Ever install one of these toilet flange fixers?

[wdfifteen]

I can get a shoe on my right foot, so I'm sorta back on my feet now. Nine days out of surgery and I'm not supposed to be up on it for more than an hour or so at a time, but I can move about.
So the first order of business was to fix the toilet in our 3rd floor bathroom. It was leaking, not flushing right - needed a complete rebuild - plus someone overtightened a hold down bolt and tore up the PVC flange. I got one of these handy dandy flange fixers to remedy it. Great concept, but it fails in the details. The screws supplied to attach it to the floor are little #6 size. As I was putting them in one broke off. My mistake, I thought, I overtightened it. I started backing out the others and one by one they broke off on the way out. The supplied screws were just too weak and small to do the job. Why do they do that? They maybe saved a dime using crap screws vs strong ones and therefor sent out a flawed product vs an excellent one.
I had to hobble down two flights of stairs to get some #8 deck screws. THEY hold it down! The studs that you bolt the toilet down with are likewise really scrawny. I tightened them very gingerly, afraid one of them would break off too. All is well, but my foot didn't need that extra trip to the basement.

[legion]

I've not used that style. I've just used a reinforced steel ring that fits over the damaged brass ring.

[dad911]

Last broken pvc flange I removed with heat. Works pretty well, videos on youtube.

Or cut the pipe and replace fittings. Worth it to do it right in the long run.

[red-beard]

I hate plumbing. Honestly, replacing a toilet is better than a kitchen faucet...

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by legion

I've not used that style. I've just used a reinforced steel ring that fits over the damaged brass ring.

Ya that’s what I used too. Had a mess to deal with at the MIL house where the ring that was there was corroded and gone. Bought one of the heavy duty replacement ones and tapcon anchored it into the concrete. No problems now. 🤣

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Ya that’s what I used too. Had a mess to deal with at the MIL house where the ring that was there was corroded and gone. Bought one of the heavy duty replacement ones and tapcon anchored it into the concrete. No problems now. 🤣

Same here, screwed to the subfloor with some big arse wood screws. Good to go.

[masraum]

I have used something like that. It worked ok. Mine was going into cement, so I had to use different screws.

I'm not surprised that you had the issues that you did with the screws. It seems like the "free hardware" that comes with just about anything these days is bottom of the barrel, barely get the job done stuff.

[1990C4S]

I suspect the screws you received were stainless. For good reason I guess, but they break easily.

I hate setting a toilet onto the wax ring....worst job ever.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm not surprised that you had the issues that you did with the screws. It seems like the "free hardware" that comes with just about anything these days is bottom of the barrel, barely get the job done stuff.

Yep, that is what is so disappointin. The piece seemed well designed and well built, but they tossed in these cheap ass screws.

[A930Rocket]

I always look at the screws before installing anything and get better screws if needed.

I NEVER use straight slot screws.

Torx, square or phillips is the way to go.

[unclebilly]

I hear they might need something lime this up on the ISS... do you think the cosmonauts are reading this forum? Comrades?

[T77911S]

I cant understand why they put a plastic flange on there to begin with. nothing worse than one breaking on a slab floor. it does not take much for the bolts that hold the toilet down to pull through.
I have screwed metal flanges on top of the plastic ones using concrete screws for slabs.