Toilet Installation Mishap . . .

[tpenfield]

Today I was replacing a toilet at the summer house. All going smoothly until I went to install the tank on the bowl. I over-tightened the bolts and managed to snap off the flange of the bowl for the rear bolt (3 bolt tank mounting).
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So question of the day . . .

I assume I can get one of these incredibly strong instant adhesives, like that you see advertisements for . . . The question is what would that super strong adhesive be?

I'm thinking the stuff you get at hardware stores, etc may not be strong enough.

Any guidance on fixing this would be greatly appreciated. I'd rather not scrap this bowl.

I got 3 more toilets to replace after this one. So, hopefully I will get it right next time. This is my first toilet installation mishap ever . . .

 

[alldodge]

I don't know anything that can glue it back on and hold.
Suggest fab an aluminum plate to fasten to all 3 bolts

Also suggest when installing next, the tank doesn't need to be real tight (Just replaced 2 my self last year in rental, American Standard Champion-4, only one with 4 inch flush valve)

Bring them down a bit at a time until the gasket is compressed. Once compressed it should never leak. I tighten, then push down on the tank, and if it doesn't rock I'm good. Can always make a slight bit more if needed

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, tightening just didn't feel right . . . the bolts weren't pulling through the grommets as they should. I'll have to re-engineer on the next one.

Still looking for a miracle adhesive though . . .

 

[bigdee]

I would try super glue,any brand but the thicker type would probably work better. While you are holding the 2 pieces together sprinkle baking soda on the seams and the glue will set up almost immediately. I would then apply JB weld epoxy, use as much as possible without compromising the seal area. If there is a space between tank and wall I would add some kind of foam or soft rubber support.

 

[Bob_VT]

I would contact Kohler directly https://www.us.kohler.com/us/static/customerSupport.jsp and ask. Did it possibly come with incorrect grommets........

 

[bigdee]

I don't see where the integrity of the toilet has been compromised totally. You still have 2 bolts plus the weight of the tank. The only other option is to buy a new toilet. Personally I would repair it!

 

[tpenfield]

Thanks guys . . . I went the JB Weld route and used their "strongest" epoxy. It will have 2 weeks to cure before I attempt to mount the tank, so we shall see.

The grommet shapes are a bit confusing, as they require a bit of 'squashing' and I think I squashed them too much.

 

[alldodge]

Looked at my Kohler's in current house (installed maybe 6 years ago) and I can get my finger tip between tank and bowl

 

[Krazeehorse]

I guess it coulda been worse. This thread reminded me of this.....

 

[tpenfield]

Looked at my Kohler's in current house (installed maybe 6 years ago) and I can get my finger tip between tank and bowl

yup . . . it seems like a design shortcoming on the grommet assembly, now that I've taken a longer look at the whole thing.

These are the less expensive model Kohler . . . As I recall, the last toilet I installed (4-5 years ago) was about $100 more than the ones I just bought. As I recall, it was more obvious when you had bottomed out the mounting grommets than this toilet was.

 

[ezbtr]

Today I was replacing a toilet at the summer house. All going smoothly until I went to install the tank on the bowl. I over-tightened the bolts and managed to snap off the flange of the bowl for the rear bolt (3 bolt tank mounting).
.
View attachment 331978
.
So question of the day . . .

I assume I can get one of these incredibly strong instant adhesives, like that you see advertisements for . . . The question is what would that super strong adhesive be?

I'm thinking the stuff you get at hardware stores, etc may not be strong enough.

Any guidance on fixing this would be greatly appreciated. I'd rather not scrap this bowl.

I got 3 more toilets to replace after this one. So, hopefully I will get it right next time. This is my first toilet installation mishap ever . . .

Iused Quikrete construction adhesive on outside brickwork, yard borders, works GREAT!

 

[racerone]

JB weld will work just fine.-----After all modern airplanes are assembled with EPOXY and folks line up to ----" go on them "-----Sorry , could not resist a bit of humor here.

 

[redneck joe]

I've never installed a toilet with 5 bolts. 4 should be just fine. I've only ever done two and I've prob set 20 toilets in my life

First, you need to warm the wax rings over a heat register or something . Dash of the truck on a sunny day.

Next is when you set the toilet, SIT on on for 5 or more minutes. Rock back and forth and left to right like you're really constipated. Do NOT use the bolts to pull tight, especially the broken one. That will be cosemetic at this point. The bolts are to simply hold in place what you have done, nothing more than more than slightly hand tight should be needed.

If you have a warped floor that need to be fixed or shim toilet after the constipation method mentioned above.

...may The Flush be with you....

 

[tpenfield]

Tank is 3 bolts the seat is the other 2 that you see.

I will be having a go at it next weekend

 

[redneck joe]

Ah ok, was on my phone. Small pics.

 

[tpenfield]

The Admiral and I have already decided if the epoxy doesn't work, then we will just buy a new one.

 

[redneck joe]

keep mama happy. That said, i think epoxy will work.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The Admiral and I have already decided if the epoxy doesn't work, then we will just buy a new one.

was going to be my suggestion.

 

[bigdee]

Epoxy definitely stronger than ceramic/porcelain. At first look I thought the broken piece was hollow but I now see it is solid. That rough ceramic should provide good teeth for the epoxy. Sorry but I would try that first.

 

[tpenfield]

Update . . .

The JB Weld worked

In looking at the way the tank mounts to the bowl, it seemed like the gasket assembly was/is a bad design - IMO. There is a combination gasket that seals all 3 mounting holes for the tank. The gasket also needs to act as a spacer in between the tank and the bowl, but it is too thin to provide sufficient spacing.

I added 1/8" spacers (shown in RED) to assist the gasket assembly as shown below . . .

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So now I was able to tighten the hardware enough to 'squash/expand' the gasket seal at the tank holes without exerting too much force on the bowl flange.

These toilets were less expensive than ones that I have bought previously . . . and it looks like the design was accordingly 'cheap'. Note to self . . . buy the more expensive models next time