Leaky toilet: I think I installed it wrong, HELP!

[Deathlok]

OK, I got my new TOTO "Drake" toilet. I installed it , but there are leaks from the 2 bolts in the tanks & 1 of the contact points where the tank meets the bowl behind the toilet seat.

Is there pictures showing how the bolts/washers should look like when installed properly?

I am thinking I am going to have to remove the tank from the bowl & remove the bowl from the floor & get a new wax ring.

Also, how do you take out the old bolts that stick out of the floor? The current ones barely poke out of the holes in the bowl once on the floor.

[Terry]

I sand the inside of the tank before I drop the bolts through.

Instructions here

Removing the floor bolts depends on what you have holding them.
Most flanges have slots or notches for new closet bolts.
When we install, it's new wax, new bolts and new supply tube.

[Deathlok]

When I connect the tank to the bowl, do I have to put the rubber washer in 1st, or the metal one? Right now the metal one is in 1st ( touching the tank).

[patrick88]

Should use rubber on the fixtures only. Metal could cause crack.

[Deathlok]

Should use rubber on the fixtures only. Metal could cause crack.

yes, but the diagram in the instructions shows the metal washer goes in 1st. Anyways, I switched their positions. The rubber washer (in the tank) is contacting the tank, then the metal washer on top so prevent the metal screw from smashing down too hard on the rubber washer. On the bottom of the tank, there is a metal washer. No rubber one was included.

The leaks from these 2 areas seem to have stopped. BUT there is still a leak from the tank area directly behind the toilet seat.

[patrick88]

How many bolts 2 or 3?
Is there a gray donut or black rubber between the tank and bowl?

You need to make sure you crank the bolts down at the same time. First one side a few turn then the other and back and forth till it is tight.

[Deathlok]

2 bolts...the rubber washer you mean?..... it is inside the tank

[patrick88]

You have the 2" pipe that comes out of the tank into the bowl. There needs to be a gasket on it. If it is not on right it will leak when you flush. If the fat nut on it is not tight it will leak.

[Deathlok]

You have the 2" pipe that comes out of the tank into the bowl. There needs to be a gasket on it. If it is not on right it will leak when you flush. If the fat nut on it is not tight it will leak.

You mean the pipe that connects to the water supply out of the wall?

[Deathlok]

Ok, now when I flush the toilet, water comes rushing out from the tank in the area behind the toilet seat. Does this mean the tank is not making proper contact with the bowl?

[Gary Swart]

No, he means the large rubber gasket that fits on the big pipe stub on the bottom of the tank. It fits into the hole on top of the bowl. The two bolts should be tightened alternating from one to the other to pull that gasket into the bowl. They do not have to be torqued super tight, just evenly until both are snug.

[jadnashua]

The rubber donut fits on the bottom of the tank, fully seated around the nub sticking out with the tapered side away from the tank, That sits in the hole in the bowl. When you sit the tank on the bowl, get each of the bolts started, the bowl level and each side hand tight. Then, maybe a turn or so at a time, alternate sides until it is almost touching the bowl and still move ever so slightly. You don't want it tight, but it can be almost touching (well, it can touch, but the difference between touching and too tight means it is better to get it so it is almost tight). If you do that and the nut holding the seat on the bottom of the tank is tight, it should not leak. If you don't have the soft rubber donut on right, or the assembly it sits on is loose, it can still leak.

[jimbo]

Let's go back to the washers, because I'm not sure that came out right.

There are NO METAL WASHERS ...INSIDE... the tank. You put a rubber washer on the bolt, and stick it though the hole. Then a rubber washer, then a metal washer, then the nut. If you have a metal washer inside the tank in any way, this is a potential leak.

[Deathlok]

Ok, there are 4 metal washers & only 2 rubber washers that came with the toilet, thats why I did what I did.

I think the rubber dough nut is not on properly, hence the cascading water!

[Deathlok]

WOOHOO.... I removed the tank from the bowl. I used the good advise in this thread to re-install it. I mounted the tank onto the bowl, then put in the bolts, catching each side but NOT tightening them. I have a RUBBER washer on the inside & outside of the tank around each bolt, the metal washers are found ONLY on the outside (bottom) & each 1 has a rubber washer over it.

I tightened each bolt 1 turn, alternating to each side. I attached the water supply & tested it.

WOOHOO

SO far, no leaks!

Thanks to all. I am still going to remove the entire toilet to put in the new bolts in the ground that hold the bowl. The current ones barely clear the bowl.

But at least I know how to do it properly now. Thanks to all!