Leaking Tank Hold Down Bolts

[JIMMIEM]

Traced a toilet leak to the tank hold down bolts. I went to nearest hardware store to buy new bolts and wound up buying the gasket too. The old gasket wasn't bad but I figured since the tank was off I'd replace it too. The old gasket has small cushion pads which I cut off and used because the new gasket didn't come with a cushion. I put it all together and no leaks.
But the tank is not rock solid if I push on it. The new parts are Master Plumber and the literature lists the toilet brands it fits.....stupid me didn't bother noting the brand of toilet I was fixing. Would a brand specific gasket give a more solid feel or should I leave well enough alone? The new hold down bolts use wing nuts and I tightened them as much as I could by hand....didn't want to use tools.

 

[Matt30]

Did the old bolts use one nut, or two? Some brands of toilets allow you to tighten the bolt down to the tank, then you put it on the bowl with another nut.

Personally, my grip strength sucks. So with the wing nuts, it's never tight enough by hand. I will use a wrench to give me some leverage to get it tighter.

 

[JIMMIEM]

Did the old bolts use one nut, or two? Some brands of toilets allow you to tighten the bolt down to the tank, then you put it on the bowl with another nut.

Personally, my grip strength sucks. So with the wing nuts, it's never tight enough by hand. I will use a wrench to give me some leverage to get it tighter.

Old bolts used one nut. New bolts use 2 nuts. Instructions had the bolt secured to the tank with just a hex nut. No washer(s) under the hex nut. The bolt then passed through toilet base and secured with a rubber washer, then metal washer, then wing nut. I would have thought that the second rubber and metal washers would have been used under the hex nut. I saw you tube videos that did this and some videos that did not use washers under the hex nut.
On the subject of grip strength....I had trouble cranking a click type torque wrench and brought it back to the store for a replacement....I asked one of the worker bees if it seemed ng to him. He gave it a try and was able to torque it farther than I was.....he was 75 years old.

 

[Matt30]

Never doubt those old work horses!

If your leak is coming from the rubber on the underside of the bolt head, try putting some pipe dope on the rubber, and make sure they are good and snug, don't be scared of it!

 

[JIMMIEM]

Never doubt those old work horses!

If your leak is coming from the rubber on the underside of the bolt head, try putting some pipe dope on the rubber, and make sure they are good and snug, don't be scared of it!

I replaced the bolts and rubber pipe gasket and everything is now dry. I got a Master Plumber fixit it kit at a nearby hardware store. The kit card listed the brands it fits. I used it and no leaks. The toilet is at my wife's mother's house. I'll double check the toilet brand and maybe get a brand specific rubber pipe gasket. One of the rusted bolts wouldn't budge....tried rust cutter. It was up against a wall....finally took a recip saw to it....bolt came off in 10 seconds.