OLD THREAD: Dribbling loo - how to get at the cistern

JohnB47

Thanks. I'll come back when I get well enough to fit the seal.

robatwork

Just to let you know I had a similar issue (different cistern). I typed in leaking toilet / cistern model into youtube, and an excellent video showed me (bodger at best) exactly what to do.

JohnB47

robatwork said:

Just to let you know I had a similar issue (different cistern). I typed in leaking toilet / cistern model into youtube, and an excellent video showed me (bodger at best) exactly what to do.

Thanks. I've looked at lots of videos but none match my setup exactly. Still, they're a great benefit. Just need to manage getting that flush unit through the hole. I'm sure I'll be surprised how easy it is when I have another try. It's such a huge opening, so I know it should come through there!

I'll let the back settle down for another few days.

JohnB47

OK, this has been sorted.

I had to ask for help with the job as my back was still a bit dodgy. Managed to get the flush unit out, fairly easily this time and took off the old seal. I was initially disappointed to see that it looked in good condition - not like the badly blistered ones shown on Youtube videos.

Later I saw that it had one fairly large blister on one side (see picture). It doesn't look like it's in the right place to cause the problem but it has stopped now that the new seal has been fitted.

We also used a stick with some cloth taped at the end to rub around the part of the flush unit still in the cistern - the area where the seal would sit on. This might have dislodged some grit. Certainly there were a few bits of black stuff ejected into the bowl on the first flush, so maybe that was the real problem all along.

Anyway, all fixed now with, I hope, not too much of my metered water wasted.

robatwork

JohnB47 said:

Anyway, all fixed now with, I hope, not too much of my metered water wasted.

It would have to be thousands of litres to match the cost of a plumber. But now you can sit on your throne with the satisfaction (bad back allowing) of a job you DIYd

JohnB47

Well, here I am again. I replaced the seal (see two posts above for a picture) in early September 2022 and the problem has returned. I can't remember where I bought the replacement seal, so I'll have to start again and hope I buy a good one.

I didn't clean or replace the other items mentioned on this thread, so I'm wondering if I should do that now. Then again, if the leak is into the bowl, surely the seal I mention is the only one that could have failed. 

One person suggested replacing 'the whole mechanism' but surely, if I do that, it would need wholesale removal of panels etc to get at it? Not sure if I want to go that far.

Any advice on where to get a 'good' seal welcomed.

Edit: just found that I got the last one from an ebay dealer. Should I go for a different dealer or are the seals all likely to be the same quality?

JohnB47

Me again. I'm sure you are all fascinated by this saga.

I bought a replacement seal from National Shower Spares for £4.79 and fitted it today. I still had a faff removing the appropriate part from the cistern but got there without too much swearing.

Guess what - the seal I replaced the original with in 2022 had blistered too! Is this some sort of con to create work for tradespeople?

Anyway, the one I've just fitted is Branded Geberit and seems the business.

It didn't all go smoothly however. When reassembling things I happened to notice a drip falling from the front lower left hand corner of the cistern. I then saw a curious mark halfway up that left hand edge which I thought was paint. So I wiped over that edge and immediately a small bead of water appeared - the cistern is cracked and the mark was water calcification that had built up below the leak point. Obviously it had been weeping for some time, although there's no sign of damp below (actually there's a piece of horizontal laminated panel just below that drip point with a few drips on it, no more. I suppose it's lucky I spotted it but now I need to replace the whole gubbins.

I've put a container under the drip point and I plan to drain the cistern some night, clean the whole area and put silicon sealant inside and outside that whole edge to seal it until I can source and buy a new cistern kit.

Ho hum.

robatwork

Still here reading...not flushed with success, you cracked me up and bowled me over.

Other even more wretched toilet puns on my next reply, good luck.

FreeBear

robatwork said:

Still here reading...not flushed with success, you cracked me up and bowled me over.

Other even more wretched toilet puns on my next reply, good luck.

Please. No. Just can them.

If you continue, our opinion will just go down the pan.

JohnB47

Last night I drained the cistern and cleaned the areas inside and out around that crack and applied silicon sealant. Refilled this morning and all OK. There was about a desert spoonful of water in the drip container - that was about 7 hours worth.