Trying to do the so-called easy repair of my leaky toilet - I bought the fluidmaster repair kit - has the whole 9 yards in it. So after I figure out that I actually have to remove the darn tank (never saw THAT coming!), I finally get it apart, and am trying to remove the threaded peice at the bottom. I got the old black rubber gasket piece off (black stuff everywhere - what a mess!) but I cannot for the life of me get the rest of the thing out. I am assuming that it is threaded? But there is no where to grip to unthread the thing. I ended up breaking off the inside piece just so I could see if I could get a grip that way, but no luck. The thing feels like it is glued tight. Now I am wishing I had called a plumber!!! And this was supposed to be so easy!! Now here I am with my toilet apart, and I am stuck. Is there some trick to removing this piece?? Help!!!

 

You do NOT have to remove the tank just to replace a tank refill valve.
Did you remove the tank for real?
To remove the old refill valve, you just have to unscrew the threaded nut under the tank (clockwise since it's upside down) while holding the valve inside the tank to keep it from turning (or get someone else to hold it).
If the old gasket has deteriorated and stuck to the bottom of the tank, just scrape it off with a putty knife or razor scraper and wipe up the black gunk with paper towels until the hole is dry. Then install the new gasket and adjust the height of the Fluidmaster 400A to your tank (per the directions) just by twisting it up or down.
Tighten the nut on the threaded base of the 400A under the bottom of the tank.
Good luck!
Mike

 

Yes I DID remove the tank because the darn instructions told me to, and frankly I could not see anyway to get the old valve off any other way. I think this is the flush valve - not the refill valve. It is completely stuck. There is NO turning it at all. I pulled the gasket off the bottom - that was easy. (And there would be no way to do that without taking the tank off - that gasket was IN BETWEEN the tank and the toilet). The black gasket inside is pretty much deteriorated and is coming off in pieces. It is the plastic piece inside the hole that will not come out. This is the part that is left of the entire assembly that was there before I broke it off. I can see by looking at the new part that I DO need to remove this piece - just cannot see how to do it. Hope I am explaining this clearly!

 

Ah so, NOW I think I know what you're trying to do. It is called the flush valve or overflow tube, not the refill valve, and yes, you're certainly right, you do have to remove the tank to replace that.
It should be held on by a large nut on the bottom of the tank. Have you removed all of the old stuck-on spud gasket between the tank and bowl to see that?
That's what is holding the old overflow tube on.
Does it look like this (see the nut on the bottom right)?

Mike

 

I think I understand why you removed the tank and what your having trouble with. The flush valve in the center of the tank? This is held in place by a plastic nut in the center of the hole(under the flapper).Is the picture in the link the part your having trouble with?

http://doityourself.com/store/7991482.htm

This may be plastic or metal(brass).

The tank would have to be removed for this part.

The nut can be very tight since its become very very comfortable in its present location.

If the peice is plastic you may be able to cut it off with a hacksaw(carefully).

If all else fails to remove the offending nut, you may be able to use a HOT knife and melt the nut in half or at least to where you can spread it apart to remove it.

All of this needs to be done carefully as the tank is fragile.

Good luck and reply back if you need further help.

 

Yeah - that is the piece. There is no turning this sucker. Now a hacksaw - that I can try. I have one in the garage and I'm going to get it right now!!

 

NOW we're making progress. Let's just hope someone didn't caulk it all in place on top of it being "corroded" and embedded in place. LOL
You'll get it now, yardnut. When all else fails, hacksaw it. Take the blade out and just use that if you have to to get to it.
Good luck!
Mike

 

The hacksaw did the trick. I would have never thought of that. I've almost got it all back together now, just wanted to say thank you so much. I'm a single mom, and though I've gotten handy at many things around the house, plumbing and toilet repair is not among them. At least now I know how this thing is put together should my other toilet suffer the same problems (which I'm sure it will - eventually).

Thanks again!!

 

Be careful when you mount that tank back on the toilet so that you don't overtighten the nuts that hold it to the bottom of the toilet or you can crack it.

 

I was trying to not overtighten, and then they leaked. Had to take the tank off and tighten them some more - so much for hand-tightening. That was not the case for these bolts anyway. All done now - and it works!!