Leak between cistern and toilet

[Mike Dodd]

Hi

Just noticed a slight leak, which appears to be coming from between the (close-coupled) cistern and the toilet bowl.

Now, it's 21:30, so I'm not fool enough to start looking at this now, instead I intend to start tomorrow, when the shops are open to replace the bits that I break.

Question is, having never looked at a close-coupled toilet/cistern, exactly what's in store for me?, I'd imagine the cistern flush outlet is coupled to the toilet bowl via a (rubber?) union of some sorts, is this the normal config?, and is it this that is likely to have failed? If there is such a union, and it has failed, are these standard items that can be replaced easily?

Any help (particular in matters of plumbing) gratefully received.

Mike

[mike ring]

"Mike Dodd" wrote in news:40f83d14$0$6445$ [e-mail]:

2 main possibilities - the washer that seals the bottom of the flushing mechanism to the cistern, and the big soft rubber ring between the cistern and the bowl.

CAN YOU TELL IF IT L(Whoops)eaks all the time - that's the washer , or only when you flush - the big rubber ring.

Easily obtainable at proper plumbers suppliers, not so sure about sheds.

You may well have trouble with rusty nuts on the flange that locates the cistern on the bowl

HTH

mike

[Peter Andrews]

Not quite sure from your description where the leak is but... on my toilet water started to trickle into the pan all the time, initially I thought that the seal had failed but discovered that it was simply the adjustors on the flush button(s) had moved holding the mechanism slightly open. A quick twist and all OK. Hope yours is the same:-)

Peter

[Mike Dodd]

Appears to leak all the time - starting to remember helping a mate replace 4 corroded bolts in his cistern years ago, when they first moved in. Sigh, from memory, had to file flats on the protruded bolts to hold them fast with a pair of pliers, whilst "persuading" the nuts off.

Ho hum, time to get messy.

Thanks

Mike

[Owain]

"Mike Dodd" wrote | Ho hum, time to get messy.

At least you're dealing with the clean water input to the pan, and not the less clean pan output.

Owain

[Terry]

Written was;

Suggestion: In addition to the main 'sealing washer' at the intersection of the cistern and the toilet bowl; consider buying a couple of brass (or stainless) bolts and nuts And a washer or two) along with new 'rubber/neoprene washers' usually present under heads of bolts in bottom of the cistern tank.

[Ian Stirling]

Dremel? Cut the nuts off, replace bolts with nice stainless ones.

[mike ring]

"Owain" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Damn right, I'd fergotten to mentiont hat silver lining

mike

[Andrew Gabriel]

Called a doughnut washer or doughnut ring. I seem to recall there are a couple of different profiles, but a new one doesn't look much like an old one you took out, which will have become deformed to fit the space.

[Mike Dodd]

To all that replied, thanks for the helpful suggestions.

In the end, it was a lot more straight-forward than I'd dreaded, the bolts connecting cistern to bowl were mounted on a plate that was bolted to the outlet spigot (is that the word?), hence outside the cistern. It must have been the washer / grommet (