Toilet lever/handle replacement gone wrong - need some advice

nero33

Hi, our flush handle/lever failed last night (the piece of metal that connects from the lever to the syphon snapped).







I bought a replacement kit but I've realised that I can't connect the c-link (metal piece)  to the syphon because that piston rod hole has dropped into the syphon.





What are my options?  I have limited DIY skills and plumbing stuff frightens me but I thought I'd be able to replace that metal part or the handle!

Thanks

nofoollikeold

You have 2 options:
1. Get a piece of stiff wire (e.g. cut up metal coat hanger) and put an "L" on the end.  Flatten the long part of the L next to the short part by hammering it on something hard, like a metal working vice.  Poke it through the hole in the top of the syphon, and try and snag the hole in the rod.  Pull it up as far as you can till the short part of the L is clear of the hole, and secure the rod to the new link.
2. Turn the water off, empty the cistern and remove it.  Remove the syphon and replace with a Dudley Turbo 88 adjustable.  You will need to change the "doughnut" washer which seals between cistern and pan.  This is not a trivial job.  Replacing with a Turbo 88 means you won't have to remove the syphon in future to change the syphon washer.  

ThisIsWeird

Hi Nero.

What do you do for a living? I really hope it's 'brain surgeon'.

You are pretty much stuffed, and that is very unlucky in this situation, as part of the piston's connecting rod should really still be sticking up through that hole.

Unfortunately I cannot see NFLO's idea working, as you couldn't pull that rod up through that hole when it has a piece of wire attached to it. So, the only option - other than removing the cistern - that I can see is to:

Get a couple of pieces of stiff wire - like fence wire. Bend one into a fish-hook shape - ie a longish piece, and a curved piece, and short 'up' piece - and the other into an 'L'-shape, with the long bit a few inches in length, and the bottom horizontal piece a couple of inches.

Then, slip the fish-hook under the syphon's bottom, its take-up section - see orange arrow - and then turn it to try and lift the piston upwards an inch or so. Then - after removing the wee white plug (yellow arrow) - insert the L shape through there and try and get it under the piston in order to take over from the first jobbie, and continue the piston upwards until the rod appears.

It would help to know what this 'piston' looks like - try some Google images. It is an open frame, with a thin diaphragm on it. If the 'hook' misses the 'frame', but instead contacts the 'diaphragm', then you won't be able to push it up. So, you'll need to reposition the hook, and try again...

I should emphasise that this only has a snowball's chance of working if the rod is still sitting centrally in that hole. If it is, then even just the first fishhook rod might do the job, so try that first. If you have petite fingers, there's even a chance you can get them under there and push the piston up? No wire required! WooHoo!

Have a third piece of wire (ok, the link you just bought) ready to slip through the rod's hole to secure it when it appears!

Failing that, it's a plumber job - unless you are really ambitious?

ThisIsWeird

You need to catch this frame, or the centre of this part:

Green arrow - good luck

nero33

Great replies.  I'll sleep on it and see how I approach this

nero33

Used a safety pin.  Faffed around for about an hour and eventually got it to 'catch'.  I lost it but that gave me hope and I managed to hook on to the piston rod a few moments later.


All connected, tested and running fine touch wood!

Thanks again for everyones replies

ThisIsWeird

So NFLO's idea worked?!
Lawdie

Seriously well done - it must have been a fiddle.

Eldi_Dos

Patience is a virtue,well done.

Would creating a flange just below the hole in rod be a idea incase it ever comes adrift again.
I was thinking a cable tie trimmed or a build up of half inch tape

Bigphil1474

OP, if it's encouraging in any way, I replaced my toilet cistern fairly easily with very little plumbing skills. Didn't even need to turn the water off (just jimmied the ball !!!!!! thingamy so it wouldn't refill the pot). Surprisingly straight forward from a few youtube vids.

nero33

Bigphil1474 said:

OP, if it's encouraging in any way, I replaced my toilet cistern fairly easily with very little plumbing skills. Didn't even need to turn the water off (just jimmied the ball !!!!!! thingamy so it wouldn't refill the pot). Surprisingly straight forward from a few youtube vids.

It's encouraging but I know my limitations

nero33

Eldi_Dos said:

Patience is a virtue,well done.

Would creating a flange just below the hole in rod be a idea incase it ever comes adrift again.
I was thinking a cable tie trimmed or a build up of half inch tape

That's a good idea!