Old cistern/syphon advice?

[macka09]

Hi guys

I’ve tried to help out an old neighbour tonight with his toilet (low level cistern) as it had stopped flushing.

On inspection it was the diaphragm had split so I’d managed to get a new one, brilliant.

Problem is though, the existing syphon didn’t have a washer between the syphon and cistern??? Not even silicon or paste to be seen. 40 years this has been like it and I’ve never worked on a toilet without a washer. Plus, the flush pipe has one those really weird boot on that wraps on to the toilet. I thought it was rubber but it feels more like a hard plastic.

So I grabbed a new washer which was too thick and stopped the compression but on the flush pipe from being nipped up. So I decided to try it without the washer and it weeps constantly.

As I say, its a 40yr old loo but I’m trying to help so it’s not a chargeable job.

Anyone have any advice other than to change the whole thing?

I’ll attach a picture of the flush boot as I really don’t want to disturb it.

Cheers

 

[Rtplumb]

Would it be possible to get a picture of the syphon (and an internal one as well) as it passes through the cistern? The reason being that low level cistern syphons normally have a long tail (thread) to accommodate not only the jam nut but also the flush pipe nut. The boot you refer too is called an external flush pipe connector and they are soft (ish) rubber but they do tend to harden up over the years and if disturbed it's a new replacement.

Personally I would replace the whole syphon for a modern one where the internal part can be removed without taking the whole thing out. I'm assuming it's a lever handle type syphon? If you don't want to spend on a new syphon then try a good amount of plumbers mate around the bottom of the syphon or hemp and paste, if you fancy real old school plumbing then putty and gloss paint. Don't use silicon sealant because it's not designed for that type of job.

Good luck.

 

[macka09]

Would it be possible to get a picture of the syphon (and an internal one as well) as it passes through the cistern? The reason being that low level cistern syphons normally have a long tail (thread) to accommodate not only the jam nut but also the flush pipe nut. The boot you refer too is called an external flush pipe connector and they are soft (ish) rubber but they do tend to harden up over the years and if disturbed it's a new replacement.

Personally I would replace the whole syphon for a modern one where the internal part can be removed without taking the whole thing out. I'm assuming it's a lever handle type syphon? If you don't want to spend on a new syphon then try a good amount of plumbers mate around the bottom of the syphon or hemp and paste, if you fancy real old school plumbing then putty and gloss paint. Don't use silicon sealant because it's not designed for that type of job.

Good luck.

Thanks for the reply.

I didn’t get a photo I’m afraid. It’s just a standard 9” flush syphon without an internal overflow. The thread isn’t as long as a modern one, so when I added the washer it made the compression nut bottom out on the syphon nut. The flush boot was definitely rock hard which was why I didn’t mess with it.

I still can’t believe it’s held tight all these years without a washer or some type of jointing compound.

If I could find a thin flat syphon washer that would be great I reckon. I did contemplate using some plumbers gold.