Hard to remove fill valve

[ahaddad]

Hi all,
I'm a new homeowner and I need to replace my first fill valve. I can't get the old one off! The bolt at the bottom of the tank is completely stuck. I tried for two hours last night with no luck (well, I got the lower one off but the one that's in contact with the tank won't budge). Any ideas or tricks about removing it?
Thanks,
Alex

[hj]

Unless it is a brass fill valve with a "pot metal" nut, it should not be that tight so you may be doing something wrong. If it is really that tight, you might want to call a plumber before you crack the tank and have to buy a new complete toilet.

[ahaddad]

Good point. Maybe I'm using the wrong tool. The thing is plastic and I was trying to get it off with a wrench. The whole assembly turns when I try to loosen it.

[jimbo]

You will have to hold the inside piece with your hand while applying the pliers to the underside nut. All else fails, very carefully hold a hacksaw blade inyour hand and cut the nut. On an all plastic set up, this should not be necassary. It will come loose.

[maddog]

I had the exact same problem removing a plastic fill valve. It would just spin around in the tank while turning the plastic nut on the bottom. I used a hack saw blade, which easily cut through the threaded part of the valve. I then carefully cut about half way through the plastic nut and was then able to pry/separate/split the nut with a thin blade screw driver. -dog

[plumber1]

Cut it off.......

[hj]

If it is plastic, heat a screwdriver with a torch and melt a groove up the side of it, then snap it off the thread. You won't have to worry about damaging the tank or anything else doing it this way.

[ahaddad]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I couldn't get anything to work.
Then my dad came over and chiseled it off in 10 seconds!!
I HIGHLY recommend that method!