how to loosen lock nut on fill valve

Penetrating oil is a special type of grease sold at home improvement centers and hardware stores. Hopefully it will loosen … This method can sometimes loosen the lock instantly and allow you to manually unscrew it. Many bolts are brass, so they can easily be cut with a hacksaw. Push it firmly onto the nut. Remove the old fill valve. just unscrew the big hex nut and the valve will come loose.. Edited 1 times. Then, carefully pull the supply line out of the valve underneath the tank. Empty the bucket and place it underneath the water supply line. Be careful, that stuff is flammable. Good luck All else fails, very carefully hold a hacksaw blade inyour hand and cut the nut. Locate the coupling nut on the underside of the toilet tank. Jarring the nut can break its bond to the bolt. But first you might want to loosen the 2 (sometimes 3) nuts that hold the tank attached to the stool and remove the tank. Bathtub Drain Stopper / Trip Waste Assembly. Maybe, try to grip the valve on the inside of the tank. Tap with a hammer. The overflow tube on the original one broke off right where it attaches to the flush valve. Source(s): carpenter/handyman. Web Design & Marketing by Urmil Patel. Use a pair of pliers to just loosen the coupling nut. I had also installed a Fluidmaster fill valve into one my other old toilets and had zero issues with that. If you don't, try twisting the fill valve from the top to see if you can loosen the grip of the nut...then reach your finger underneath to lock the nut in place while unscrewing the fill valve from above. Wipe off any remaining residues with a rag. This nut is a coupling that connects the supply line to the fill valve. Sometimes loosening a stuck brass fitting is as easy as turning the locknut counterclockwise to tighten it further and then turning clockwise to loosen. Try using slip-joint or Channellock pliers to grab the Coupling Nut with one hand, then with the other hand grab the Fill Valve (the spiral thingy in the right picture below), the Coupling Nut should loosen and come off. I would recommend a spud wrench, which is the go-to tool for handling hex nuts. If it has a ring toward the middle of the full valve, you can pull up on it to release the top from the bottom of it and on a replacement do the same thing and just slap on the top part. Otherwise you can use a wrench to loosen the lock, breaking off any rust that has accumulated therein. Hello gigilinn and welcome to the community! The valve is trash anyway, so you cut the nuts off. You can drive it off with a flat blade screwdriver. "super" glued locknut on toilet fill valve (under tank) Author: mamacanfixit (MN) I am trying to remove a plastic lock nut so I can replace the fill valve assembly. Loosen the nut that secures the fill valve to the water supply line by turning it counterclockwise with pliers or a wrench. As you unscrew the nut, a bit of water may drip out of the tank. Turn off the water supply at the house meter. And I noticed that it had a really slow leak just under the locking nut under the tank. Like removing a bolt. Use your pliers to loosen the nut under the tank. This might be difficult to do without a pair of pliers or an adjustable hand wrench. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 0 0. Hold the nut in position and pull on the end of the wrench. Hook the wrench onto the bolt and grasp the nut with a pair of large pliers. It has unusually low viscosity, which allows it to penetrate very tight spaces easily. You will have to hold the inside piece with your hand while applying the pliers to the underside nut. I scrubbed the nut under the toilet with a wire brush and WD-40. I can’t replace my fill valve until I can loosen it. A lock nut will not loosen, even under intense vibrations. But first you might want to loosen the 2 (sometimes 3) nuts that hold the tank attached to the stool and remove the tank. You might not have to. I am trying to replace the valves inside the toilet tank. Hello! A utility knife or a hot utility knife should cut the nuts off easily. The valve is connected to a rubber ball float. This is just to make it easier to work on, and is not required. How do I remove this lock nut connecting to the fill valve? Re: How to remove lock nut on bottom of flush valve? Brass fittings, primary used on hot or cold water lines to connect one piece of pipe to another, become stuck due to corrosion or over-tightening. Jarring the nut can break its bond to the bolt. They're thin walled sockets for reaching into walls and removing nuts like these. Why would you set the damn nut up in the tank? Source(s): carpenter/handyman. Tighten the fixture or plumbing nut with a wrench or locking pliers to break the grip of the mineral deposits; then turn in the opposite direction to loosen it. Then use oil and a hammer to loosen. I'm not sure if it is glued on or if I just can't get a good enough grip on it to turn it. Once those two steps were done, I was able to unscrew the screw under the toilet for the fill valve attachment without any further trouble. Tighten the nut. 1. Clamp the locking pliers onto the end of the bolt as tightly as you can, then hold the bolt steady while you turn the nut. Very very carefully. Loosen the bolt with an extended wrench. Put a wrench on the fixture or nut and strike the handle sharply with a hammer to loosen the fixture. The end of the water … Cut in two places. Once you’ve sprayed the valve, grip the valve with a plumber’s wrench, and use a rubber mallet or a ham… www.bobsplumbingvideos.com/removing-a-frozen-fill-valve-nut Like removing a bolt. After breaking the "fins" off the nut while using wrench I tried holding the nut and turning the part in the tank. 3. Attach the socket to the wrench and place it over the lock nut. 2. It has on it the nut that connects to the bottom of the fill valve and the nut that connects to the shut off valve. When the bolt is cool enough to touch, squirt penetrating oil (it comes in a spray can or squirt bottle) on and around it—and on the nut if it’s accessible. Start by turning off the main water shut off valve to the house. Position the new valve in place of the faulty one. The traditional grease-and-wrench approach to opening a stuck shut off valve is basically a matter of trial and error. The new fill valve will go on similar to how the old one came off. It will come loose. just unscrew the big hex nut and the valve will come loose.. Edited 1 times. 2. k if the water is off hold back on the lower part of the fluidmaster and turn the nut counter clockwise at the same time . Cut if off For larger nuts and bolts, you'll need an impact gun and a set of six-point, impact-rated (black finish) sockets. I am trying to replace the flush valve in my toilet. Conclusion It is OK to cut through the old fill valve as it is being replaced anyway. Wipe off any remaining residues with a rag. Step 2 - Remove the Valve. If you hold the valve from up above with one hand and loosen the nut from the bottom with a pliers from below that nut should come off. Remember to twist counter clockwise. they are kohler's version of gaskets for the tank to bowl bolts. Loosen the nut that secures the fill valve to the water supply line by turning it counterclockwise with pliers or a wrench. An impact driver and a set of high-end hex-shaft nut drivers are all you need to loosen small nuts and bolts. Hopefully it will loosen the nut… Remove the nut, washer and lock nut. If this locking nut is not secure it can loosen and allow the stem nut to move axially to the point that the splines are disengaged; resulting in a loss of drive to the valve stem. Use a wire brush to loosen the mineral deposits around the nut. When the bolt is cool enough to touch, squirt penetrating oil (it comes in a spray can or squirt bottle) on and around it—and on the nut if it’s accessible. 3. They are different on each side, making them very difficult to get off. Be careful though, as both these methods can damage your faucet. 0 0. If the nut is tight to the tank, you may be able to loosen the valve from the nut by twisting the whole assembly itself. Then use oil and a hammer to loosen. You have a shower socket set? Loosen the nut or bolt a little bit, until it gets a bit of tension behind it again, then go back the other way and turn it almost to where you started. Then try to loosen it using a correctly sized wrench. Get a pair of adjustable pliers, remove the water line after shutting the valve off. Poor design. So, I installed a Korky fill valve into one of my old toilets (a 1973 Murray by Eljer). Remove the lock nut by turning it with your pliers. There's probably some minerals in there, but I suspect the original installer used some serious torque to ensure it wouldn't leak. 4. I have unscrewed the tank from my toilet and am trying to unscrew the lock nut but it won't budge! Use a wire brush to loosen the mineral deposits around the nut. Step 3 - Replace the Valve. Be careful, that stuff is flammable. The metal shutoff valve connects to a PVC feed pipe. Apply penetrating oil to the nut and leave it in this state for over 24 hours. Moving the nut in any direction is progress. Your email address will not be published. Insert the end of your box-end wrench into a hollow metal bar. 1. Before you try this, spray the nut with a generous amount of lubricant, and give it a good 10 minutes to penetrate. This time I cannot remove the two plastic nuts under the tank, holding the metal intake tube to the tank and the valve. Author: packy (MA) the 3 rubber 'footers' have nothing to do with the flush valve. Don't advertise or try to compare pricing, thanks, Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. I hate that some asshole came up with that. 2. Remember to twist counter clockwise. This is just to make it easier to work on, and is not required. Or take one hand and hold the nut and loosen the fill valve toward the bottom inside the tank with your other hand. Then I clipped a vice grips to the fill valve base inside the toilet. Ordinary chrome sockets can't handle impact work … Re: How to remove lock nut on bottom of flush valve? 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. A spud wrench is a wrench with an adjustable standard box wrench on one end that can be used to screw and loosen nut when installing pipe fittings. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. I have done this before and always seem to have a problem. Then try to loosen it using a correctly sized wrench. Tap with a hammer. Disconnect the water supply tube or hose that connects the water supply valve to the fill valve. Then, carefully pull the supply line out of the valve underneath the tank. Apply heat. Then, spray down the stuck valve with penetrating oil. Tap the end of the bolt a half-dozen times with a hammer to help loosen the threads and allow the oil to penetrate. Apply heat. Raise the pipeline from the overflow tube. Try using slip-joint or Channellock pliers to grab the Coupling Nut with one hand, then with the other hand grab the Fill Valve (the spiral thingy in the right picture below), the Coupling Nut should loosen and come off. Also loosen the nut that holds the fill valve in place. Lock nuts come in various sizes for many different applications and are most often used by mechanics and engineers to hold wheels in place. they are kohler's version of gaskets for the tank to bowl bolts. I mentioned in another thread about using the lock nut on the valve stem as a jam nut against the valve cap instead of screwing it down against the rim. Maybe, try to grip the valve on the inside of the tank. But this time it might have saved me from ripping a stem out of a tube so I thought it was worth a … Tighten the nut. The nut holding the supply line to the shutoff valve won't budge. I never had a problem because I coat the nuts with silicone paste available in the plumbing section. Once that is done then you can attempt the Lock-Nut the same way, if the Fill Valve is too slippery then grab it with pliers as well. Tap the end of the bolt a half-dozen times with a hammer to help loosen the threads and allow the oil to penetrate. Detach the toilet fill valve. Once that is done then you can attempt the Lock-Nut the same way, if the Fill Valve is too slippery then grab it with pliers as well. Beneath the tank, loosen the lock nut that holds the fill valve to the tank. Hello gigilinn and welcome to the community! Rock The Bolt: This is another one to try early in the process, and in-conjunction with other methods.Using a ratchet and socket, slowly work the bolt or nut back and forth. If this doesn't work, it's on to plan B, which is to cut the nut off. As you unscrew the nut, a bit of water may drip out of the tank. 1. Gently pull the nut down. One of the most reliable ways of loosening a tight lock nut is by hammering it. recommendation. A 12" supply tube is usually long enough.The important thing to pay attention to is the size of the nut that connects to the shut off valve.It is usually 3/8" but older galvanized plumbing systems could be 1/2". After leaving it soaked in penetrating oil for a day, try to loosen the nut with a wrench. some tiomes the nut can get cross threded and wont budge i have found that a short drill and drill bit will be needed to remove the ballcock you would have to start by drilling the nut in a few places to break it off The packing nut of the valve, also called the bonnet nut, is unscrewed to loosen the shutoff valve knob and make it easier to turn. I can't figure out a way to secure the valve and leverage against that to loosen the nut. After leaving it soaked in penetrating oil for a day, try to loosen the nut with a wrench. It is OK to cut through the old fill valve as it is being replaced anyway. Easy way to go about it. Moving the nut in any direction is progress. Give 4-5 sharp tugs and see if the bolt moves. Then finish loosening the nut with your fingers. Apply penetrating oil to the nut and leave it in this state for over 24 hours. If the nut is tight to the tank, you may be able to loosen the valve from the nut by twisting the whole assembly itself. Step 2 Turn the nut clockwise, until it begins to loosen from the bolt or screw it is attached to. Remove the fill valve. On an all plastic set up, this should not be necassary. 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. Author: packy (MA) the 3 rubber 'footers' have nothing to do with the flush valve. Get a pair of pliers to just loosen the nut under the toilet with a hacksaw blade inyour hand hold! Finish ) sockets allows it to penetrate very tight spaces easily nuts come in various sizes for many applications... 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