Toilet Seat Bolts?

[lbperry]

This is a very trivial problem in the big picture of life but it's been bugging the snot out of me so I'll ask it anyway.
I have a fairly good quality but typical toilet and toilet seat with typical plastic mounting bolts. Problem is, I can't keep the plastic toilet seat bolts tight. For a long time I tightened them by hand and they almost immediately started loosened. The last time I brought in a deep socket and tightened them as much as I dared. In 2-3 weeks they're getting loose again.
I thought about using Blue Locktite, but with my luck the Locktite would dissolve the plastic bolts. Has anybody got a fix for this problem? Would coating the threads with silicone sealer keep the nut from loosening. They make metal bolts but tightening metal bolts in a piece of porcelain seems a little chancy.
Anybody got any good suggestions?
Thanks,

 

[dadsEH]

Use washers with rubber faces against the porcelain....holds clamp pressure and stops movement.

 

[rlitman]

Use washers with rubber faces against the porcelain....holds clamp pressure and stops movement.

This. But first clean the surface until it is "squeaky". Make sure you finish with a cleaner that leaves no residue, as soap is slippery.

 

[Kaizen]

Thread or plumbing tape on the threads. Plastic is the problem. Constant movement of use on those fisher price bolts. You can use metal with washers and lock nut just don't be dumb


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[jd_1138]

Our toilet seat came with the plastic bolts with a sort of built in washer. They hold extremely well -- haven't loosened at all in over a year. They have built in wings, so you just stick a slotted screw driver up top to hold them in place and then tighten the bolts by hand at the bottom.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Take the seat off and wrap the porcelain bowl with Saran Wrap. Wait for someone to use the toilet. Try to look surprised..
Do you have enough extra thread to double nut?

 

[kwschumm]

It's really irritating that they cast toilets with oversize oval shaped holes and then expect a round seat bolt to hold the seat in location. Just plain stupid. That said, the above suggestion to use rubber washers helps but, in my experience, the seat always ends up sliding around a bit anyway. What I did was cut/sand some scrap corian solid surface material into oval shapes and drill a hole in the center, then use that as an insert to create a round bolt hole out of an oval shaped toilet hole. Some widget manufacturer could probably sell millions of 'em.

 

[oldmxracer]

I have seen the cone shaped washers installed in the wrong direction ! It will always wiggle loose.

 

[like2wheel]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Eastwood/352/14013/10002/-1

 

[yhprum]

Buy two sets of nuts and bolts. Use two nuts, one tightend over the first one to lock it.

 

[ducksface]

My wife stretches out about two toilet seats a year.
Maybe those bolt holes weren't elongated when you bought the toilet....

 

[steve308]

I just changed the plastic to stainless along with a rubber washer.

 

[bczygan]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Eastwood/352/14013/10002/-1

Excellent GJ overkill!

 

[Northislander]

It's really irritating that they cast toilets with oversize oval shaped holes and then expect a round seat bolt to hold the seat in location. Just plain stupid. That said, the above suggestion to use rubber washers helps but, in my experience, the seat always ends up sliding around a bit anyway. What I did was cut/sand some scrap corian solid surface material into oval shapes and drill a hole in the center, then use that as an insert to create a round bolt hole out of an oval shaped toilet hole. Some widget manufacturer could probably sell millions of 'em.

And my wife says i'm **** on details

 

[finn]

I suspect the plastic bolts are creeping (stretching) and losing clamp load.

Try a bolt (from a different manufacturer) with a higher tensile strength.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The plastic bolts stretch. No amount of double nuts or rubber gaskets will change that. The fix is get metal seat bolts.

Tommy

 

[PassnThru]

Every seat I've bought for years had plastic bolts - no problems with any of them.

Are you practicing your dance moves sitting down?

 

[captaindiode]

I bought a new seat with bolts that you tighten until the end of the nut snaps off. So far it is the only one that has stayed tight. You can buy just a bolt kit, I think they are called STA-TITE. The seat I got was a Church brand.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Remove the seat and go commando on the Cold porcelain. You will have a seat to make one of these for the shop.
I was at a local plumbing store and they offered brass fasteners foe seats.

 

[Ehcrain]

Maybe try this?

Just-Lift Elongated Closed Front Toilet Seat in White

http://thd.co/1LSl8NK

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[Hawk]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9WJTK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Inserts to help with your problem.

 

[6PTsocket]

It's really irritating that they cast toilets with oversize oval shaped holes and then expect a round seat bolt to hold the seat in location. Just plain stupid. That said, the above suggestion to use rubber washers helps but, in my experience, the seat always ends up sliding around a bit anyway. What I did was cut/sand some scrap corian solid surface material into oval shapes and drill a hole in the center, then use that as an insert to create a round bolt hole out of an oval shaped toilet hole. Some widget manufacturer could probably sell millions of 'em.

The last seat I bought had conical fittings that self centered in those over sized holes.


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[6PTsocket]

I bought a new seat with bolts that you tighten until the end of the nut snaps off. So far it is the only one that has stayed tight. You can buy just a bolt kit, I think they are called STA-TITE. The seat I got was a Church brand.

I have the same thing. Those nuts are clever. The break at just the right tightness, snug, without cracking the bowl. It also had the self centering cones. It is the only seat that never loosened up. The one I got was rated hospitality grade (motel, restaurant,etc.) It does not look commercial, but is a good solidly made seat with no slop. As a way to deal with plastic screws, nylock nuts work pretty well. They do not depend on being snugged down to prevent loosening.

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[lbperry]

Lot of good ideas here. I'll try one or more of them. Let ya'll know the results.
Thanks for all the replies,

 

[gungatim]

they loosen because the seat slides around under your ****. clean the porcelain and use the double stick tape most seats come with and stick it down good so it doesn't wiggle, then tighten them up. every seat I've seen that loosened up was because the hinge slides around on the slick porcelain. most seats now come with sticky tape on them, but old school was to use some plumbers putty under there. you could also get brass bolts they sell separately, but I haven't had trouble with mine since I used the sticky tape trick.

 

[6PTsocket]

they loosen because the seat slides around under your ****. clean the porcelain and use the double stick tape most seats come with and stick it down good so it doesn't wiggle, then tighten them up. every seat I've seen that loosened up was because the hinge slides around on the slick porcelain. most seats now come with sticky tape on them, but old school was to use some plumbers putty under there. you could also get brass bolts they sell separately, but I haven't had trouble with mine since I used the sticky tape trick.

I recently had to replace the double sided tape though it did last a long time I like the hinges that have a conical part around the screw, that keeps the screws centered in the hole.

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[Brian_WK]

I put the 6 point socket on the impact and use the nylon ones with the wings on the bottom and Hammer them tight. My seats get taken off and cleaned every 6 months. Kids and guests have bad aim.

No more upper Decker's for you!

Brian

 

[bczygan]

You guys got seats in yours?

Bill

 

[Richard Cranium]

Damn splinters

 

[rjacobs]

No seat needed here either

 

[slip knot]

Travis county jail has those exact same toilets ^^^^^

 

[dadsEH]

Travis county jail has those exact same toilets ^^^^^

Man! If ya got the time that there stainless will polish up like chrome!!!!!

 

[rjacobs]

Travis county jail has those exact same toilets ^^^^^

I dont want to know how you know that...

Or maybe I do.

 

[6PTsocket]

This is a very trivial problem in the big picture of life but it's been bugging the snot out of me so I'll ask it anyway.
I have a fairly good quality but typical toilet and toilet seat with typical plastic mounting bolts. Problem is, I can't keep the plastic toilet seat bolts tight. For a long time I tightened them by hand and they almost immediately started loosened. The last time I brought in a deep socket and tightened them as much as I dared. In 2-3 weeks they're getting loose again.
I thought about using Blue Locktite, but with my luck the Locktite would dissolve the plastic bolts. Has anybody got a fix for this problem? Would coating the threads with silicone sealer keep the nut from loosening. They make metal bolts but tightening metal bolts in a piece of porcelain seems a little chancy.
Anybody got any good suggestions?
Thanks,

Many toilets come with brass screws. They usually supply rubber washers to protect the bowl. The trouble is the washers tend to flatten out and the nut becomes loose. The one nut that does not loosen without being over tightened is a nyloc. I use stainless, firmer rubber washers and sometimes a piece of rubber/ vinyl tubing around the bolt to keep it centered in the hole. I recently bought a " hospitality" grade seat that had self centering, break away nuts. They break off when the tightness is just right. It has not budged, it is a nice heavy plastic seat. I will not use anything else in the future. The ones with detachable or soft close seats are just consumer grade junk.

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[brownbagg]

buy some metal ones

 

[OctoMan]

I had stainless bolts and a rubber grommet which held much longer than the standard arrangement with wing nuts. You might try lock nuts though.

 

[cherrybomb]

Yes,a frustrating problem,especially if it keeps showing up on the honey do list.I would you do the sticky tape,try a piece of hose in the hole,I like a brass bolt and nylok nut and tighten carefully. Check installation and don't never let it even get a bit loose.

 

[samss]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEMIS-Sl...nt-Toilet-Seat-in-White-202SLOW-000/300146456
This. Doesn't get loose. Doesn't slam shut. Easily disconnects for cleaning.

 

[garagelogician]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9WJTK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Inserts to help with your problem.

I second this suggestion. I recently bought a Caroma toilet (only 1.28/0.8 gallons per flush but will flush big hard logs and paper like no tomorrow ) that has a similar top mount rubber insert that expands in the hole and holds everything very firm. I'm a big guy and will usually loosen a toilet seat within a week, but this one has held firm for a month with no sign of loosening.

They sell seats separately that will work on any toilet.

 

[Radix2]

IMO a big factor is not the hinge bolts at all - it is the support pads at the front of the seat.

Some have grippy pads and good placement that prevent the seat from sliding and working the hinges, others fit poorly to the bowl and cause the seat to slip and twist all the time.

Take a hard look at the total fit- not every seat works well with every bowl.