I'm not a plumber, but I have had to unclog my fair share of toilets. I'm not familiar with your toilet model, but I went online to look up your problem with the cap.
FWIW, here is what I found. Hope it might help...
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An eco toilet with a Tornado Flush uses less water while maximizing bowl cleaning through a swirling, high-pressure flush. As for the bolt cap stuck inside the toilet rim channel, removal may require creative retrieval tools or partial disassembly depending on access.
What Is an Eco Toilet with Tornado Flush?
Eco models are designed to use
less water per flush, typically:
- 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF) vs. older 1.6 or 3.5 GPF models
- Often labeled WaterSense-certified for conservation
Tornado Flush (used by TOTO and similar brands):
- Uses dual nozzles instead of a traditional rim with holes
- Creates a 360° swirling flush that cleans the bowl more thoroughly
- Eliminates the rim cavity, making it more hygienic and easier to clean
- Often paired with rimless bowl designs and CEFIONTECT glaze to reduce residue
You can view a visual diagram in
TOTO’s official parts manual TotoUSA.com or watch
this video demonstration YouTube.
About the Stuck Bolt Cap
Your situation suggests the bolt cap:
- Fell into the flush valve opening (under the flapper)
- Was small enough to pass into the rim channel, but too large to exit the jet
- Is now floating or wedging intermittently, blocking the siphon jet
This confirms the toilet has a
rim channel system, possibly with an
inner and outer bowl cavity, not a direct pipe.
How to Remove the Object
Here are safe, DIY strategies:
1.
- Use long tweezers, needle-nose pliers, or a flexible grabber tool
- Try from both ends: flapper opening and siphon jet
- Flush partially to reposition the object, then grab when visible
2.
- Use a wet/dry shop vac with a narrow nozzle
- Seal around the nozzle with a rag to increase suction
- Try from the flapper side first
3.
- Insert a bent wire hanger or long zip tie to nudge or hook the object
- Avoid scratching the porcelain or damaging the jet
4.
- If the object is unreachable and causing chronic blockage
- Remove the toilet and flush from the bottom to dislodge it
- This is rarely needed unless the object is deeply wedged
Your Observation Is Key
You noticed the
space between inner and outer bowl layers, which confirms:
- The object is not in a straight pipe, but in a rim channel
- That channel may curve and narrow, making retrieval tricky
Sources:
TotoUSA.com Relief In Bath YouTube Answer The Home Better That Home Toiletseek Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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I have a couple of those flexible grab tools with a claw that comes out the bottom end when you depress the top end...
Something like that might work in a hard-to-reach spot. I have both the regular claw and a magnetic pick up tool. But Harbor Freight sells one that has both the claw and magnet in the same tool...
I don't think you need the magnet for a plastic cap removal, but if you have to buy a pickup tool, I like the idea where one tool that has both the claw and magnet on it. I don't use my pickup tools very often, but when I do use them, it's because it's either the best, or only, option that would work.
Good luck on the repair. Let us know if/how you got it fixed.
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