To re-install the nut, reverse the steps. Once the whole tank is dry, go for the next step. Metal pliers or wrenches may deform the plastic so you can't use the lock nut again once it is removed. Water shouldn’t come as you have turned it off. Remove faucet nuts with a faucet wrench. Turn off the valve by moving it anticlockwise. Reach inside the toilet and hold the existing fill valve while you put the pliers on the nut holding the fill valve in the toilet tank. Relief Cuts: This method is our “sure-fire” method for removing most stripped bolts and nuts. Tighten the nut. After several frustrating days trying to remove a frozen, plastic basin nut... drilling the plastic nuts on one or each side with a large drill bit, using a cordless drill was actually a snapped! If the toilet tank is not too old, there won’t be any rust. Tap with a hammer. Keep the lock nut in a labeled, organized container. Step 1: Use Some Muscle. Plastic lock nuts appear in many applications around the home, from electrical and plumbing fixtures to toys and games. Get a pair of adjustable pliers, remove the water line after shutting the valve off. 3. Rock the Bolt – This is another one to try early on in the bolt removal process and in conjunction … How to Remove a Plastic Lock Nut Step 1. 1. A spud wrench is a wrench with an adjustable standard box wrench on one end that can be … Grip the … You could also melt the plastic by heating a chisel and then split the nut, but this is unsafe as any of a number of things could happen. Here are the steps to follow –. Tapping With Screwdriver and Hammer. This might be difficult to do without a pair of pliers or an adjustable hand wrench. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These require a special key to unlock require the use of a key to loosen the lock on the end of the lug nut. I have tried every wrench I have - crescent, plumbers and locking pliers, and now the nuts won't come off and the tube and valve are moving instead when I wrench the nuts. Sounds like you dont care about the fixture so try unscrewing the soap dispenser from above using channel locks or a pipe wrench. Now sink one side directly inside the toilet tank and keep another one outside. Follow the process as mentioned above. level 2 (I did first try by hand, but the nuts were tight.) Now fill the hose pipe with water and block both sides with your finger. And, I will also give you some material-specific tips on how to remove such screws from wood, metal, and plastic. Thanks for the terrific idea. Don't twist the screwdriver until the plastic cools....it'll then snap right off. In the toilet of your home, different parts keep everything together. Sometimes, you need a hammer to break the nut. Though it sounds complex, it is actually easy. Try and avoid 12-point wrenches and sockets as they likely to slip and strip the bolt head. This nut can prove difficult to remove, depending on how long the old faucet has been in use. If you don’t want to get wet while changing or removing the plastic nuts from toilet tank, you need to turn off the water supply. Several possible things could happen when the nuts rusted or damaged. Now use the wrench or plier, and you can easily remove the plastic nut. Try a 6-point wrench or socket on your seized nut/bolt. You may also use an adjustable wrench or a spud wrench to remove the nut. Put more pressure and remove the nut. Before you start removing the plastic nuts from toilet tank, make sure the nuts are not rusted. Step 2. These nuts usually hold fixtures and secure the fill valve. In some cases, you will find that toilet leaking at lock nut. If it is becoming loose, you can remove it in this way. Eventually and in an effort to save money, some of the companies started shipping these ballcocks with a white metal nickel composite lock-nut and coupling nut. Locate this nut and use the basin wrench to loosen and unscrew it. Now you are ready to start the removal process. Wiggle into the cabinet under the faucet so you can look up and see the plastic nuts. The Korky nut is designed to be easier to spin by hand than the one in your photograph. But let me tell you, though it is supposed to be easy, a wrong step can damage the whole thing. The nuts came apart in less then a minute. Make sure that the surrounding area is free of any valuable items as the action to strike the motion against the plumbing nut. Heat the tip of an old screwdriver and it'll split the nut when it melts through to the shank. Also, when you clamp the locked nuts in the vice, ONLY clamp the one towards the nut you are trying to remove… If you are going to open and remove the nuts for the first time, it may seem pretty easy. Spin the nut counter-clockwise until it leaves the threads of the bolt. As soon as I started turning it the other way, it spun right on. Craig A. Using the right tools and process, safely remove plastic lock nuts, while keeping them intact for future use. Torches, screw extractors, oil and other tricks to help you free stuck fasteners. 2. If a heating torch is not available, you may try hot water. First of all, you need to find out the location of the nut. Be sure that you are using a good locknut as a replacement, which can ensure longevity. His education includes a Master of Arts in communication, culture and technology from Georgetown University. It mostly happens when the tank is too old and the nuts are rusted. Woods, a professional home improvement expert. Be as gentle as possible. It is used to be in the right above of the coupling connection. You will have to maintain a step by step process to remove the plastic nut from toilet tank. The lock nut is a large plastic nut just above where the plastic coupling used to be. Works great for … 5 Techniques to Remove a Stripped Screw If your screw gets damaged while its head is still sticking out a fair amount, then you can fairly easily remove it with regular pliers or locking pliers (Vise-Grip). Before applying wrench or pliers, apply lubricating oil. Answer + 2. The socket recommendation by Reach4 is an excellent solution. First published in 2000, Lewis Levenberg writes for journals and blogs across the country. Shower Only Has Hot Water – How to Fix It Yourself? How to Remove Plastic Nuts on a Faucet Using a Basin Wrench. Step 3. Remove it from the base and that’s all. One final alternative is using a screwdriver and hammer to break it free. In this article, we are going to discuss each step that you should follow to remove plastic nut toilet tank lever. All you need is a heating torch. Most of the water from the tank will wash away. Wait for a while so that the nut becomes loose. To make sure you hit the nut itself and not the surrounding threads, place a center punch on the nut and strike the punch with a hammer. I was turning the nut counterclockwise from underneath, which was the wrong way to tighten. But, because they are softer than metal, remove them without breaking them in half. A locking nut or screws keeps a faucet firmly attached to the sink. Adjust the measurement of the plier and try to move it counterclockwise. Attempt to turn the nut by hand counterclockwise. Find out the water valve beside the toilet tank. Lock nuts prevent vibration from loosening connections between fasteners. Apply gentle pressure and gradually increase it if the lock nut sticks. It isn’t … How to Remove Stuck Plastic Lock Nut Under Toilet? If there is no rust in the nut, simple pliers or adjustable wrench is good enough to remove it. These tips work on … Use a wire brush to loosen the mineral deposits around the nut. Answered. Plastic bolts wont turn. If the bolt doesn’t … Start with the set of pliers. Set the wrench shape according to the nut size and fix it on the nut. Acid-based cleaner Apply the cleaner with a rag all around the exposed surface of the nut and give it some time to play its part. Then turn the ratchet and it will self-center on the nut. This will start draining water from the tank. Once the water valve is turned off, you need to drain out the water from inside. Heating the Bolt to Loosen It Heat the bolt with a propane torch if it’s still stuck. If the locknut is stuck under toilet, you will have to cut it down. With your hands, pliers or a wrench, twist these counter-clockwise until they release. Spray penetrating lubricant in the threads of the plastic bolt If the nut does not unthread easily. Why Does My Shower Go Cold When I Turn Another Tap On – What to Do? This is only ONE instance of a stuck nut. Try Locking Pliers, Then Cut If enough of the bolt extends past the nut to provide purchase for a set of locking pliers, there's a chance you can hold the bolt steady while you turn the nut with a wrench. want to put on a new toilet seat but can't get bolts to loosen. Wipe off any remaining residues with a rag. It starts breaking down, and water leakage starts from that point. Start by rocking the bolt by tightening then loosing, this may be all you need to break through the rust. The better solution is using heat to melt down the plastic nut. Instead, you need to apply some oil to loosen it for hassle-free removing. Wait at least 5 minutes before trying to unthread the nut from the bolt, allowing the lubricant to work its way into the space between the nut and the bolt. In addition to extensive experience with construction and renovation, he has worked with academic authors on their social media marketing and in retail. Apply the hot directly under the locknut and when it is melting down, stop and remove the locknut. No Hot Water in Shower but Hot Water in Sink – Possible Reasons and Fixing Method, Hot Water Turns Cold After a Few Minutes – Possible Reasons and Fixing Methods. Slide the open end of the faucet wrench over the supply tube and push it up to the faucet nuts. On some locking lug nuts you can hammer on a ⅞ 12 point socket and remove the locking lug bolt instead of using the special key. To remove a stuck faucet nut you need a wrench or locking pliers to break the mineral deposits grip and then turn in the opposite direction. The plastic nibs that prevent the wrench from gripping are there for … That is why people often can’t remove lock nut from toilet. Moving the nut in any direction is progress. http://www.VideoJoeKnows.com The toilet from hell...removing the spud nut could be a tricky proposition, if you're working by yourself. Most of the better companies supplied a brass lock-nut and a brass coupling nut to connect the water supply tube. You may also use a piece of sponge to remove left water. Jarring the nut can break its bond to the bolt. Now, for any reason, if you want to remove the locknuts, you should know how to remove plastic nut from toilet tank. Any of these will safely remove the plastic nut. Most of the time, “stuck fasteners” actually means “stuck nuts and bolts.” But every once in a while, you might have a stripped screw head to deal with. Remove and reattach the ratchet handle as you rotate the nut. Anyways, simple fix, bought a new fill valve, turned off water supply, drained the tank, removed the supply hose, but then I couldn't get the plastic locknut from under the tank. Duh. It could be WD-40 lubricating oil. He regularly shares his tips and tricks in this blog for solving common home improvement works without calling a professional. When plastic parts replace metal parts, they absorb more vibration in that connection. Keep loose hardware from the same project together, so you can find it again when you need it. Though it sounds complex, it is actually easy. For rusted nuts, you can’t follow a general process. Grip the loosened lock nut between your thumb and forefinger, and unscrew it all the way. To drain out the water, do 2 to 3 flush. In the next step, you need to ensure all water is drained and you can now access the plastic nuts. But the cutting with a saw could damage other parts of the toilet tank. At some intermediate level, grab it with locking pliers to unscrew since it does not have much for a wrench to grab might apply, but it might just break anyway. Now move the wrench counterclockwise gently, and it will become loose. From his years of experience, now, he is writing exclusively on iHomePark. Locknuts used to come in plastic material. Cant remove toilet seat. Sheesh. Place the screwdriver against one of the vertical grip lines and tap with a hammer to break free. The only decent rust penetrating "oil" is Kroil. level 1 Remove the lock nut by turning it with your pliers. Use safety gloves and goggles to avoid possible dangers. I found this instruct-able and was severely disappointed. If you are applying heat for removing the nut, we recommend wearing the safety equipment. He has vast expertise in bathroom and kitchen fixtures, plumbing solutions, repairing, DIY, and more. How to Remove Plastic Nut from Toilet Tank – Easy Ways to Follow, Water Level in Toilet Bowl Keeps Dropping – Possible Reasons and Easy Solution, Toilet Flapper Closes Too Soon – Things You Could Do to Solve It, Toilet Leaking Into Basement – How to Fix It in Easy Ways. Before you start removing the plastic nuts from toilet tank, some essential steps need to be taken. So, removing the nut and replacing it with a new one is mandatory. Attach large, slip-joint pliers onto the sides of the locknut. Then try to loosen it using a correctly sized wrench. First of all, emptying the tank is mandatory. If the locknut is stuck under toilet, you will have to cut it down. Just follow the process step by step as described above. If you … This locknut isn't shaped normally so I could just wrench it, but its a thin The toilet is right beside the tub so getting good leverage was hard. A more responsible title would be "Securely holding a threaded rod". When the locknut is rusted, you can’t remove lock nut from toilet tank in a regular process. This could make a huge mess on the floor and can cause stains. As is the case with a nut or bolt, the main technique is to avoid the situation in the first place by using … How to Fix Leaking Shower Without Removing Tiles – A Detail Guide, How to Remove Rusted Toilet Seat Bolts Without Damage – The Easiest Way, Toilet Anchor Bolts Spinning – The Reasons and Easy DIY Fixing Technique, Toilet Bubbling When Washer Drains – Possible Reasons and Easy Solutions, No Hot Water in Shower but Hot Water in Sink – Possible Reasons and Fixing …. To drain out the remaining water, you can use a small hose pipe – maybe a 1 feet hose pipe. Be careful to avoid other plastic parts in the toilet tank. This time I cannot remove the two plastic nuts under the tank, holding the metal intake tube to the tank and the valve. Apply heat. You saved my days! If nothing else you can crack it loose like this. The better solution is using heat to melt down the plastic nut. But the cutting with a saw could damage other parts of the toilet tank. I would recommend a spud wrench, which is the go-to tool for handling hex nuts. Unscrew any fasteners from the bolt on top of the lock nut. Now you know how to remove plastic nut from toilet tank in a simple process. Grip the lock nut in the jaws of pliers or a wrench, and gently turn it counter-clockwise at least one-eighth of a turn. Close-up of the faucet wrench. HOW TO REMOVE A WHEEL LOCK NUT WITHOUT A KEY WHEEL | LOCK BOLT REMOVINGHey guys, if you ever buy a car always check for wheel lock nut and key for those. Unscrew any fasteners from the bolt on top of the lock nut. Because you don’t want to make a mess in the bathroom. Turn the nut counterclockwise. The locknut or plastic at the bottom of the toilet tank could break for some reason. Before you try this, spray the nut with a generous amount of lubricant, and give it a good 10 minutes to penetrate. Now check if any water is coming inside the tank. Turn the nut COUNTERCLOCKWISE, it should come right off. If you do care about it then put a towel around it so you don't scratch it. If the nut is stuck after several attempts, spray it with a … You can still use WD40 or liquid wrench to help loosen the nut. These plastic nuts are strong enough to provide good support. If you check closely the toilet tank, you will find that there are locknuts.