# Mystery toilet part **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507 "2007-03-11T19:54:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/1 "2007-03-11T19:54:20Z")
I was moving our toilet because my wife is repainting the bathroom. I have done this several times before. This time, after I move the toilet out of the bathroom I find this piece of plastic, solid, off white, mabye 1/2" x 2", with thick widely separated projections that look like wide thick screw threads. It tapers at one end, and attached to the tapered end is a thin metal part that looks like a washer. I think it came out of the black plastic fill tube that the water supply attaches to. Does anyone know what this is, and how I can reinstall it? ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/2 "2007-03-11T19:56:40Z")
Oh yeah, it is a Kohler toilet, and I believe they use Fluidmaster internal parts. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/3 "2007-03-11T20:16:11Z")
Does it resemble any of the parts in this [exploded diagram?](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/e-plumber/kohlerchamp20pg2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/4 "2007-03-11T20:19:25Z")
Can you post a picture. The discription doesn’t narrow it down much. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/5 "2007-03-11T21:02:20Z")
It says I may not post attachments, so I am sort of stumped. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/6 "2007-03-11T21:05:44Z")
[QUOTE=dauerbach] It says I may not post attachments, so I am sort of stumped. [/QUOTE] You cannot post pictures directly into your post. You have to save a copy of the picture on a site like [photobucket](http://photobucket.com/), then post a link to it here. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/7 "2007-03-11T22:40:28Z")
[QUOTE=dauerbach] I was moving our toilet because my wife is repainting the bathroom. I have done this several times before. This time, after I move the toilet out of the bathroom I find this piece of plastic, solid, off white, mabye 1/2" x 2", with thick widely separated projections that look like wide thick screw threads. It tapers at one end, and attached to the tapered end is a thin metal part that looks like a washer. I think it came out of the black plastic fill tube that the water supply attaches to. Does anyone know what this is, and how I can reinstall it? [/QUOTE] It’s not the collar for the johnny ring, is it? Some johnny rings (the wax seal between the porcelain bottom and the soil pipe have a plastic collar. Need photo. I’ve done a heap o’ toilet installing myself in leaner years. Is it from inside the tank, or from somewhere else? If it’s part of the water flow mechanism, just replace the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/8 "2007-03-11T23:21:53Z")
I’m wanting a picture, too. Can’t visualize any toilet parts which meet that description. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/9 "2007-03-12T00:41:49Z")
Ok, I think I may have it. Try:[Photo Storage](http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/dauerbach/) Works on preview, although that seems to link to my main page and you have to scroll down to see the two images. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/10 "2007-03-12T00:44:32Z")
I think this might work even better. [![](https://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/dauerbach/DSCN0085.jpg) ](https://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/dauerbach/DSCN0085.jpg) [![](https://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/dauerbach/DSCN0084.jpg) ](https://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/dauerbach/DSCN0084.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/11 "2007-03-12T10:45:58Z")
I tried to get this to fit up in the fill tube and it kept falling out. I still think that is it’'s most likely site of origin. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/12 "2007-03-12T11:52:04Z")
I can’t identify the part and for 13 years I worked with a manufacture of Kohler plumbing parts that went into assemblies mostley. I never saw a blueprint for it, or assembly with it. I see the one end is a seal and the opposite is not discolored so it fits into something at that point. The screw contruction makes me think it’s adjustable by turning. Is this a pressurized flush system, and not gravity flush? The information may help somebody else, but I can’t help. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/13 "2007-03-12T20:21:37Z")
No, gravity flush system, and like I said, I found it laying on the ground near the end of the fill tube after I had disconnected and moved the toilet. I don’t know that it came from there. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/14 "2007-03-13T23:36:42Z")
I just thought I would try once more to try to get the part identified. I don’t want to have to replace anything that I don’t need to since, quite honestly, I hate working with water. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/15 "2007-03-14T04:06:13Z")
I’ve stared at your pics several times now trying to jog my memory. I feel absolutely certain I have seen that part before. I’m not entirely sure, but it may be part of the assembly that holds the toilet seat in place. Is the green end of this piece featureless? Or does it have a slot or some means of turning it into place? Please post back if you identify it. Not knowing makes my curiosity bump all itchy. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/16 "2007-03-14T06:29:03Z")
Looks like an anchor or plug for a hole. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/17 "2007-03-14T10:42:48Z")
Green end is featureless, no screwdriver slot or anything. Also, I thought the green looked that color because of exposure to copper sulfate in water (our water, even with treatment, is slightly acid) rather than a manufacturer’s coloration. But I will check around the toilet seat, see if I can find its mate. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/18 "2007-03-14T15:59:57Z")
Nothing I’ve ever seen before. Kids or Grandkids missing any toys? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/19 "2007-03-14T16:27:52Z")
I wonder if you could take it to Home Depot or Lowes and ask around in their plumbing or toilets department just to see if anyone there knows. Or even see if they have one for sale! That’d be cool 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507/20 "2007-03-14T18:29:21Z")
Judging by the picture **Fear Itself** posted, I would say it is part of the trip arm support (#51171) but cannot see enough detail and cannot find another pic online. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-toilet-part/395507.md?page=2)