[gstructure]

Hi all,

I don't know what the previous owner did, but when I got to it - the toilet was wobbling and the nuts were tight. After removing the nuts and the toilet I found the flange to be bent up on one side and torn on the other. The pipe is Lead (Pb) 3-4 inches at the top and cast iron the rest of the way, and the flange sits on the tile-over-concrete floor with the lead flared over it. The flange doesn't seem to have been attached to the floor in any other mechanical way.

From reading the esteemed Speedball1's past posts on the topic of lead pipes and toilets I'm clear that I need to use a wax seal with an attached funnel, and that the flange isn't really necessary. However since I'm dealing with a concrete subfloor I can't use the wood screw closet bolts.

I've used screws and plastic anchors for attaching to concrete before, but never with a 1/4" screw - do they even make plastic anchors in that size? Is there another option?

Thank you,
GK

[speedball1]

You got a old time plumber that remembers working with lead pipes and closed bends. Don't sweat the flange. If you haven't tore up the other toilet let me tell you how we set toilets when there were lead pipes and closet bends and no closet flanges.
First off a closet flange only purpose is to secure the bowl to secure it to the floor. Nothing else! It dors not prevent leaks.
Here's what you do, cut the flange off as close to the top of the lead pipe as you can. Now, very carefully, start to flare the excess lead around the open opening down to floor level.
You will need to purchase two wood screw type closet bolts and a small can of plumbers putty. Set the bowl over the opening where it will set and mark the holes where the closet bolts will go into the floor, (if a tile floor, drill 1/4" holes and use plastic inserts to screw the bolts into. Make a rope of putty about 1 inch thick and set it over the lead flare. Or use a wax ring with a funnel. Screw the closet bolts into the floor. You are now ready to set the bowl. Pick it up and set it over the flare. Give it a little twist to seat it and tighten the closet bolts. Now take some Dap White Tile and Tub Caulk and grout the base for a professional looking job and give yourself a pat on the back. You've just set a toilet the way we used to set them in the old days. Good luck and if you have questions I'm as close as a click. Tom