Replacing Toilet Tank Screws Without Breaking Porcelain

[Coopman14]

Today I replaced the corroded screws in two of my toilets. The first one went fine and I successfully stopped the water leak that was caused by the old screws. When replacing the screws in the second toilet, the water continued to leak after I had tightened the bolts substantially. I continued to tighten and eventually caused a crack in the porcelain from over-tightening before the leak had stopped from the screw hole. I have bought another toilet tank, but don't really know how to avoid the same thing happening again next time. How do I tighten the screws enough to stop water from leaking from the bottom of the tank but also avoid breaking the tank?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can offer.

Cooper

 

[phishfood]

Get a second set of nuts and flat washers, and tighten the nuts on just the tank. Then install the tank to the bowl, and tighten the second set of nuts just tight enough to stop the tank from moving on the bowl.

 

[johnjh2o]

The mistake you made was trying to tighten them. What you should have done was to replace the tank bolts along with the rubber washers that go inside the tank. These washers in time do fail and need replacement. So next time remove the tank and replace the bolts along with the washers. They have what is called a tank to bowl set that also includes the tank to bowl gasket.

http://www.tools2parts.com/Fluidmas...k=gdfV21593_a_7c1384_a_7c4726_a_7c1554_d_3341

John

 

[Coopman14]

Thanks, phishfood. Seems like a brilliant solution. How much do I need to concern myself with potentially breaking the tank with the first set of nuts? It seems necessary to get the rubber washer on pretty darn tight or else it will continue to leak water.

 

[Coopman14]

Thanks, johnjh2o. Perhaps I misspoke in my first message, but I did indeed replace the original bolts and rubber washers, which were completely corroded. It was while tightening the new bolts that I broke the tank.

 

[phishfood]

Normally you don't have to get those bolts Hercules tight to get the rubber washers to seal. Is there a chance that any of the corrosion was left behind and interfered with the seal?

 

[Coopman14]

Potentially. I wiped it with a cloth, but I suppose it wasn't spotless. That's obviously something that I won't have to worry about with a brand new tank.