Loosen Frozen Rusted Stuck Toilet Tank Bolts

An alternate method to try for removing tank bolts when the nuts are so corroded, they're stuck.

[@toyletvowl]

it's easier said than done, it's hard to put those pliers when you have limited space

[@roderickyoung1243]

So true! Having a socket that fits the bottom nut, and/or a smaller crescent wrench might help. Absolute worst case (be ready for water splash), take the whole toilet out, bowl and tank together, then they can be separated. I once lived in a place where the toilet space was so tight, a heavier person probably couldn't get in there to sit down. I feel your pain.

[@alexazam6057]

Very thankful for this video! Had some stuck toilet seat nuts and no room to manoeuvre. But managed to take this method and apply it to my situation, worked a treat. Thank you!

[@roderickyoung1243]

Glad it worked for you. It's lucky that the seat bolts were long enough. Nowadays, I just use cheap plastic seat bolts, which never corrode. I don't feel bad about plastic, because if seat bolts break, nothing leaks.

[@bobbystruggle3658]

As a Toolmaker I gotta say good video because this works on so many different types of frozen/rusted bolts. This trick was taught to me when I was an apprentice 27 years ago lol, thank you for putting it out there for everyone.

[@MTheaded123]

Brilliant advice that works like a charm. I struggled with rusted bolts for an hour or more before looking for a video. After watching, the bolts were removed in less than 10 mins. Thank you!

[@FactoryOne]

You saved me today my man! I was at my sister-in-law’s house and her guest toilet was broken and she had next to no tools AND it was Easter so nothing was open. The channel locks did the trick! Thank you so much for the idea!

[@surazgrg]

I am in the verge of breaking my toilet tank in rage but now I gotta try this..glad I came across this .hope it works. 😊

[@OldRoderickYoung]

I hope it worked. I've been there, too - working in a cramped, hot, humid space, and the ***** thing just won't come off... 💅

[@surazgrg]

@@OldRoderickYoung Many thanks to you. It worked!!! 😁

[@MrMike4833]

I have done this for other bolts that were stuck in other scenarios, Didn't even think to apply it to this one until I saw you point it out, Sometimes when there is too much going on, and, it takes away from your basic thought process... thank you, thank you, thank you..

[@footballkid595]

Great advice. Also saved us when we had tried several other methods and too much time!

[@trrider53]

Thank you! The double nut solution worked great. Struggled for at least an hour before finding this solution.

[@dfberry]

VERY clever -- and, unlike using the vise grip, you don't have to worry about damaging the bolt threads! Perfect!

[@mbking665]

Thank you soooo much.... I was about to go insane because I couldn't break them free.

[@jeremymccall8284]

Once I was able to get a good grip on my pliers and ratchet it worked like a dream ….. so happy I came across this video

[@livinginvancouverbc2247]

The double nut and washer trick 100% worked for me after HOURS of frustration! Thank you! I had to go out and buy a 1/2" crescent wrench as my adjustable wrench had too much play in the jaws and kept slipping. You don't appreciate how much work a toilet does for you until it stops working.

[@OldRoderickYoung]

Glad to hear you got it fixed. If you have a ratcheting socket set, sometimes that works well on the bottom nut, too.

[@Ojeramup12]

I learn something new everyday, thanks.

[@danigomez1867]

damn, Mr. that was a really good explanation, thank you so much you one of the biggers

[@danielleewertz8134]

Thank you! This 100% worked and only took about 5 minutes.

[@thatgirl2613]

Thank you thank you thank you. You are the only one that had a solution other than destroying the seat. I cant destroy this seat because it is a raised seat for handicapped. Brilliant!!

[@aszabo80]

Thank you sir! This method let me unstick a very stubborn bolt.

[@draganradakovic]

This is, in my opinion, the best advice so far. Thank you so much!

[@willow2670]

The best advice I have had in years. Thank you very much

[@jamtiludrop]

Brilliant. Much better than the vicegrip idea.

[@jimi1999uk]

That worked a dream after 2 stressful days of trying. Thank you so much.

[@NOTSoGoodHikers]

Great advice... Thank You! Was about to cut off the bolt with a hacksaw blade! Your method worked like a charm.

[@cpm9747]

Best trick I've seen. Thank you! Wish me luck.

[@ssp67x1]

Your idea worked like a charm. Saved me the pain of trying to cut them which I wouldn't know how to start. Thanks!

[@jackpptx]

This is great trick and solved my problem completely! Thank you so much!

[@davidnsummer]

Thank you, this was the fix I needed after trying MANY.

[@agostinodibella9939]

That’s a great idea. Whenever I put on new toilet bolts now I use some anti seize on the threads to make removal easier.

[@HauntedHorizons-E1b3ron]

that is fine if you can get a bolt on the shaft of the screw if the screw is long, however if the toilet is old more than likely they will have used shorter screws! Nice video either way!

[@roderickyoung1243]

Good point. To be honest, I haven't worked with a toilet so old that it had short bolts.

[@jayson.m101]

Thank you sir. This method saved me alot of time and appreciate you sharing this. I was trying wd40 and heating up that nut under the toilet nothing because it kept spinning. 😅

[@roderickyoung1243]

Glad it worked out for you. 😀

[@matthewdavisson]

This is the only video I found that actually helped. Thank you!

[@dennishahn9969]

I tried your technique…. Absolutely wonderful. It worked easily. (I had sprayed some Knock’er Loose on the bolt and nut, which may have helped). Thank you very much for posting your video!

[@MrSpringfield01]

Vice grips worked on one side but the other side was more stubborn. Sprayed some "Nut Blaster" on the bad side and gave it a few minutes to soak in, worked then. Thanks for the video

[@roderickyoung1243]

Hey, whatever works! Glad the vice grip and penetrating oil did it for you. That may be a better solution in the general case. Toilet bolts are long, allowing this technique, but most bolts don't have extra length.

[@SP-ok4yk]

This is absolutely brilliant!! Thank you!!

[@brownpride5125]

I love it thank you very smart 🙏

[@ericcera2245]

THANK YOU for the tip!

[@chotunab]

Excellent idea🥰

[@daphnekite578]

Thanks Rod, great video .

[@TheBootyWrangler]

What works for me is spraying a bit of break free mil spec CLP into the bolt. Wait a few mins and spray some more. Maybe get into the threads at the nut with a wire brush. Then it usually comes off real easy.

[@dinosaurdino]

I’m in this exact situation right now and I was stumped! THANK YOU!

[@eric22567]

Hope your idea works, let me get down to the hardware shop on Monday morning, thanks for the video

[@OldRoderickYoung]

Good luck!

[@ednasalga]

This is the smart way how to do it. Thank you for sharing. 😉

[@user-ih3yw8te4l]

Dude, You have helped so much, Thank You!!!

[@Metis1971]

So freaking clever! Thank you!

[@jowilson5745]

You are brilliant! Thank you so much.

[@rodneyfluck6581]

Thanks for this Worked EXACTLY as you described

[@AZ_sunshine]

excellent, bravo! I subscribed hoping the rest of your videos are as informative.

[@vtcx]

Worked like a charm!

[@sallymacl9279]

Great advice for me little too late, but for next time, Thank you very much- smart men!!

[@ricky1a88]

Great video

[@gangaacharya4329]

Thank you for sharing, solved my problem!

[@steveleonard9083]

Worked for me, thank you

[@marcia7182]

Thank you very much....solved a difficult problem very quickly...thanks!!!

[@wallys11000]

I have a frozen nut but the screw is part of the handle so I can't use this great technique. I've worn the nut smooth trying to get it off. Looks like a hack saw may be in order. For now I pull the chain myself. ha

[@garrygemmell5676]

Clever alternative thinking!

[@bernardandnicolemalone6222]

Thank you

[@GLuft3]

Thank you. This worked like a charm!!

[@BadDogMax]

What a great idea! It worked as described....Thank You. 👍👍👍

[@dutay1]

Thanks dad

[@jjsmnow]

You sir have ritcial logical thinking, but most younger people today do not. So they will spend $100 s on a plumber. Not critcial logical thinking, can be costly. Thank You for the tip,

[@bradywebster8772]

nice tip!! But...a sawsall with a hacksaw blade is MUCH EASIER and FASTER! I can cut all three bolts off in 2 mins!

[@roderickyoung1243]

That would do it! And that would especially be the way to go with easy access to the bolts, and/or with multiple toilets. Do what is easiest, I say.

[@keithnichols1366]

Thank you very much i would normally cut it off but i coulsnt get it to move the get a hack saw blade i between the tank and nut , hope it works

[@paulnkoana7350]

Not all heroes wear capes

[@nrb1212]

Very smart; thank you!

[@irinamia9477]

Genius! Thank you!

[@brianvera3563]

Saved me a lot of work, thank you!

[@martinleger3435]

Thanks, it worked and saved me an hour of work :)

[@alex0r8]

This works!!!! Thank you!!!

[@OldRoderickYoung]

Glad to hear that. What I need is somebody to make a snappy TikTok about this tip. I don't care about getting credit, but I'm old school, and only do KZbin.

[@heathervona1780]

Thank you ❤

[@roderickyoung1243]

It's my genuine pleasure.

[@ethoface9410]

Good tip, cheers

[@mahmoudbakr2124]

Semple idea but it's amazing. We'll done 👌👌

[@ddsbyday]

Thank you!!

[@OldRoderickYoung]

Literally my pleasure!

[@NatureNymphLLC]

I've spent days tried to get a rusted bolt out, and spent about $100 on various tools. Zero luck. So I will be trying this tomorrow. But truthfully, I'm not understanding what's happening here. Can the same thing be accomplished with just one bolt on the end and without the second bolt and washer, or are they somehow imperative to the procedure? Thx.

[@stephenwaters3989]

great idea!

[@RiverRebelsLLC]

Dude, perfect!

[@stevewilson6957]

Good video. But I found an easier way. As soon as I touched the nut on the bolt, the outside just disintegrated into rust, so this well made video just didn't help. The inside of the nut stayed frozen onto the bolt. So I got a good Dremel, used a cutoff disc - (actually 3 of them) and cut the head off of the bolt inside the tank. Then I just pushed the rest through to the floor, installed the new bolt, washers and nuts and called it a day. Total time - 15 minutes.

[@samsalado5957]

You the best thank you

[@trinnathompson8544]

Thank you!

[@edkay3601]

Good idea! Thanks

[@mtmauri]

Easy when you don’t got to get down into a tight spot

[@OldRoderickYoung]

I hear you. Everything is harder when it's a tight space, and in the worst case, the two choices might be to remove the whole toilet first, or cut the bolt with a hacksaw. But before running to that, it's worth seeing if you can fit a small pliers to grab the wing nut, and maybe use a ratcheting socket wrench on the bottom nut.

[@jimhartt4129]

Awesome. Tyvm!!!!

[@stasiawierzbicki2679]

Do you really need that washer? Don't the two nuts on their own work as well?

[@lourdeslomeli824]

Amazing it worked

[@TheSujaita]

It's in Ur hand my seat is stuck and there isn't enough place to do all this stuff

[@AzianAssazin69]

I tried this method. The nuts ended up walking up the bolt...im still stuck and i have no room to saw off the bolt.

[@roderickyoung1243]

Oh no! The only time this happened to me was when I didn't put the washer between the nuts. Maybe you could try a pliers or wrench on the bottom nut, and unscrew it? After that, the other nut should come off, and at that point, you could saw?

[@olivierherlin6373]

better than wrecking everything!

[@hpblack1953]

Yeah, a jam-nut.

[@amygeehuggs]

Took a little persuasion but this helped!

[@OldRoderickYoung]

I'm glad it worked! When this way doesn't work, there's the old fallback of cutting the bolts with a hacksaw blade. Eventually, that always works.

[@James-P96]

How to do it when its in the toilet rusted shut not having enough access hack saw job

[@bobby5634]

Get the plumber out mate🤣👍

[@James-P96]

@@bobby5634 haha It works but fuck plumbers its simple work must be a pleb to have to ring a plumber 😂

[@ericwilliams1124]

What about for plastic bolts?

[@roderickyoung1243]

I've never seen plastic used for tank bolts - maybe metal is needed for enough strength to create a waterright seal with the heavy tank? But I suppose the same trick might work. If you mean the seat bolts, I haven't seen those seize up in the same way, since they can't corrode. Usually, I can put a screwdriver (or a coin, for that matter) in the slot of the bolt, hold the nut underneath by hand, and turn the bolt.

[@david_4739]

These jobs were sent by the devil to bring us down - be strong brothers! 🙏🍻

[@roderickyoung1243]

Or perhaps trials are sent by the Lord to strengthen us? I'm with you on not giving up, though. The difference between average and master is only about 10% more persistence.

[@david_4739]

@@roderickyoung1243 I hope not - I don't think the Lord would approve of the language I was using just now! 🤣

[@psiklops71]

i just looked at me tank blots from inside they disintegrated my toilet was installed last winter

[@OldRoderickYoung]

Wow, I've never seen that happen, not after just a few months. Tank bolts are usually brass or stainless. I've seen the floor bolts corrode, but those were steel bolts, when there were young boys in the house (they miss and get it all over the floor).

[@psiklops71]

@@OldRoderickYoung my water smells like a swimming pool will get brass screws