Replies

1. 
   rez | Jan 28, 2007 11:52pm | #1

   Greetings F,

   This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.

   Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.

   Cheers

   "being human is a complicated proposition"-DavidxDoud

   ---Never show a fool a half finished job---Grampsy
   I feel like a bunny in a hillbilly meadow at noon..........jjwalters

    

2. 
   user-158769 | Jan 30, 2007 08:05am | #2

   I too would like to know the answer.

   Meanwhile, I continue to use the "ole standby".....plumbers putty. Pack it tight inside  the cap, then press the cap firmly down over the exposed johnnie bolt and voila!...cap aint going nowhere.

    

   Davo

1. 
   flseminarian | Jan 30, 2007 04:24pm | #3

   I have now done further looking on the net and there appears to be a company (Harvey) that makes caps that screw down over a brass washer insert, as opposed to clipping onto plastic washers.  This allows you to have all metal under your nut, in turn eliminating the 'flex' of the plastic that tends to allow the bolts to loosen over time.  Now if I can just find out who I can buy some from...

1. 
   DanH | Jan 30, 2007 06:15pm | #4

   Are you talking decorative bolt caps, or are you talking fastening the bolt to the flange?
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

1. 
   flseminarian | Jan 30, 2007 06:30pm | #5

   I am talking about decorative bolt caps.  The problem with the regular plastic ones is that they attach to plastic disks between the metal washer and the porcelain, causing a little 'give' in the connection.  After use (an undetermined amount), the play tends to cause the bolts to loosen up, and the toilet starts to move.  The advantage of the metal clips, brass inserts, etc., is that they do not compress, hence play is more limited.

1. 
   DanH | Jan 30, 2007 06:34pm | #6

   The ones I've always used have just washers under the nut, then the cap goes on with a separate gripper on the top of the bolt, or else you silicone on the cap.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

2. 
   DanH | Jan 30, 2007 06:37pm | #7

   Generally, if the bolt is loosening up it's because the stool isn't on solid footing and is rocking. You can't put that much force on the flanges anyway -- weight holds the stool down, the bolts just keep it from accidentally lifting when a fat, sweaty person gets velcroed to the seat.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

3. 
   flseminarian | Jan 30, 2007 06:51pm | #8

   That is entirely possible.  I had this one set, as opposed to doing it myself, and I don't think they were as concerned for the long term as I was.

4. 
   johng45 | Jan 30, 2007 07:28pm | #9

   "...when a fat, sweaty person gets velcroed to the seat."

   ... Er ... are you talking about me?

   JohnG

2. 
   user-158769 | Feb 01, 2007 09:13am | #11

   When I set a toilet,  first thing I do is to  discard the plastic " retaining nuts" that come in most packages; those things designed to hold the johnnie bolt in place on the toilet flange while you are lowering the toilet onto the flange itself.

   Instead, I always buy extra brass bolts and washers. I "double nut" so to speak, my johnnie bolts. When I initially insert the johnnie bolt into the flange, I immmediately place a brass washer and nut down overtop and I tighten it securely. Next step, I set the toilet down in place, and proceed to install another set of brass washers and nuts. After cranking this pair down as much as possible without dare  cracking the porcelean, I fill the plastic , decorative bolt cap with plumbers putty and push  it down in place overtop the bolt threads.

   My guys think I'm crazy for using 2 sets of washers and nuts and discarding the plastic retaining nuts, but with  this method,  the johnnie bolts stay in place and don't loosen up. 

    Nothing worse than when replacing a toilet, you encounter a "super tight" nut that   won't break loose from a johnnie bolt;  which has little or no exposed threads on top  to hold onto.  The dang bolt just  keeps wobbling cause the plastic "retaining nut" that some guy used to hold the johnnie bolt in place simply  isn't doing its job.

   As for threaded decorative caps...that certainly sounds like a very nice touch.

   I've had decorative caps loosen up if bumped too many times, but I've never had a loose cap cause my johnnie bolts to loosen up. My johnnie bolts don't ever loosen up....actually , some probably have over the years, but I've never been called back to tighten one....so, there you go.

    

   Davo

3. 
   BillHartmann | Jan 30, 2007 10:31pm | #10

   I just reset a couple toilet. Don't know how old it was, but one had metal U shaped clips with barbs on it. So I know what you are talking about.

   But both Lowes and the the local Ace hardware store has a line of caps that has a threaded insert (to adjust them. And the insert goes over the extended bolt end.

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.