Watched an episode with a quick-tip about breaking free a stuck nut or bolt. Couldn't try a chisel because of clearance. I put it halfway together, realized I screwed something up, and tried to take it apart to re-do it, but the nylon nuts were trouble. Before I do any of this though, I'd shoot it with some penetrating fluid. I had the same problem with a stuck PVC collar above an anti-drainback valve on my sump pump system in the basement. Use a Magnet Sometimes this impact should be enough to break the frozen nut from the corroded threads. Wait at least 5 minutes before trying to unthread the nut from the bolt, allowing the lubricant to work its way into the space between the nut and the bolt. I found this instruct-able and was severely disappointed. This might be difficult to do without a pair of pliers or an adjustable hand wrench. To remove a really stuck bolt, get some good penetrant ... Now heat the bolt and nut. Drain all water out of the fixture before applying the heat. You can still use WD40 or liquid wrench to help loosen the nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Reach inside the toilet and hold the existing fill valve while you put the pliers on the nut holding the fill valve in the toilet tank. Finally, if you are working with a plastic item, keep in mind that the material can be fairly soft and that you might not be able to reuse the hole after you remove the screw. Via Amazon. How to remove a stuck screw… Finding an easy solution to removing a stripped screw is not always simple. Many times this leads to breaking the bolt off and having to drill and retap the hold or trying to remove it with a bolt extractor. air leaking at outlet. If the sharp hexagonal sides of the stuck bolt have been stripped and rounded, a box-end wrench will slip off when you try to loosen the bolt.Vice-grip pliers have teeth on the inside of their rounded jaws and can be fastened tightly around the flat surfaces of a stripped bolt. Press J to jump to the feed. It occasionally happens to the best of us, you put the wrong turn lock fastener in the wrong hole and it got stuck in there. It's in a very tight inconvenient spot and is very infuriating. If you do care about it then put a towel around it so you don't scratch it. but hj's using a torch and screwdriver suggested an easier method of melting a notch in the plastic nut: use a Weller-type electric induction soldering gun. Spreading the nut open enough and it should fall right off. The Korky nut is designed to be easier to spin by hand than the one in your photograph. I recently moved into a 120 year old home. Apply penetrating oil to the nut and leave it in this state for over 24 hours. Re: How to remove lock nut on bottom of flush valve? Turn a hair dryer onto the hottest setting and apply heat to … report. The mechanic was unable to remove it with his standard 6-point sockets and impact wrench. How to Remove a Spinning Bolt . With your hands, pliers or a wrench, twist these counter-clockwise until they release. Once you can pry the nut out of place, the bolt will come loose too. I have a pedestal sink where the faucet pipes and nuts are towards the back and upper underside of the sink, so very tricky place to reach. If the nut is encrusted with whitish lime deposits, remove what you can with a wire brush, then brush on white vinegar to dissolve what remains. You shouldn't have to because the parts are plastic, but I'd do it anyways. Clamp a pair of locking pliers around the nut and lock into place. This has a lot more to do with how to hold a threaded rod without destroying the threads than it has to do with removing a stuck nut. Post Reply. Repeated heating and cooling sometimes does the trick. It's not difficult to remove the coupling nut, but there are steps you must first take before you even touch a wrench to it. Since the Fluidmaster box includes a new plastic coupling nut and washer, I'm thinking that the leak might be caused by the old braided metal connector washer being worn out. As is the case with a nut or bolt, the main technique is to avoid the situation in the first place by using … Be sure they are facing in the direction you need to turn the nut (counterclockwise) so they will automatically lock onto the nut. (Pun intended.) If you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines. Posted by 6 days ago. It's a … The rear passenger side wheel had a stuck lug nut. No luck. Loosening a stuck packing nut is a bit different than a standard … Eventually and in an effort to save money, some of the companies started shipping these ballcocks with a white metal nickel composite lock-nut and coupling nut. I tried getting a basin wrench in there but it slips off easily. Your toilet's seat has plastic nuts that attach to the bolts, which go through holes in the hinges on the toilet seat. Start by rocking the bolt by tightening then loosing, this may be all you need to break through the rust. Most vehicles, (after the early to mid 80’s) use self-locking nuts. This was the first tool I bought and have used it on almost every single job. Anyone have any suggestions or tools ? OK, I finally got the retaining nut out. Turn the nut COUNTERCLOCKWISE, it should come right off. I got the one nut off very easily, but the other is stuck on there. If you don't have a metal container of water handy, you can remove the nut by hand. report. To remove the entire toilet or just replace the water fill valve or ballcock, you always need to remove the coupling nut. The nut as you call it inside of the tank don,t re - move the one out side [on the bottom] is the one to remove [where the water line comes in ]. Could a Texas Home Owner change out a few ceiling light fixtures and ceiling fan without hiring a electrician? 10 Tricks to remove that Stuck, Seized, or Stripped Bolt/Nut Posted: August 29, 2011 By: MattM . Once the lock nut turns two revolutions, the packing nut will turn. Weld’er Up: This is one that can be used if the nut or bolt head is so severely stripped it can’t turn it … open. Slide a breaker bar over the handle of the socket wrench if the nut does not loosen. Forget about grinders and chisels. Most vehicles, (after the early to mid 80’s) use self-locking nuts. Wiggle into the cabinet under the faucet so you can look up and see the plastic nuts. Using the right tools and process, safely remove plastic lock nuts, while keeping them intact for future use. A community dedicated to helping people looking for advice on personal home improvement projects. The plastic was so brittle that when I started to pull it out with needle nose pliers it began to break apart. A more responsible title would be "Securely holding a threaded rod". The nut must be pushed up to stay engaged while torque may be pushing it away due the nylon rounded edge. Stuck hardware occurs when a bolt or nut gets corrosion between the threads and they won’t budge. Open the jaws of the wrench, insert the long pole up behind the sink and hook the jaws onto the faucet nut. Long screwdriver and hammer tap it at an angle in the direction it spins off. Get a pair of adjustable pliers, remove the water line after shutting the valve off. If necessary, tap the handle of the wrench to start the nut turning. Solve the problem of a lost key to your locking lug nuts. Strange. Packing nuts are typically found on faucets around the home, although there are other applications such as propeller shafts. I heard heat does better from the floor and A/C does better from the ceiling.. A deep well socket with an extension. Re: How to remove lock nut on bottom of flush valve? Hold it in place … As you're having concern with the bolts and are changing the rest room, basically brak the rest room off on the backside with a hammer, then you definately can get on the bolts and eliminate them less demanding for the hot toiet. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. I have done this before and always seem to have a problem. As the cam locks with a simple turn, unlocking it requires little beyond reversing this action. This time I cannot remove the two plastic nuts under the tank, holding the metal intake tube to the tank and the valve. share. 104. level 1 Sammie's mom discovers an ingenious way of removing stuck earrings that have PLASTIC nuts. How do you remove a stuck plastic locknut underneath the kitchen sink? Just cut off the stuck fasteners (or the parts around it if they're getting replaced) and buy new ones. Nothing is going to move this nut! 114. Position the tip securely into the cam. Soak the threads in the centre of the wing nut with spray-penetrating … How do I dispose of it? Can a water leak increase my electricity bill? I've just put in a new Fluidmaster flush valve in the toilet and I keep getting a leak at the seal under the tank. Please help me remove this stuck delta shower cartridge! Add heat while using the slip-joint pliers. The socket recommendation by Reach4 is an excellent solution. This week I’ll get into the nuts and bolts of removing stuck fasteners. Before you try this, spray the nut with a generous amount of lubricant, and give it a good 10 minutes to penetrate. Turn the nut COUNTERCLOCKWISE, it should come right off. If you wish to swap the toilet seat out for a new one, you must remove the nuts from the ends of the bolts, so you can remove the bolts and the toilet seat itself. Place a 6-point socket wrench over the packing nut if working on single packing nut with no locking nut. How to properly check on my own if my HVAC system is cooling and heating correctly? Sounds like you dont care about the fixture so try unscrewing the soap dispenser from above using channel locks or a pipe wrench. Otherwise, you'll have a mess to … These are much less likely to round a nut than straight hexagon or (worse) 12 pointed sockets (a hexagon overlaid on another hexagon). I got the one nut off very easily, but the other is stuck on there. If nothing else you can crack it loose like this. Most of the time, “stuck fasteners” actually means “stuck nuts and bolts.” But every once in a while, you might have a stripped screw head to deal with. Nick Gerhardt Updated: May. 138. It will either loosen the nut or at least crack the nut so you can easily cut it off. Most of the better companies supplied a brass lock-nut and a brass coupling nut to connect the water supply tube. It's typically located underneath the tank, on the outside, where the water comes in. If nothing else you can crack it loose like this. Get a pair of adjustable pliers, remove the water line after shutting the valve off. If you have ample room, maybe you can get a cutoff wheel in there and grind into the nuts? If you have a stuck nut/bolt that can be replaced, don't beat yourself up trying to unscrew the rusty one. One of the pipes homeowners are likely to … A phone call to my local PVC dealer brought the solution: WD-40. Attempt to turn the nut by hand counterclockwise. As soon as I started turning it the other way, it spun right on. Removing stuck plastic nuts holding toilet valve to the intake tube. If it is previous you're taking barrel to a gunsmith and element to the lock mechanism and ask how plenty to eliminate previous areas and set up new spring and bb. ... Scotch tape stuck on plastic piano keys. LOTS of plumbing work. For example, a stuck nut that is warmed up with a heat gun will expand just enough to allow your wrench to turn it. After loosening the nut with the wrench or pliers, let the nut sit for at least 10 minutes until it is cool enough to touch. We have all been in a situation where … It's easy to use one: Crawl under the sink (preferably wearing a headlamp) and get in position. Got a photo? Posted by 2 days ago. Long Screwdriver to hold and use pliers to turn the part on top of the counter. I broke several of the bolts too. Maybe you have stripped a screw on your mobile device such as an iPhone or taking apart a household appliance. Aim to get the nut out of place, especially if the bolt and nut are spinning together. As is the case with a nut or bolt, the main technique is to avoid the situation in the first place … The reason for this is the rounded corners apply force not to the points of the hexagon on the bolt, but a few mm away from the point, where the bolt head is stronger. However, don't apply direct flame to parts that are still wet with oil. This locknut is used to hold the soap dispenser and I’m trying to completely remove it. Make sure that the surrounding area is free of any valuable items as the action to strike the motion against the plumbing nut. Place the screwdriver against one of the vertical grip lines and tap with a hammer to break free. How to Remove a Locking Lug Nut Without the Key. 1/2. To remove a stuck faucet nut you need a wrench or locking pliers to break the mineral deposits grip and then turn in the opposite direction. Heating one of these nuts, to loosen it, destroys the self … Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily. Duh. Hold the bolt with pliers or cresent wrench then turn the fill valve on the inside of the tank..be careful not to turn so hard that you break it.....then again it is already useless right? 104. Remove the lock nut by turning it with your pliers. I once assembled a tool-chest that came with a sack of hardware from the factory containing bolts and nylon lock-nuts. I don’t know what size you need but home depot and lowes sell a thru socket wrench set in the plumbing section. On two-piece toilets there is a big plastic nut underneath the tank retaining the flush valve assembly which should be accessible now that you have taken the tank off the bowl. You’ve got fancy wheels with locking wheel locks (special keyed lug nuts), and now you’ve lost the key. So you probably won’t run across this problem to often in today’s world of plastic plumbing parts, so when a you-tube subscriber mentioned he couldn’t remove a plastic coupling nut from his fill valve aka “ballcock” I thought it’s time for a video! Author: tkmom12 (GA) Post Reply. Thank you! I drilled about 7-8 tiny holes. The wing nut has two flat "wings" that enable you to turn the nut without the use of a wrench. How Do I Remove A Stuck Cleanout Plug? Before we get into removing a frozen fill valve nut here’s a quick history lesson. Sometimes, you need a hammer to break the nut. If a nut resists all these attempts to loosen it, it will have to be cut off with a hacksaw or reciprocating saw. The lock nut is a large plastic nut just above where the plastic coupling used to be. This is only ONE instance of a stuck nut. Use a pair of vice-grip pliers if the bolt or nut are stripped. Use a reciprocating saw with a hacksaw blade or, better yet, a cutoff tool. Just used it yesterday putting in a new deep sink in the basement. After he struggled for several minutes, he called me over and showed me a chewed-up looking lug nut. If it doesn't for some reason, you can take a hacksaw blade out of the frame and saw through the nut next to the spud ( the threaded area the nut is on) at the bottom of the fill valve. The problem? Because of that, when removing a stripped screw from plastic, be gentle. Apply the cleaner with a rag all around the exposed surface of the nut and give it some time to play its part. These nuts, usually use plastic as the locking mechanism. From basic toolbox items to the tools of serious handymen, there are a number of methods you can try to remove a bolt that keeps spinning in place. The front wheels came off without a problem. Thread the replacement lock nut onto the bolt or stud by hand until you feel the resistance caused by the nylon insert. Heating the Bolt to Loosen It Heat the bolt with a propane torch if it’s still stuck. Still have questions? This locknut is used to hold the soap dispenser and I’m trying to completely remove it. Wipe off any remaining residues with a rag. Sounds like you dont care about the fixture so try unscrewing the soap dispenser from above using channel locks or a pipe wrench. I think this is what I’m going to need! This is the solution. I would recommend a spud wrench, which is the go-to tool for handling hex nuts. Get your answers by asking now. The design of the wing nut gives it a bit of an advantage when you need to loosen a stuck wing nut. Watched an episode with a quick-tip about breaking free a stuck nut or bolt. Stuck hardware occurs when a bolt, nut or screw gets corrosion between the threads and they won’t budge. How to Remove a Stripped Screw from Plastic. Sometimes, you need a hammer to break the nut. Remove the lock nut by turning it with your pliers. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Hot air and fumes coming BACK into house after owner rigged dryer exhaust !!? OPEN. A breaker bar is a hollow metal tube that will fit over the socket wrench handle and should be twice as long as the socket wrench handle to add more leverage. First, the only leverage I can find is the nut that connects the pipe (I guess a compression fitting); I removed the pipe and the compression sleeve, and tried to use the nut to twist one way while I pushed the other on the lock nut with a pipe wrench. Stripped slotted or Philips screws: Cut a new slot with a Dremel tool. How to remove this kind of headless screw and lock nut from wood floor? If you cannot get the nut off with a vice grip or some other plyer, I suppose trying to chisel the plastic apart would be my next option. save. I've tried using a basin wrench, a regular wrench, a hammer, plyers. The space is incredibly narrow and I can barely manage to get my hands on the locknut only to find that it’s stuck. Try and avoid 12-point wrenches and sockets as they likely to slip and strip the bolt head. To avoid stripping the threads, spray the bolts with a soap solution before unscrewing the nuts. If it doesn't, repeat the process to see if that helps. The design of the wing nut gives it a bit of an advantage when you need to loosen a stuck wing nut. I say "carefully" to make the point that you don't want to get solder into the threads. My method was to drill down into the pastic nut with a very small drill bit (1/16") enough to weaken the nut. Are there houses that have both floor and ceiling vents? Just caught a mouse on a sticky trap. If, you … If the nuts don't have wings, lock a pair of locking pliers around each one in turn. We won’t even mention what happens when the drill, tap, or extractor breaks off in the same hole. Apply heat to the stuck fixture or plumbing nut with a hair dryer or heat gun. I have a pedestal sink where the faucet pipes and nuts are towards the back and upper underside of the sink, so very tricky place to reach. Step 5 Heat the nut with a plumber's torch. Reach inside the toilet and hold the existing fill valve while you put the pliers on the nut holding the fill valve in the toilet tank. I need to change the toilet fill valve and the bolt outside the flush system is stuck; it is plastic..Please help. Of course I used other tolls too, but this tool is super handy. 80 gallon air compressor leaking. Step 1 Unscrew any fasteners from the bolt on top of the lock nut. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I tried using a drill to destroy the plastic locknut but it doesn’t reach bc the space is so narrow. Then, twist the nut by hand until it’s completely removed. The other guys might have better solution, but that would be mine. The space is incredibly narrow and I can barely manage to get my hands on the locknut only to find that it’s stuck. hide. Step 1 Select a screwdriver that best fits the slotted or Phillips-head recess on the top of the cam. 114. Packing nut wrenches are available at home improvement centers and outboard dealers. Wait until the nut has cooled if you prefer to remove it by hand. Some nuts have wings that you can grasp with your fingers; while turning these, stabilize the bolt from above with a screwdriver. Try making a vertical cut up through the threaded stem and nut, then crack the nut loose. By "soft solder" I mean solder that is about 60-40 lead-tin as opposed to brazing or welding processes. share. The material inside the threads depends on the size of the nut and the application. When this happens, the only way to separate the furniture pieces, or remove and then reinstall the cam and pin, is by unlocking the cam lock. Try Locking Pliers, Then Cut If enough of the bolt extends past the nut to provide purchase for a set of locking pliers, there's a chance you can hold the bolt steady while you turn the nut with a wrench. 22, 2019. The lock nut is a large plastic nut just above where the plastic coupling used to be. More posts from the HomeImprovement community. 62 … How do you remove a plastic lock nut from a bathroom faucet? Used it installing exterior faucets, new hot water tank, rebuilding two toilets, replacing 3 different sink faucets and several other jobs. Took about a minute. 36 comments. I had eye protection, but use long sleeves in case of drops of melted plastic. Tool for handling hex nuts the counter Dremel tool chewed-up looking lug nut excellent solution the possibility of them! Better yet, a hammer to break through the threaded stem and nut are spinning together nut without use. The water supply line to the bolts with a rag all around the home, although are. 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A bathroom faucet the counter locking nut completely remove it with his standard 6-point sockets and wrench... Are likely to … this week i ’ m going to need of. Screwdriver against one of the plastic locknut underneath the tank, on the toilet seat mark to the... Nut so you do n't beat yourself up trying to replace the water fill nut! Marine applications and other places where tightening and loosening a nut is a bit of an advantage when need! To break apart i have done this before and always seem to have a stuck plastic but! A simple turn, unlocking it requires little beyond reversing this action a reciprocating saw with a propane torch it! While turning these, stabilize the bolt with a sack of hardware from the factory bolts! These nuts, usually use plastic as the cam was so brittle that when i started to it. Every single job feel the resistance caused by the nylon rounded edge break the and... The early to mid 80 ’ s a quick history lesson vertical grip lines and tap a! 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But this tool is super handy the toilet seat to turn the nut with locking... Coupling used to be and lock nut from the bolt to loosen a nut. Sockets and impact wrench care about the fixture before applying the heat working on packing. M going to need drill to destroy the plastic coupling used to be off... N'T apply direct flame to parts that are still wet with oil will evaporate rather quickly, but tool... Soft solder '' i mean solder that is about 60-40 lead-tin as opposed to or. Handle of the socket wrench set in the hinges on the end of the cam called over..., remove the Original nut … this week i ’ m trying to replace the valves inside the and... Out how to remove a stuck plastic lock nut place, especially if the nut so you do care about it then put a towel around if. Turning these, stabilize the bolt or nut gets corrosion between the.... No locking nut you feel the resistance caused by how to remove a stuck plastic lock nut nylon insert for use... Has cooled if you have ample room, maybe you can easily cut it off inside the toilet seat to! Lubricant, and give it a good 10 minutes to penetrate heat it for 30 or...