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So very frustrating! This was apparently installed wrong according to the experts at the hardware store. The wing nut is in upside down. Tried gluing with gorilla glue which worked for about a year. It was knocked down over Christmas by unsuspecting users. Thanks!
Edit to add: the toggle bolt is stripped and I can't get it off.
Last edited by oldhousegirl; 12-28-2014 at 06:31 PM..
Take the springloaded nut off- turn it around, reinstall.
Then push it through the hole, with the wings sprung out pull on the mount and turn clockwise. This will tighten the mount to the wall.
Take the springloaded nut off- turn it around, reinstall.
Then push it through the hole, with the wings sprung out pull on the mount and turn clockwise. This will tighten the mount to the wall.
Hey thanks, the hardware man tried to get it off but could not. Also tried to put another one on top of it going in the right direction, it didn't fit.
The idea of wire-brushing the threads to remove the crud in them is a good one. Ignore the anchor that is already on there.
Go back to the hardware store (or a better one) and get a replacement toggle.
The following is as much an exercise in alternatives as anything. I can think of a few other ways of accomplishing the task, and I'm pretty sure somebody will have a replacement toggle the right size.
If you can't find a new toggle that fits (unlikely) then buy a foot of threaded rod the same size, a hex nut that will fit both the towel bar holder and the threaded rod, a small (1" x 3" +-) rectangular bit of wood, a utility knife and some glue.
Drill a hole in the center of the wood slightly larger than the threaded rod.
Oil or grease the threaded rod.
Screw the nut onto the tip of the threaded rod.
Insert the threaded rod into the hole in the wood.
Put glue around the edge of the hole and pull the nut into the glue.
Let the glue adhere overnight.
Use the utility knife to enlarge the hole in the wall laterally (only) so that the wood will go in the hole.
Smear glue on the rectangular bit of wood.
Insert the wood into the hole laterally, then twist it vertically to grasp the sheet rock from the back.
Pull the wood against the backside of the hole using the threaded rod and clamp the rod in position so it remains tight.
Let the glue cure overnight.
Remove the threaded rod (might require pliers, but the oil or grease should keep it from sticking to the nut) and the nut will stay in position, glued to the wood which is now glued to the back of the sheetrock.
Screw the towel bar holder into the nut.
Forget about the toggle, take a pair of pliers and try to unscrew the whole bolt from the mounting plate.
If you can't get a good enough grip with pliers you can try and screw two nuts on the end. Tighten them together and then try to unscrew the bolt using a wrench on one of the nuts.
If you can't get the old bolt/toggle out of the bracket, just get a new towel bar.
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