how to remove this cistern cover please

searchlight123

hi all
my stepson has just called me as his toilet cistern is not filling / flushing. he cannot remove the cisten lid. the pic links below show the lid and the ring he has removed from the push buttons. it still won't lift off. fearing he may break something could someone advise how this lid comes off and also the problem we may encounter to fix this issue.
really grateful for your advice.
thanks.

http://i39.tinypic.com/mrtxub.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/avxu9.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/hwbqrc.jpg

stephen25uk

normally i just,unscrew the ring around the button and the button if it needs it then the lid should just lift off

greyteam1959

The ring will only need to be turned 3 or 4 times before it comes off.
The button may need turning many time cos it has a long thread.

Have you checked that the water supply has not been turned off ???
Either near the cistern or perhaps somewhere else ??
Look for the simple things first !!
HTh

searchlight123

mervyn11 wrote: »

The ring will only need to be turned 3 or 4 times before it comes off.
The button may need turning many time cos it has a long thread.

Have you checked that the water supply has not been turned off ???
Either near the cistern or perhaps somewhere else ??
Look for the simple things first !!
HTh

hi
water is definitely on as its running into the back of the pan. the ring around the buttons has been removed but at this point is where he is struggling as he cannot work out how to remove the buttons that will only lift up 1 or 2 cms to then release the lid.

greyteam1959

The button will definitely unscrew, is it very tight ??
Is he turning it the right way ??

greyteam1959

Try here ??
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/ideal-standard-push-button-cistern-lid-removal-t3000.html
Or here ??
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070112093823AAKFGnS

roddydogs

Careful, they are usually plastic these days.

searchlight123

hi thanks for help.
looking at picture 2 of my original post with the chrome outer ring removed, do you think the buttons themselves need unscrewing by the plastic outer ring or do the buttons need prising off somehow first?
i do not want to do any unnecessary damage for obvious reasons:(

27col

That type of button should just prise out. Try a couple of watchmaker's screwdrivers. Once they are out you should see a plastic screw. When that is unscrewed, the lid will come off.

Moss5

The onlyone I have worked on had to have the buttons prised out to gain access to a cross-head plastic screw.

Pressing one button may enable you to lift the other?

I used sticky tape to lift the buttons and get a flat-blade screwdriver under them.

It takes some courage to believe you are doing the right thing.

tigeress289

Try pushing one button down and lifting the other out, then remove the one you pushed down the same way. With both of them out, there will be a white or black plastic screw inside. Unscrew that and the top will come off.