How to remove the toilet seat from a Kohler One-piece Model K3434

[@FelixWong_com]

Thank you. The initial 50 seconds of your video provided all the information I required: the direction in which the tabs covering the screw unfold! I had struggled to figure it out on my own, hesitant to risk breaking the tabs, until I eventually came across your video during my KZbin search.

[@jonathanwong603]

Thank god for this video, I am never buying another Kohler product in my life after dealing with this one-piece toilet seat situation. Spent 2 hours trying to go at it with pliers, hack saw ect. THAT WERE ALL IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO BY KOHLER. On top of this, they make you buy an additional kit just to reinstall...... Never again!!!!!!!

[@wyldmansix7]

Thank you for the class on what brand never to buy again. Can't believe kohler engineers designed this stupid idea.

[@FiteenCents]

Thanks for this! You saved me hours of frustration! Totally ridiculous design!

[@spike280]

Thanks for this. I was going to replace my toilet seat since the old one had yellowed a bit. I think i'll just be happy with the slightly yellowed seat. 40Heading to Lowes to return the crispy white seat I bought the other day. I did treat the bolts with wd-40. Maybe I'll try em again in a couple of months. Not feeling lucky.

[@tomsmyth1183]

Thank you! This was pretty challenging. Your video is very helpful. Do you know where to get new screws with anchors?

[@EdDalmasso]

Note that the anchors are metal sleeve type, that it, when you screw in the bolt, it pulls up on a split sleeve which them expands and prevents removal in the lifting direction. However, if you break off the screw head (which I did with visegrips trying to budge it), you can pry off the light duty flange by prying around it with a screwdriver. The you can carefully tap the bolt DOWN into the hole and it will fall in. The anchor design doesn't resist downward movement. Just be careful tapping it down. I used a punch. Good luck!

[@williehuang1853]

Like many comments below, I could not believe it took all of Kohler's engineering brain power to come up with this anchoring system. If it's goal was to frustrate their consumer and devalue the Kohler brand, they've accomplished that to the max. Speaking of Max, as to finally getting the bolts off, I used a Dremel Saw Max. It cut the heads off the bolts in 3 seconds. Make sure you wear safety glasses.

[@lightsourcevideo]

Thank you for this video. It was really helpful in replacing the toilet seat on my San Rafael one piece toilet. I was scared of using a crowbar so I loosened the screws using a 3/8 inch screwdriver with added torque by attaching a vice grip to the square screwdriver shaft. The screws became loose and came up little bit. After that I was able to cut off plastic toilet seat hinge using an oscillating tool. After that I held the screws up with the vice grip and cut off the screw heads using a carbide blade on my oscillating tool. The remaining screws dropped into the body of the toilet. I just used a small screwdriver tip and a hammer to gently chisel away the remnants of the original anchor. After a good clean up I was able to attach the new anchors from the Kohler 84999 Anchor Kit. After that it was breeze to attach a quick release soft closing toilet seat. Be very careful not to damage he the porcelain.

[@scottmagliochetti6263]

Thanks. Been dealing with this POS for years; just mustered up enough patience to attack it again. I'll never buy another Kohler product again. All overpriced junk.

[@emf4kv]

+Scott Magliochetti I wish your experience with this had been better. I have no vested interest in Kohler products, but I know the trouble you went through. I made this video in the hopes that others would be spared that. The only other problem is that the size float that operates the flush valve is too small so it is not buoyant enough to close the valve. I have another video that shows how to fix this. BTW, that temporary fix is now permanent. With that said, though, I have not had any more trouble with that toilet since I made the repairs. So to be fair, I can't say that I have a big problem with the unit. I has been installed since Jan 2000 with no other problems. Thanks for watching.

[@8686joedog]

Whoever designed this should be fired. This happened to me twice. Try to remove the seat and the whole thing just spins. Wish i could punch the guy in the face who thought of this design.

[@hairphlutn_Health]

Where did you get the anchor and screw for this? I went to home depot and the guy there said that they did not carry it.

[@sportykev]

same struggles now. I got as far as destroying the old seat cover. If I cut the bolt head off, is there room for the rest of the bolt to fall into the toilet, never to be seen again? My concerns are if I cut the head, it will linger around the opening, leaving me to curse into the wind.

[@Extatique21]

When you brought out the crowbar I was done. What a stupid ridiculous design. I'd rather buy a new toilet lol THANK you though for this super awesomely helpful video. Wish I saw it before buying this stupid stupid expensive toilet!! +100 good juju on you man, very helpful.

[@carlahlers9454]

Question for you emf4kv: I bought a house with one of these “wonderfully designed” Kohler toilets. One seat anchor screw has the head missing and only about 2.5 mm of the screw is visible. I’ve tried removing it with locking pliers but to no avail. Any suggestions?

[@nyyanks102088]

How did you break off the plastic latches around the bolt?

[@nybiggs]

Somebody answer this question! I can't get mine off to start using the crowbar

[@pbee73]

I was iffy about doing this with a crowbar... If it slips off the wood it will crack the porcelain and then you are buying a new toilet. . I used a pair of vice grips and turned it back and forth in a washing machine motion while pulling upward. I was standing directly above the holes for maximum leverage. They came out pretty fast and not a lot of effort was needed.

[@mdfCats]

Thanks for the tip. After you got the screws out, were the threads in the holes intact? If not, how did you install the new seat?

[@slynch401k]

Thanks. This is the way to go. The bolts are designed so that they WILL NOT screw out. Unloosen until you can get vice grips on it. Gently rock back and forth with an upper motion. Soon you will feel it start to give. Pop it out. If seat still attached, take bolt cutters to bolt. Do in garage as my piece flew across the room and almost broke a mirror. On my way to HD to buy plastic anchors. I'm not paying $40 for 2 bolts to tighten seat after paying $400 for the toilet.

[@moiandmoi3]

For me one bolt just unscrewed and I drilled the anchor out. The anchor spun while trying to drill it, so I just placed a screwdriver between the porcelain and the anchor to prevent that. One bolt was frozen with the anchor so I took a Dremel tool, cut the head off the bolt and then drilled that one out. Both fell into the fixture. I tried to use Well Nuts per someone's suggestion, they did not work as a replacement. I bought a hollow wall anchor setup on Amazon, used the smallest anchors and they worked like a charm. Link: ​@t It took longer trying to figure out what to do than actually doing it. Hope this helps!

[@billstavropoulos9920]

Will never buy another Kohler this video is proof. Will need to show my wife this video of why the seat cannot be tightened or removed with a simple screwdriver.

[@emf4kv]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I am not advocating for or against Kohler in this video, just how to get this task done. That being said, I agree that their designers could have made this thing a little easier on the average do-it-yourselfer. About showing your wife the video, why stop there? Show anyone who will watch **Chuckle** Thanks for watching. Good luck with your toilet if you already have one.

[@Zincink]

I am curious to know how many people have broken seats. I had to buy a new seat as well so I thought it would be wise to look up if anyone had a similar toilet. Thanks for sharing this info. Kohler should send you a paycheck.

[@emf4kv]

LoL! I wish! No, I did this just to help others who were as frustrated as I was in finding information. As for how many are broken, I couldn't even begin to speculate... That being said, if a check showed up tomorrow in the mail, I would not send it back. :)

[@emf4kv]

BTW, I am glad that it helped and thanks for the thought.

[@Zincink]

emf4kv Having the part number in the comments saved me a few hours with the plumber because only one anchor was broken. I believe this happened when the caveman plumber kept tightening the bolt and the threads were not lined up properly...leading to a broken anchor. The new seat feels like really cheap plastic, not very sturdy like the last one.

[@nkstainedwretch]

This method helped with only one of the screws. We had to call in a plumber to get the other out. $100 later, this was accomplished. Damn that Kohler.

[@Zincink]

nkstainedwretch It is so weird that we had the same issue and we also had to call a plumber.

[@jazzisification]

My question is whether you can upgrade the toilet seat to a slow close. Does one have to buy the exact same Kohler seat cover? I suppose Kohler would tell me. Great video as I was puzzled as to why no access to the underside like every other toilet.

[@brianpearl7504]

I used a one sided hack saw, let them drop,and had to drill out the rest. Might want to wrap ends of saw with tape or something to keep from scratching porcelain. Thanks for the video, it let me know what I was up against!

[@joeschmoe2695]

I first tried an 18" crowbar to remove one of my anchors (it was frozen). Couldn't make any headway, so I went out and bought a 36" crowbar. Unfortunately, even with using a piece of plywood as shown, the whole surface of the toilet began to break out around the area of the anchor. I'll now switch to trying to drill out the frozen anchor/screw combo. Moral of story: there is a reason that crowbars are also referred to as "wrecking bars". Unfortunately, I've noticed that the cracks in the surface of the toilet indicate that the ceramic has a crack down back to the water, so the leak means any replacement of the anchor will just rust in the standing water anyway. So, another Kohler toilet must be ordered. ouch....

[@ramonagudelo1888]

Thank You I had the same problem and I did touch it , for a costumer no way I do not want to break it

[@Dancer3534]

Thanks for making the video it was a big help. Like others have said, what a poor design. I was not able to use plywood I had available as It could not get the claw of the screw head so I just used a heavy towel and it worked like a charm. Not all that happy about having to pay $40+ for the Anochors and installation kit either.

[@cineguy27]

Thanks! How do I get replacement hardware?

[@emf4kv]

You can get them from a local plumbing supply or from kohler direct. The toilet seat part # depends on whether you have a round or elongated toilet. The hardware is the same either way. It is part # 84999. It is one part number, but is really an installation kit with tools and all. The video after this one goes over the installation.

[@cineguy27]

emf4kv Thanks. Very helpful.

[@jonoprasad]

Thanks for this video brother. I JUST finished removing the old cracked seat and yes...I had to use the crowbar and wood method shown in this video. Here's the thing - I purchased the new seat (also Kohler) which didn't come with the anchors necessary for the installation. Attention Kohler - I know you make toilets, but that doesn't mean you need to make a sh*tty product! Get your heads out of your a55es!

[@user-mq5ih7tl4s]

I'm curious: does Kohler recommend this method?

[@emf4kv]

They are the ones who suggested it to me on the phone when I was at my wits' end and decided to call. They provide tools for removal with the replacement kit, but once a corroded anchor fails, they are useless. I neither encourage nor discourage anyone from doing this. I just posted the video because it was the only way I could do it. The porcelain is very fragile so be extremely careful. I do not take responsibility for any broken fixtures.

[@cynthiazhang3041]

Thanks for your video. Do you have Kohler phone number to call them get tools to remove the screw? I had new toilet and I can not find the tool. Thanks. Cynthia

[@michiganserb]

All I can say is Thank You!!! Worked Great Me!!

[@emf4kv]

+michiganserb You are very welcome. I am glad it helped!!!

[@steveeilenberg7806]

Wanted to change out seat to a quiet close. Should take about 5 minutes, right? This one piece kohler is unforgiving. Anchors were lose but not coming out. I could not install the new seat! Searched KZbin and found this video. Was dubious when the crow bar came out. Thought for sure I was going to break the toilet. Considered bolt cutters and drill but settled for a beefy paint stir stick and a pry bar. It took a bit of force and multiple yanks but the anchors broke before the porcelain. Pulled out cleanly with broken anchors. Both came out the same way. Cleaned up, set in new anchors (follow directions carefully as they needed quite a bit of tightening to set them in firmly. Consider protecting the porcelain with construction tape to keep scratching to a minimum when doing this violent repair.

[@DrDayG]

Yo man, just like the rest of these comments, ty. I finally got the screwss out. Do I need a new screw, or can I use the old one

[@emf4kv]

Unfortunately, you need to buy new ones. The whole thing comes in a kit. I don't like that I have to buy all that for the two screws and anchors, but it is the only way Kohler sells it.

[@DrDayG]

emf4kv Yeah Thanks. I eventually bought it at a local plumbing and now its all good. Great Job

[@conniemiller9814]

Thank you! I have this same annoying toilet and problem

[@ckaufmancpa]

Better than a crowbar:: Bolt cutters. I used a 24" pair 1/2 the time they pop out the old anchor. Else they cut off the bolt head. Push the bolt and 1/2 broken anchor into the toilet body. Follow with 11/32 drill to remove top 1/2 of anchor. Painless !!

[@emf4kv]

That's pretty clever. I wouldn't have thought of it. Even if I had, I would have been too scared to scratch the porcelain.

[@FibrenewManhattanCentral]

Like some of the other commenters, I was put off by the brute force of a crow bar on porcelain. In college we called this sort of repair "the monkey method," which is how a monkey would do the repair...beat it with a hammer until it works or breaks. Not wanting to have to buy a new toilet, I went with a slightly less interventionist approach. I used my new oscillating multi tool to cut most of the way through the bolt, then vice grips to wrestle it back and forth until it broke. The bottoms fell into the void and the inserts came out with a little wriggling. You probably could wrestle the bolt back and forth with the vice grips, without the oscillating tool, until the bolt breaks, but I'm looking for uses for the new tool!

[@glazedfaith]

This is genius. Thanks for posting this comment four years ago, I'm going to give it a try.

[@taxisteve929]

Using a crowbar scares the heck out of me....can you cut the screws and let them fall inside?? Crack the porcelain and you're screwed.....why would the company make a toilet that you can't change the seat without risking cracking the freaking bowl!! What a F'd up POS!!! I have to do this at my sister's to save money on a plumber and now I'm a nervous wreck I'll break the damn bowl.

[@gjurczyc]

drill the screws out Then the anchors.

[@Dancer3534]

I just did this with my Kohler 3434 toilet. What a terrible design! I first tried using a claw hammer, no love, could not budge them at all. Then went for the big boy a 3' crowbar. I could not get the claw under the screw head using a piece of plywood as a protector so just used a thick towel. A couple of jerks and the inset and screws came right out! Now I get to spend almost $40 for new om=nes from Kohler that must cost them all of 10 cents apiece.

[@lexdunmon7345]

I've had good results by spraying liberal amounts of seafoam deep creep DC-14 into the screw head recess, & allowing it to soak/penetrate overnight . it took roughly 3 applications before the one screw, & the other anchor would budge. according to a magnet, the screws appear to be stainless steel, although a very poor grade (IE the ease of stripping the head). presumably the anchors are not, hence the reaction of dissimilar metals creating a toilet seat removal nightmare scenario.

[@acl1997]

I followed your crowbar method and it worked. Yes, I also sprayed lots of WD40 in between pulls. It took many tries and lots of dirt came out but the screws came out. Thanks for the video. The design is very stupid, like many have commented but the old seat and hinges lasted 20 years.

[@TheDlovesd]

thanks for the video, the Kohler toilet seat is really poorly designed, and expensive too if anyone wanna change their toilet set, not recommend this brand....

[@grilledflatbread4692]

The person who designed this stupid Kohler should be forced to maintain them. The bolts are inside the toilet tank where they get rusty and there's no room to access them.

[@jurgenplitt7597]

Worked for me. Thanks!!!

[@emf4kv]

I'm glad. You're very welcome.

[@margaretwardlow5500]

Ok, I am attempting to (WAS) attempting to install a bidet toilet seat on one of these toilets & ran into this miserable problem! My Husband deals with these toilets & is threatening me not to attempt this procedure in order to get new seat on. I’m pissed! I do all the handiwork around the house & I don’t know what I should do at this point!

[@artdirector7174]

I just bought a bidet and run into the same problem. May I ask how did you solve it?

[@hermanpepper3623]

AWESOME!

[@IAM-hs1yg]

thank you for sharing

[@tomking1890]

That cancels the one piece toilet I ordered

[@TMOWLAVI]

Thank you for this video.....

[@emf4kv]

You are very welcome. I hope it helped you.

[@RoadsterLove]

I’ve been battling 30 mins how to remove those stupid bolts haha unbelievable

[@DOUGPAT1000]

Thanks for the video, but what a piece off junk!

[@kendranobiz630]

Thank you!

[@emf4kv]

I hope it helped.

[@saysayoh]

There is info on the web about using regular #10 drywall anchors instead of their ripoff 45 dollar kit. I have a dream of thousands of owners who got stuck with this p.o.s taking them and piling them up on some kohler executives lawn.

[@jonmcgrath1499]

Thanks

[@kvn95240]

Thanks!!!!

[@romari2706]

You can use the claw of a hammer to pull out the bolt, washer, and the aluminum expansion bolt outnof the hole. Kohler’s expansion bolt breaks in half when you unscres the bolt, trapping the bolt in the hole. So you have to pull out the entire assembly and teplace it to adjust or fix it. This very poor design. An alternative is to use a #10 expansion nut and #10 bolt from the hardware store. They probably won’t break when you unscrew them like the Kohler counterparts.

[@margaretwardlow5500]

Guess I should just get washer that works with these stupid bolts & holds bidet seat securely rather than crow bar it!

[@plexipoles4136]

I have two of these toilet. I sent for the removal kit to and it didnt work . The screw is turning the whole thing. I hired a plumber who tried to drill them out but even with the kit holding the anchor the thing was spinning. I have been on the phone with Kohler several times and the same thing. I can not even get a plumber to deal with this. So i am appreciative of this video. I already screwed on bolt out on my own and now i have a wedged in Anchor with a screw with no head still stuck in there. I am very sorry I bought these toilets. VEry very poor design. Should only use plastic bolts. Kohler is not help or warrantee after one year but it takes longer than that for the screw to corrode and they do corrode. I have had two broken toilet seats now for months. So my advice. Dont buy an one piece toilet. Now i have to search You tube to find how to get the one out that i drilled. BUt will try the crow bar next. If anything i can bash in the darn things with the crowbar afterwards. Kohler has this video they recommend but it doesnt show anything.. Frustrated.....

[@冯俊-k3q]

FUCK I GOT THE SAME ISSUE.

[@lexdunmon7345]

kohler, making garbage products since 1873; I have no idea how this company stays in business.

[@larrysizer6712]

Stupidest design！