flushing pin dropped into the cistern. can I get it out?

[mumshadenough]

Hi, im new to the forum, luckily never really needing to ask advice for anything specific. However sadly we now have an issue I can't find an answer for! Im hoping someone here might have a clue please.
We have had a broken toilet handle for a while so just hooked the pin back on the broken handle and it flushed ok, admittedly, at a wonky angle.
Today, the pin came out of the wonky handle and in trying to pop it back on I managed to unhook the weighted pin that flushes the toilet.
It's dropped into the cistern body, and I can't work out how to bring it back up other than replacing the whole flushing unit, which seems a bit excessive!!
Any ideas would be very gratefully received!!
I'll try and work out how to upload an image of the issue on my phone.
Many thanks.

 

[diyplumber1980]

can you see the pin? you may have to try being a bit creative, maybe tape a strong magnet onto a stick and dip it into the water to try and pick it out. If not, just pop down to the local plumbers merchant, take a pic of the cistern/flush, and they'll be able to give you a replacement. Probably cost you about 20p!

 

[mumshadenough]

Thanks so much for the suggestion. Really kind of you to reply, however it was the plastic bit that the hook goes through that dropped into the flushing syphon (I've looked it up). There appears to be no way to hook it back up and this is the bit that activates the flushing.
I have just managed ti fix it by screwing a mini screw into the top of the plastic bit and pulled it back up. Now the hook is back in, it wont drop down again. Saved having to replace the whole syphon.
Cheers, keep up the good advice. Im finding out so much coming on this forum!!
Emma

 

[Bosswhite]

Sounds to me like the plastic is turning brittle, expect the self tapping screw to be just a temporary measure, and a replacement for the flush system is nigh.
good luck.

 

[Agile]

For older cisterns most of the bits are available separately from good plumber's merchants.

Usually a bent coat hanger wire will pick up most things.

 

[HERTS P&D]

If I'm guessing this right, put your hand under the syphon housing and push up the moving part of the syphon. You can then use a piece of wire coat hanger fixed onto the toilet handle for now.

A picture would help.

Andy

 

[danplumb]

Agree with hertz just put hand under the body and push the syphon up which pushes the pin back up through the hole.

 

[castironkorky]

Hertz is absolutely right. Thanks mate. Saved me a lot of messing around today fixing toilet.