Trouble replacing valve in minimal clearance skirted toilet

[Steve N]

I am trying to replace a water inlet valve in a Toto skirted toilet, but whoever installed in did not consider the difficulty in unscrewing the water intake. I can fit my hand just barely where the intake unscrews, but I have not successfully fit a wrench back there. Is there any special kind of wrench I could use? Any other recommendations?

 

[Reach4]

Remove the water as best you can. Open the access panels, lift the toilet, do your work, clean the old caulk, set the toilet in place. Restore bolts. Put caulk in place.

No wax to worry about; Unifit adapter stays in place.

I am not a pro.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

Let's see a picture from inside the tank.
That model looks a little different than what I've seen from TOTO. If the tank is held with screws from the inside, it may just be a matter of removing those and lifting the tank off.

 

[Steve N]

Well, I was able to twist the fill valve stem a little bit from the inside and got the hand-tightened nut to come loose. Only problem now is that the valve stem may be glued down to the tank, I am having trouble getting it loose. I heard from a toto install video that part of the valve was "factory installed" but could not find any other info on that.

 

[Terry]

Maybe you got the supply line off, which is often hand tight, but the plastic nut that holds the fill valve on is much tighter than that on the tanks that come from the factory. I still think the tank should come off.

 

[Steve N]

Maybe you got the supply line off, which is often hand tight, but the plastic nut that holds the fill valve on is much tighter than that on the tanks that come from the factory. I still think the tank should come off.

You are correct Terry. I took off the tank and there was the plastic nut (duh!). The instructions with the Korky kit said to make that locking nut (the upper one) hand tight, which I did with the tank off, so got it hand tight putting a good grip on it. After that everything went well, no obvious leaks. I screwed the tank right back on, I don't need to replace the washers or anything do I?
Thanks for your help everyone.