I tried to replace my Rialto seat and one of the fasteners is free spinning. I called kohler and they want to sell me a 50 dollar repair kit. This is a 300 dollar toilet with a poor design. The new seat has replacement hardware. How can I get the spinning screw along with the screw holder out ?

Kohler Rialto / San Raphael toilet problems # 84499 ...

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Wrap a putty knife with a wash cloth, and push it between the toilet ceramic surface and the plastic hinge for the seat. Wedge it in there. Now try unscrewing the hinge screw. This provides back pressure against the hidden nut on the other side and may let you successfully remove the screw.

there should be a nut on the other side use a socket, pliers, vice grips, etc. to hold it

Kohler will try to sell you $46 anchor bolt kit 84999 & also there special tool. You should expect that for a $400 toilet.

Try this instead:
1. Use 1/8" drill bit and drill and drill around the bolt until the anchor material can be removed.
2. Carefully clean hole with 11/32 drill to remove all remaining acchor material.
3. Go local hardware store & buy a 10 - 32 3/8"X3/4" rubber expansion plug (make certain threaded part is brass & has shoulder on 1 end), a 10 - 32X1.5" Phillips bolt and couple of small fender washers fit the seat.(about $4 for 2)
4. Assemble carefully not to over tighten and crack the porcelain.

Hope it helps

The pull mechanism can be replaced with a universal one. This isn't a free thing but there are several different length's.
Pull yours out [ simple to do - unhook - use a pair of pliers and remove the large nut inside the tank and remove]
then take it and compare with a longer one. - Or there is a chain extension if you want to go that route.
Best of it

Roberta3fan could be giving bad advice based on experience with other toilets. This does not seem to be an option for this toilet design. I am in a similar situation and it appears that the nut (and it is a metal bolt) is not what you would expect. Here is a picture of the anchor kit for this toilet seat: http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/kohler-anchorkit-84999.jpg I am going to assume that the sleave that should be engaging the bolt is cross threaded and try to grab it with a pair of vice grips. I'll let you know if it works.

There is clips where the bolts should be .Flip the clips up grab hold of the seat and pull it strait out towards the front of the toilet.

Give Kohler a call AFTER you read the instructions thoroughly. Good Luck, seriously.

if so cut 1/4 inch off the bottom of round part of flat valve

If your problem is like mine your toilet seat is loose and swivels when you sit on it. If you try to tighten down the screw it won't tighten. Use instructions above to remove old hardware.

To fix with new hardware

Purchase Hilti brand 3/16" x 2-1/2" Toggler Brand Toggle Bolt (Home Depot sells the kit). Kit comes with 10. You will only need 2. My last repair lasted about 8 years (with new kit = 40 years left or the purchase of a new toilet - whichever comes first). Set comes with 3/16 flat head screws. I recommend purchasing 3/16" 2" round head screws with matching flat washers. Sink Metal Toggler into hole with toggler pointing straight up (it's attached by long plastic legs). As it goes in the hole it opens up. Pull up on the plastic pull rings as tight as you can until the toggler is tight up against the inner porcelain of the bowl (similar to tightening cable ties). Line the seat up with the holes and it's new plastic adapter (that won't slip into the hole courtesy of Hilti). Slide washer underneath round head screw but on top of toilet seat assembly and screw directly into the newly installed toggler which is sunk in bowl/abyss receptacle. Repair should take around 5 minutes.