Concealed Cistern

[MickBrown]

Anybody come across a concealed cistern with a handle flush that is connected by a bar to the flush valve. The panel that the handle goes through is removable but the handle seems fixed to this bar so although I can loosed the panel it will not come off until the handle is removed. Does the handle normally push on after the panel is fitted? I have only come across concealed cisterns with cable connections before. I do not want to try and prise off the handle unless I am sure it will come off.

 

[rpm]

If you lift the lid of the cistern there is normally a spacer and the arm linking the bar to the siphon valve and both of these have screws. Remove the screws and prise the spacer and the arm off, even now it can be difficult but it will come. Clean the bar before refittiing.

 

[Alex Knight]

Yeah had this before, get a pic to make sure but you can get extra long handles from merchants for this

 

[MickBrown]

Tx Alex, but do the handles pull off? I need to remove the handle before I can take off the panel.

 

[Ermintrude]

Yeah had this before, get a pic to make sure but you can get extra long handles from merchants for this

Is it a commercial vanity panel? The panel above might push up then lift out ? Used to use the levers a lot but now it's all air or wires?

 

[rpm]

Sometimes there is a tiny grub screw securing the handle to the bar, normally found at the bottom out of sight.

 

[MickBrown]

Can't lift the lid as can't get access. A previous owner installed the bathroom, the units are topped with a worktop going full width of the room. A basin is inset in one end and the cistern with pan the other end. It looks like after the worktop was installed he tiled. So the top is not going to come off easily. The toilet is not flushing anymore and I was hoping to access through front panel, it may not be possible even if I get front panel off which I can't unless I can remove the handle first. I think my only option may be to cut the worktop to get it out, removing the tiles is another option but they are mosaics and no spares. Couldn't see a grub screw.

 

[rpm]

Sounds like a right DIY moron, feel for you.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i think you are going to have to warn the customers that there will be some damage caused to get at the cistern. or cut the handle off and convert it to push button. give them the two options and they may go for the new push button one.

 

[rpm]

Rather than take the whole worktop off consider using a jig-saw from above and making an access hole. The cistern is normally screwed to the back wall (sometimes on a wooden baton) and the average cistern is around 7" deep x 16" long so using the toilet pan as a rough guide draw a centre line and cut in, start small until you can see in then enlarge. Not sure how your going to cover the hole afterwards though :-(

 

[rpm]

i think you are going to have to warn the customers that there will be some damage caused to get at the cistern. or cut the handle off and convert it to push button. give them the two options and they may go for the new push button one.

Thats ok but don`t you still need to withdraw the valve to replace it?

 

[tamz]

You can't get into the grub screws until you slide the handle off and you need to undo the bolt inside the cistern to let it slide out.

We used to fit a thing called a trinket tray (not sure of the correct name for it) on the worktop above the ballcock. It was a ceramic tray and measured about 6 x 4" and allowed limited access to the ballcock and linkage.
Don't know if you can still get them.

You can cut the old handle off then the chrome shroud will unscrew allowing the front panel to pull off.
Remove the cistern and fit a push button syphon. This will let the front panel pull off any time you need in.

 

[MickBrown]

i think you are going to have to warn the customers that there will be some damage caused to get at the cistern. or cut the handle off and convert it to push button. give them the two options and they may go for the new push button one.

The customer actually said I would probably have to take the worktop off, however I do not think she realised it was tiled in.
Even if I got access from the front as rpm said I still need to get access to the flush valve and that could be difficult. I could move the access panel slightly and see behind and there doesn't seem to be any way to access the flush valve anyway. If I could remove the front panel it would confirm I need to remove the worktop to do the job. Cutting a hole in the top is a good idea as I could do the job, but concealing it afterwards would be a big problem. I think I will just have to remove the worktop and hope I do not find an easier solution once removed.

 

[rpm]

I`ve seen those trays as well tamz but forgot about em, so in theory buy a small tea tray and use that as the template remembering to use the lip of the tray to hold it in place.

 

[Ermintrude]

Do as Tamz said cut off handle, then "remove" old cistern and replace with new one that has fixing bracket so u can just push it into place. Put access back on with correct clips and a push valve?