Fluid master flush valve removal problem.

[dal5band]

Hi, I went to replace the flush valve in our toilet, it's a Fluid master with cable operation in a concealed cistern. I cannot remove the top bayonet section because the cable inlet is jamming against the overflow tube. Will is go past the overflow tube if I force it a bit or can I remove the cable connector from the valve? Or can I rotate the bayonet the other way ?
Thanks. Dal

 

[Wayners]

Take the cistern off and unscrew?
Maybe that's how it was assembled hence your problem?

 

[dal5band]

Yeh ! It's a back to the wall with built in cistern - I'll buy one see if there is another way.

 

[Wayners]

Some quarter turn to replace. You can't do that.
There is a big nut under the remove. That's what you need to turn.

So you think cistern won't come off

 

[denso13]

There is a big nut under the remove. That's what you need to turn.

So you think cistern won't come off

It's a built in concealed cistern.

 

[Wayners]

I'd un build it in then.
One of the most stupid inventions ever. .I could not put up with that having had to remove a section of bedroom wall and in one case remove part of a ground floor ceiling to gain access to this built in stuff.
Jmo. Frustrated tradesmen. Still I charged them for it. Ha.

 

[Rodders53]

https://www.fluidmasteruk.com/installation-instructions/ may help with the de-installation?

Likely it is a 1/4 turn (or less) bayonet fitting. Quite possible that the whole thing is turning and may result in a leak from cistern underneath if undone too much...

So the near-impossible to do thing is:
to '(re)tighten clockwise' then
grip the fixed bayonet under the removable flush valve part so that
the removable bit can be disconnected...
Like I say near impossible to do!

Plastic bayonets can become brittle with age and fail / break up. In which case the whole thing needs to come out anyways.

 

[polesapart]

^^^
Agree with above!

 

[dal5band]

Well it seems you can twist the top section either way to remove - see photo of new one. In the top slot you can see the little tab that can move either side of the T shaped bar which is where it pulls out.

But my one seems stuck so probably have to take the cistern out.

 

[dilalio]

Well it seems you can twist the top section either way to remove - see photo of new one. In the top slot you can see the little tab that can move either side of the T shaped bar which is where it pulls out.View attachment 419632

But my one seems stuck so probably have to take the cistern out.

They "should" rotate either way.
If yours is stuck and needs to come out anyway, then no harm giving it some force CW to see if it will release.

 

[dal5band]

Well I sprayed it with kitchen descaler and after some wiggling the bayonet moved and the valve body came out. Descaled the whole lot, including the cage and seat in the cistern put it all back and it seems fine. Looks good as new so should last a few more years.
Bye the way, the bayonet fitting on the new one is different so couldn't just swop the valve body - Fluidmaster changed the design somewhere in the past.