Can't get cistern off, please help!

[Abs4190]

Hi guys , hope everyone is doing well as can be .. Thanks to the help on here I've managed to fix one toilet that was leaking into the bowl..I had left it for months before getting help on here and sorting it out. Only problem was that my water bill doubled from 40 to 80pm because of the leak.. Thankfully the water board monitored my useage for 2 weeks after the repair and it was normal again and the wrote off the excess used. Apparently they allow this and as long as you're not using the mick they will cancel it out of it was due to a leak etc..

Anyway , you fix one toilet and the other plays up . Similar issue slight trickle into the bowl. Looks like the water wasn't stopping and was running into the overflow pipe and into the basin. The issue I have is that this cistern has 2 plastic screws at the bottom. I've drained the water out , lots of black gunk and washers all look like they've had better days. The screws just keep spinning and won't come out! The back of the cistern looks like it's been pva'd to the wall but no screws that I can see. Can anyone help me get this thing off?

Also the dual button is a rectangular shape as is the hole on the lid.. Can you get a flush kit with the same button?

 

[just pumps]

Screws just spinning most likely nuts underneath that you can`t see until the pan comes out. Seen cisterns stuck to the wall with all sorts but usually at the top so cheese wire or a wood saw if you can create enough room for a blade without cracking the cistern.

You sure the water level wasn`t too high in the cistern and water running down the overflow? You could fit a new valve without removing the bottom cradle and plenty of different shaped push button shrouds around on the interweb.

 

[Abs4190]

Screws just spinning most likely nuts underneath that you can`t see until the pan comes out. Seen cisterns stuck to the wall with all sorts but usually at the top so cheese wire or a wood saw if you can create enough room for a blade without cracking the cistern.

You sure the water level wasn`t too high in the cistern and water running down the overflow? You could fit a new valve without removing the bottom cradle and plenty of different shaped push button shrouds around on the interweb.

Thanks for the reply .. The water wasn't really high enough for it to go into the overflow.. There was a very light trickle into the bowl and I think I might have made it worse trying to sort it , there's a lot of gunk at the bottom of the flush valve cradle so I think the whole thing will need replacing.. Do you know where I can get a unit that also has a rectangle button?

 

[just pumps]

The gunk you removed may of been stopping the rubber washer on the bottom of the removed valve from sealing and from the photo there is a chance that all you need is the washer. Don`t know off hand and haven`t the time to go searching the interweb for buttons this morning.

 

[lostinthelight]

Just a heads up incase you forget after curing your leak, now youve turned the plastic screws in the bottom of the cistern water will leak past them unless sealed / tightened

 

[Abs4190]

I will have to remove the whole toilet off the wall .. I'll find some wire to remove the back off the wall.. I'll post back once done with my progress.. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Abs4190]

Not having much joy finding a rectangle button !

 

[lostinthelight]

Does the shape of the button have any affect on the flush valve,I cant see it myself unless the two legs from it wont reach the two flush plates on a new one. Even then it may be possible to extend them with a little cunning.
As just pump says, the most likely cause is the flush valve sealing washer at the bottom so replacing it stands a good chance of success.

 

[Abs4190]

Does the shape of the button have any affect on the flush valve,I cant see it myself unless the two legs from it wont reach the two flush plates on a new one. Even then it may be possible to extend them with a little cunning.
As just pump says, the most likely cause is the flush valve sealing washer at the bottom so replacing it stands a good chance of success.

Yeah.. After thinking long and hard I think I'll try and keep the existing flush valve and replace washers on the bottom.. I'll need a new inlet valve though as I think I broke the other.. The button was only an issue if I wanted to replace the whole flush valve with the non rod type that just plugs into the bottom of the push button . The issue with the button is the hole in the lid is rectangular shape and I would need the same shape to fill the hole in the lid .

 

[just pumps]

I don't know if it is possible on yours but I have had success flipping the washer over.

 

[Abs4190]

I don't know if it is possible on yours but I have had success flipping the washer over.

Are you referring to the washer at the bottom of the cradle or the one at the bottom of the flush valve, I did replace the one with a new one but no joy and to be fair the one at the bottom of the flush valve appeared fine..

 

[just pumps]

Are you referring to the washer at the bottom of the cradle or the one at the bottom of the flush valve, I did replace the one with a new one but no joy and to be fair the one at the bottom of the flush valve appeared fine..

Bottom of the flush valve

 

[Abs4190]

Bottom of the flush valve

Yeah changed that when I first went to investigate.

 

[Abs4190]

I'm struggling to get the cistern off the wall I've used the blade from a hack saw to try and cut away at the pva or whatever is holding the cistern to the wall but not having much success.. I've removed the screws holding the toilet to the floor and there is a bit of movement when I pull at the toilet but the cistern is stuck fast, awkward bugger

 

[Abs4190]

What a silly design !