cistern to toilet connection

[Tallyman]

We had a new bathroom suite fitted a year or so ago and the cistern to toilet connection has started to leak. Needless to say, the plumber who installed it is now no longer around, but I need to know what the best way is to replace/repair the connection.

The leak is at the toilet end of the pipe, which is a flexible affair with a black rubber seal at the end which is just pushed into the back of the pan - it's this that seems to keep working loose.

Unfortunately it's a concealed affair with very bad access - a nine-inch deep panel at the top and the same at floor level. Can I just wind loads of duct tape around the joint, or is there a better way of doing things.

Also, as an aside, the cistern itself is a thin plastic one that seems to be glued to the wall - not too sure this is particularly satisfactory so should I consider removing the whole lot & starting again?

 

[kevplumb]

View media item 24570 View media item 11363 View media item 17256
this type of thing

 

[Tallyman]

A bit like the flexible one top left, but it doesn't look like a ready-made one, more like a cobbled together to fit type of thing...

 

[Bahco]

Buy a new one for £12 ish.

Take your time fitting it making sure it lines up nicely.

 

[Tallyman]

Thanks for reply - should I go for a 'rigid' type or another flexible one - the other bathroom, done at the same time, has a rigid so I'm just wondering if the plumber got his measurements wrong & hence the adaptation & if that's the reason for the leak. Are they supposed to be a set distance apart or can you get different size ones?

Here's a couple of photos of the problem: lack of space:

and the join to the basin:

 

[Bahco]

Flexi will probably be the easiest option for you to do. Have a go.

 

[Tallyman]

Thanks for that, do they only come in one size or am I better to take the original off as a pattern & get the next size up? Also, how are they fitted in the cistern - any nuts or is it just push fittings? - can't get head in to see......

 

[JayJay1978]

Some flexis are like a coiled spring in that they come fully extended and when you push the ends together they want to return to the original shape (Wirquin Jollyflex).

I think the supposedly better McAlpine one takes any position you want and can sag and slip off the spigot like I think yours is doing.

Does the flexi form a bend or is it just straight?

 

[Tallyman]

Hi, it forms a 90degree bend - vertical into cistern and horizontal into bowl. It doesn't appear to be sagging but it slides off very easily - doesn't appear to be contaminated, just a poor fit and too short I guess. Will look for the Wirquin (I think that's the make of the flush system actually). Thanks again