Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Been able to fix a cracked toilet tank?

Today removed the tank and replaced all internals as well as seals and bolts to the bowl. When snugging tank back to to bowl, heard a disturbing "crack" sound.

All elements are working well after the rebuild, but there is a very slow leak coming from area of tank/bowl junction. Checked all other fittings - no leaks there and it appears to not be at the seal between tank and bowl - but dripping from bottom end of both threaded connecting bolts.

I'm going to take it apart again this evening and expect to find small cracks at and adjoining the bolt holes at bottom of tank - where the rubber washers normally seal. If that is the problem, has anyone been able to dry/clean/abrade and then use a proper epoxy cement to fix such cracks and stop the leaking?

Or, am I going to go buy a new toilet? Thanks for any help.

The first time someone sits back against the tank with any weight I think you will be sorry. Call Ferguson or look online to see if you can order just the tank.

Osky

New toilet

You damn dumb azz

Use big stainless steel washers (fender washers) inside the tank, and fill the hole with RTV silicone rubber before putting the same kind of washer on the bottom. If that doesn't work, buy a new tank.

This ^

You may be able to buy a tank, more than likely you will have to buy a new toilet

Thanks, Osky. I usually place a good shim back there between tank and wall - in case some big folks visit - but I don't want to leave this open to failure.

So, got back on it and just removed the tank. With a bright light and with it turned every which way I cannot find even a hairline crack in the bottom of the tank, including area surrounding bolts.

I am going to cinch up those bolts/washers against the bottom of the tank, put some water in it, and let it sit overnight - will observe in the AM.

Could be that the washers just were not sealing against the slightly rough tank surface, or maybe I simply did not cinch them tight enough. But, have been warned about cracking of the pottery due to too much torque on it.

Also, how "tight" do you all make that big nut that squashes the seal between tank and bowl. Need to get this right - much better things to do.

Thanks again for any helpful thoughts.

You have to tighten enough to crush the tank/bowel washer.

I tighten a little, rock the tank, tighten.
If there is any movement between the tank and bowl, It's not tight enough.

Once the movement stops?
You are pretty much done. It won't take much more to break something.

With the tank sitting on blocks and the inner washers snugged up tight by the outside nut, so far there is zero leakage.

Looks like this particular kit/arrangement will allow me to do that (and add an outside washer if I wish) and then have enough bolt thread remaining to use fender washers and big wing nuts to tighten the tank against the bowl. Will report outcome tomorrow.

Thanks for all the helpful replies (well, that one dude seems to have a problem) - much appreciated - lots of fine folks on the 'Fire.

I hate silicone.

If it needs a sealant, it gets 3M 5200.

I would have said Marine Tex. That will water proof it.

But really, it sounds like a good time to go down to the big box store and buy the tallest toilet they have on display. None of us are getting any younger.

Somehow this reminds me of a time years ago when many cities were experienced severe water shortages. People were coming up with all kinds of ways to save water. One was to put a brick in the toilet tank to reduce water usage but still allow the toilet to flush properly.

Paul Harvey talked about this on one of his shows. He said 'Remember, the toilet bowl is not the tank'.

If you can wait a week

There is a fast cure. Might be a differenter number.

I patched one once with JB weld when money was tight. It lasted a few years.

A cracked toilet flooded my house with a slow leak while we were out of town. $70,000 remodel!

The best of fixes will fail when you least expect it.

If it's actually cracked, temperature fluctuation alone could cause it to advance, much like a cracked windshield on a car.

Just replace it, in the long run it may be the cheapest thing you could have ever done.

while you have the toilet out - I had to remove one a few weeks ago. Instead of a wax ring, I used one of there new rubber rings. It's a lot less messy and very easy to use. If someone has some negative experience, please say so.