Spent 3 hours fixing a toilet fill valve that took 20 minutes on YouTube

My toilet was running nonstop last Sunday so I watched a quick video and grabbed a $8 Fluidmaster from Ace. Thought I'd have it done in 20 minutes tops. Turns out the old plastic nut was fused solid from years of hard water stains and I spent over 2 hours with a hacksaw and WD-40 trying to get it off without cracking the tank. Has anyone else run into a simple job that turned into a half-day project because of one stupid rusted part?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_charlie2mo ago

Man that's the worst. Did you end up cracking the tank a little or did the hacksaw save you?

nina_johnson862mo ago

Did the hacksaw end up saving the day, or is my tank now leaking in a way that matches my questionable DIY skills?

wyattrobinson1mo ago

My buddy Mike tried this same thing on his old water heater last summer. He figured a hacksaw was gentler than a grinder and spent like 45 minutes cutting the thing off, only to have a hairline crack show up right where the blade jumped. Water started dripping out about an hour later, not a full spray but enough to soak his basement floor. He ended up having to replace the whole tank anyway, and his wife still brings it up every time they have people over. So I'd say check that thing real close before you declare victory.