolt and wingnuts below) before the toilet was installed. However, when I had removed the actual seat and lid, the rest of the stuff was so corroded that I was able to wiggle it about until it snapped and the bolt fell through into the void below.

So, apart from showering myself in 20 years of piss-corroded rust, I have successfully removed the old seat, and ordered a new one with top fixings that is coming tomorrow.

 

[Chilli.s]

Abandon the loo seat altogether. Tell your family that it was an outdated unnecessary luxury and not replacing it saves the planet.

 

[Pickman's model]

Abandon the loo seat altogether. Tell your family that it was an outdated unnecessary luxury and not replacing it saves the planet.

Teuchter will be apoplectic