How can I get the old flush valve out of my toilet without taking the tank off?

The bolts that hold my tank to the toilet are way rusted. But the black gasket that seals the old flush valve to the tank is shot. I have a new flush valve. They're cheap. But I can't get the old one with the shot gasket out. It screws but I can't get enough leverage to unscrew it, considering that it has that big old black nasty shot gasket holding it tight to that hole in the center bottom of the tank..

I even tried that tool you use to unjam a garbage disposal and even that doesn't give me enough leverage.

you cant, there is a large nut under the tank. you may have to cut the bolts that hold the tank to the bowl with a hack saw, or if they are really rusted, you might get lucky and break them. either way, the tank has to come off.

Don't take the Tank off- you can change the valve without doing that- all that holds the valve is a Nut- on the bottom- of the Valve- have someone hold the valve inside the tank , then uscrew the nut- its probable moving. Report Abuse

Arthur is right. cut off the old bolts. The gasket will leak and you will have to redo it

I have had to cut the tank bolts off with a hack saw. I removed the blade from the saw and slid it between the tank and bowl and cut the bolts off. It took some time. Then the nut that holds the flush valve in place would not come loose. I cut through taht also. ONe notch and put a flat screw driver in and twisted.

the new bolts were cheap. Total job time, about 2 hours.

Good luck.

try spraying badly rusted bolts with wd40 ......

let it soak in for a half hour,
then try removing rusted nut with channel lock pliers

Listen To arthur.