How to Fix a Leaky KOHLER Toilet 

Mahalos for the instructional video. It was very detailed. Blessings, Bert

I’m a 69 year old women. After following your instructions, I just fixed my running toilet. Perfect! Your instructions were much easier to follow than others. Thanks!

Thank you! I was able to fix our running toilet that was keeping us awake at night.

Never having seen this style, I was frustrated- this video was perfect!! Recommend

The yellow gasket is an improvement over the old red ones. It's made of better material and should last longer. Thanks for the video!

Great video! Perfectly explained. One addition, though: my leaky toilet was only two years old, which seemed like a pretty short time for a new rubber gasket to wear out. I took out the old (red) one and noticed a lot of sediment buildup on it, which I suspected was the source of the leak. I carefully scraped all of the crusty stuff off with my fingernail, then scoiured it with a scotch bright pad and replaced it. No more leak, and I saved 8 bucks on the (overpriced) new one! Hope this helps.

My wife wants to change the whole toilet bowl. Glad I found this.

Thank you very much, this worked well. The gasket that was there was so brittle that it broke into pieces when removing. Easy to follow instructions and we save a lot of money by doing this ourselves.

This video was very helpful! We were able to change the ring without undoing the chain. Also, it is much easier to undo that centre piece if you put your hand near the attachment spot when turning it. Thank you so much!

Thanks man!!!!...you saved me some money, my wife was ready to call a Plomer and with your help I fixed in few minutes!!!....just a little tip!!!...it's much easier if you lift the canaster with one hand and the other try to lose it from the bottom

The part number was vey crucial. I would recommend lifting the canister and turning the stem from the bottom counter-clockwise. This will keep the long stem from breaking if excess force is used from the top. Reinserting the tabs from the stem into the receptacle is also easier when guided from the bottom. Thank you for the easy instruction. I did the replacement in 5 minutes once I had the yellow gasket in hand.

Supposedly, the yellow material is a different composition that resists deterioration and chemical attack from chemicals in water better than the red. Not just marketing, but only time will tell. When they specifically show on the packaging that it replaces the red ring, you know they have realized the problem. Thanks for the video, very well done, easy to follow.

OMGosh, you were such a big help. I manage a hotel and my maintenance person is out and I am not mechanically inclined, so this was a great help to me. Thank you!!

After pulling out the white tube on top, I didn't even need to unscrew the top; just release the metal chain, and put in the yellow replacement O-ring from top. Move it down to fit into the bottom. Re-attach the metal chain. Done! (This hack came about because I had a hard time removing the screw on top, and was afraid that I might break it!)

I just changed my own thanks to you! That hard turn left was the worst part -- yeah, it feels like you're going to snap it in two -- but I steeled my nerve and got on with it.

Wish I had found this sooner! $179 later it's fixed. Tried to twist it off but got nervous, so I called the plumber. Thanks for posting this.

Good video. Only thing you should have done was wipe off the mating surfaces before re-installing the unit. It will clear a debre and causing the same problem you fixed.

Very clear. I just replaced the seals all three of mine based on your video. Thanks for the content.

2:06 Someone (JM Giron-5 years ago) had said in the comments that is a lot easier to lift the canister and turn the stem from the bottom to unlock. I was not able to turn it at all from the top and so worried that it would bread if I put on too much force. It is also easier to reinsert from the bottom and turn to lock at the bottom.

Thanks so much - I am a 69 year old widow who just fixed my running toilet by myself - so easy! I watched a couple of videos, but yours was the most clear and simple. This is a real service. Not only saved money, but the hassle of getting a plumber to come out, waiting for arrival, etc.

Fixed! Thans so very much. Great easy to understand video.

the instructions on the valve seal were not at all good, followed your video and it was perfect! thanks so much

If you're having issues twisting the stem off at the top, try lifting the tube up and twisting the stem at the bottom. This way you don't risk snapping the plastic.

Thank you. Worked like a charm.

5 years later and we are still referencing your Koehler canister repair. Thank you!

I am 70 and my husband has MS. This was such a huge help and saved us a call to a plumber. Thank you so much for this.

thanks for video...first time changing one like this...I have watched all the ones like this and NOT once have I seen anyone clean the mating surface to the o-ring on the bottom where it seats.

Hey, thanks for the information you laid it down easy as 123 and saved me some funds , best to you ,peace

I couldn’t turn the part in the canister soooo I put rubber thing over the top of the canister and carefully slid the rubber thing down. Worked ok.

Appreciate your video and advise. I will be purchasing the new gasket and installing it soon. Thanks for providing the part number as well! 😁

This is exactly what I am looking for! Thank you for the upload!

Thank you, the twist of the column was crucial, I didn't want to break it and knowing how it fit in the bottom really helped! Thank you!

OMG this was VERY helpful, thank you so very much! For $7.98 at the Home Depot I got the gasket and replaced it in 2 minutes. It actually made me happy that I bought a Kohler commode. Easiest fix I've had in ages.

Excellent! Thank you, it works!

Thanks for sharing this information 😁✌️

Hey man thank you. Safe me a headache.

One of the best videos explaining how to repair the leak in the tank! Just folllow each step and you will be totally done and tested within ten minutes! Remember to push down and turn spindle counterclockwise to remove...this was the hardest part!

On mine the red gasket had bubbles after 2 years and the plastic part the fill tube was hooked up to created slow fill. Had to clean it also.

Thanks. (Suggestion: next time, get someone to hold the camera, so we can see the awkward parts that require two hands.)

Thank goodness I have a Kohler! I watched a couple of videos, ordered the right part, and when it came, I fixed the toilet in about 5 minutes! These videos are just great! You can fix almost anything by watching them on Utube, and I'm 78 years old.

Thank you very much for your instruction , it was very thorough and I ordered my kohler seal from amazon . I installed it tonight and it only took me about 5 minutes the longest time was waiting for the tank to fill lol .Im so proud of myself !!! Thanks again I’m a happy woman ! I know I saved at least $100 maybe more if I had to get a plumber .👍👍👍😊😊😊

1:26 unlatch the chain is not necessary. The chain is so hard to unlatch and later latch on, it is wasting of time and effort. You don't need to take the canister completely out to replace the seal.

Be advised, if you have really hard water, be careful twisting too hard by grabbing the top of the canister. If it doesn't twist easily, the lime is built up on the bottom. Lift up the canister with one hand, and reach to the bottom stem with the other hand, and twist it. If it doesn't twist easily, get some wd40 and squirt down there and wait a minute and try again. I had to do this very thing with mine. Dont twist too hard from the top like he's doing and break it!

Thank you for including the part number! This video is so helpful for this 70+ woman!

This was helpful. But my gasket looks pristine. I flipped it over we'll see.

The color changed because it is a different materiel. The old red ones got ragged and stretched and pulled off of the canister. The new yellow ones seem to work better (so far).

This worked for me, thank you! The valve seal went bad after only one year.

My Kohler toilet looks a little different inside. Wish I could share a pic. I don't have the canister, but it's a newer toilet. Any advice how to find directions for my specific toilet?

Excellent explanation, you saved me much aggravation. Thank you!

Thank you for showing the part number!!!!

Thanks for the video. I found it easier to lift the canister, and unscrew the bolt from the bottom. I didn't have to disconnect the chain at all!

Thanks for your video - well done ! I will echo what a few other folks noted in that you can simply remove the chain and then slide the old gasket up and over the large black cylinder and then slide the new gasket down over the cylinder and into its groove. No need to fuss with detaching the entire stem.

HoneyDoneFix - Very informative! Have read many of the comments on your video and it will certainly help 95% of the folks that have this problem. for the 1% that like to provide "constructive feedback" give him a break. We dont see you buying a camera, videoing the task with one hand and then you critique his dialog?? come on critics provide feedback on results and learn to provide feedback in a more gracious manner (appreciative of the effort and the results obtained). ppl like you can have an orgasm and then provide "constructive feedback" on how it wasnt good 😞

Thanks!!

good job. I like your attention to the detils in the steps!

Oh, WoW! Thanks for showing the replacement part, part number and package and estimated price for part. Very thorough... so important and so helpful! That kind of detail makes it easier to figure it out and makes you look smart in the store shopping for the part. Good job!

Seriously this video helped a lot. But I do want to whine a bit about Kohler’s quality. I can’t believe they’d allow a gasket to deteriorate after just one year of use.

Your instructions were perfect. SO easy to follow.

Great video thanks for the help

Thank you for this videos, my toilet was randomly refilling the water tank.

I was quoted $200 to fix this but did it for $7. Thank you!

Thanks for showing and explaining the locking mechanism. Very helpful!

Thank you for this video! I was able to easily change the ring and fix the leak!

Thanks man! You made it easy

Thanks for the video. Very thorough and I did it myself!

Thanks! I just fixed my toilet for $7.00 + tax. Clear and easy to follow; glad you added the part about jimmying the plastic part, otherwise I may have chickened out at that point since it wasn't budging initially.

Thank you all the Best.

My canister drops down before all the water is out. Not getting a full flush

Thanks for posting this video. So helpful, clear step by step which enabled me to change same canister seal in about 10 mins! Awesome.

God such an easy fix but had to search hard to find this fix, didnt find anything on Kohlers site at all.

Thank you!!!! I assumed I needed a traditional flapper valve and went to Lowe's to buy one, and that's what they incorrectly sold me. I took that back to return it today with a picture of the inside of my tank, and they had no idea what I needed. Thankfully a man came along who happened to be a plumber and he showed me all I needed was a gasket as you showed. And now I know step by step what to do. Very helpful!

Thanks for this. It took me so long to figure out what this cylinder "flapper" was and that it was associated with Kohler that once I found it and found this video it was a quick run to Lowes and 5 minutes later no more running toilet.

Thanks for the video - just the right instruction and just the right assurances about twisting the cylinder. 3 minute job fixed the problem! Good job.

Thank you so much, our guest bathroom toilet didn't stop running when I took it apart just like you showed, and it didn't have the rubber ring. I did everything you said and its working beautifully thank you soooooo much. I didn't have to pay a plumber.

Thank you. My cylinder was making an awful sound when I tried to detach it and I was afraid to continue until I watched your video. Toilet fixed in 6 minutes.

Thank you

Excellent tip without having to remove the yellow top, as instructed by Kohler. Easier and faster! Thanks.

Really helpful video, but please invest in a tripod or get a helper so that you can use two hands!

I’m gonna brag tomorrow at work that I fixed my toilet... thanks sir

all of these videos are for running toilets. my toilet doesn't run, doesn't fill and won't flush. water was just running down the drain. seal is totally worn. I replaced the fill valve. If I find a gasket, will everything work again?

The red gaskets on my Kohler toilet literally turned as soft as chewed bubble gum or taffy. The new yellow gasket appears to be superior and I hope it will last longer.

Worked like a charm. I was puzzled by the tower configuration as I am used to the old flapper style toilet. Learned that you twist off the top and replace the ring - very easy. Thanks.

Thanks for mentioning to push down on the slotted piece to remove it. Other how to videos for this repair never mention this. And thank you for telling viewers where to find the replacement gasket, the part number and alerting us that it will be a different color and not to panic😊

Unfortunately my Home Depot doesn’t have replacement parts for Kohler in 2023. 😢

What a shitty design. But like any other human problem, if you want to fix it, go get the biscuit! Watch RU-vid videos.

Counter clockwise is to the left. 😊 seriously, excellent video and saved a call to the plumber

Great video, thank you so much. You saved me from having to call a plumber for this simple fix. Well done!

Thank you! Just fixed my toilet for less than $7 thank Hod for RU-vid

Exactly what I needed to know. Fixed my toilet in no time. Thanks.

Thank you so much! The Kohler mechanism is new to me and I appreciate your clear instruction.

How to fix a leaky Koehler toilet; take sledge hammer and smash. Replace with less problematic brand for less headaches

in explanation you say when taking off the plastic flapper turn it to the right. But when watching you do it you turned it to the left first. Does it matter which way you tuen it at first ?

Excellent Thanks for the education

thanks , butterfingers ! helped a lot !!

The next step would have been to wipe all the calcium deposits of the rim where the new gasket will sit, otherwise you might still wind up with slow leaks.

Do not use Chlorine tablets in the tank. It ruins the rubber gasket making it less effective. It will weaken the rubber and sometimes you will see it bubble. If you must use those tablets, use ones that hang on the side of the bowl.

Saved me a plumbing service call! Much thanks

Man I am so glad to watch your video, save me some money and headache.

Thanks for this video! You saved me at least $100.

This worked, thank you!