pump action bog?

[Jim K]

Anyone care to postulate what's wrong with a (traditional style) loo whose handle "has to be pumped" to flush?

TIA Jim K

[GB]

New diaphragm is needed in the syphon. They are usually only made out of polythene sheet.

[Bob Minchin]

Agreed. Needs to be fairly stiff - like DPM polythene. I had to do one recently. After a while pumping no longer works and you have to resort to a bucket to flush Toolsatan sell replacements 51242,57048,71576 (different sizes/shapes) all 70p for 5!!

[Dave Liquorice]

Normally a failed water lifting diaphragm.

[Davey]

That's what I was told. So I took it all apart, including getting a Dremel so I could cut the nuts to release the bolts holding the tank to the bowl, and found that the diaphragm was perfectly sound. Cleaned everything up, re-assembled it all, and it still behaves the same as before. I think the problem is too short a 'throw' on the lifting mechanism before the tank top stops it rising. I need to shorten the connecting wire. It's not enough of a problem to spend more time on, though, as an 'authoritative' action usually works.

Good luck.

[GB]

Our downstairs loo needs a new diaphragm *again*. Grrr.

[Alan Braggins]

If it's the diaphragm, it'll get worse and worse. If it's always been like that and is staying the same, that's different.

[Andrew Mawson]

As others have said it is the diaphragm. Our downstairs one was like that when we moved in, I did a 'temporary fix' one weekend using two layers cut from a plastic pig feed sack. It was still going strong four years later when the bog was pulled out and replaced in our house refurbishment :)

AWEM

[The Medway Handyman]

But since you have to remove it to change the diaphragm, you might just as well replace the whole thing for less than a £5.

On older siphons, especially if those bloody awful blue loo things have been used, the siphon body could have a split or pinhole.

Don't forget a close couple kit for £3.36.

[Brian Gaff]

Plastic washer is knackered. The one that looks like a sheet of polythene. the suction is reduced due to the leakage and fast pumping can get the siphon working if its fast enough to outstrip the leaking. Brian

[harryagain]

It's wear on the edge of the thing and not immediately apparent to casual glance. You may as well get a complete new syphon as some else said. Dirt cheap. DON'T be tempted by one of those useless flapper things.