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Please can someone help me out by explaining how I should set up the flushing handle, chain and flapper on this new Victorian-style toilet cistern in order for the flush to complete properly.
I have attached the chain to the handle by hooking it through one of the holes in the lever arm, making certain that there is sufficient tension in the chain to hold the flushing lever in the up position, while maintaining the flapper in the closed position.
When to flushing handle is depressed, the flush operates successfully but the flushing handle fails to return to its upper position, resulting in a permanently open flapper and continually flushing cistern.
The flapper in question incorporates and elastic band, the purpose of which is presumably to help ensure that the flapper re-closes after flushing, but even with this elastic band adding a little downwards pressure, the flapper still remains open after the flush has completed apparently due to its being attached by the chain to what seems like a very heavy flushing handle, with no other means of being pulled back up to its upper position other than for this elastic band.
I've tried adjusting the chain tension, also the position at which the chain attaches to the lever arm, the looseness of the flushing handle, flapper, etc. etc. but nothing seems to correct this problem.
I have looked at other flushing handles for sale on the internet and most look to be made of lightweight plastic with a much longer lever arm which apparently acts on the lightweight handle as a kind of counterweight, ensuring that the flushing handle is always going to return to its upper position by itself and without any tension applied to the chain which might otherwise cause the flapper difficulty in closing. The handle and lever arm I have do not appear to share these same characteristics?
This cistern appears to be being sold widely, together with this same flushing handle, so presumably it should be possible to get this set up working with the parts supplied, or at least you'd like to think so.
I've researched this problem on the internet but am unable to find any references to this type of cistern and flushing handle having caused anyone else this kind of problem, so I guess this means that I must be missing the point and overlooking the obvious?
Here are some images of the cistern to help with possible diagnosis:
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/01.jpg (handle unattached to chain)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/02.jpg (flapper and chain unattached to handle)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/03.jpg (handle attached to chain)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/04.jpg (flapper closed when attached to chain and handle in upper position)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/05.jpg (handle attached to chain in flush position)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/06.jpg (flapper continually open when handle in flush position - handle unable to return to upper position allowing flapper to close)
Please can anyone offer any constructive suggestions as to how I should proceed.
I have attached the chain to the handle by hooking it through one of the holes in the lever arm, making certain that there is sufficient tension in the chain to hold the flushing lever in the up position, while maintaining the flapper in the closed position.
When to flushing handle is depressed, the flush operates successfully but the flushing handle fails to return to its upper position, resulting in a permanently open flapper and continually flushing cistern.
The flapper in question incorporates and elastic band, the purpose of which is presumably to help ensure that the flapper re-closes after flushing, but even with this elastic band adding a little downwards pressure, the flapper still remains open after the flush has completed apparently due to its being attached by the chain to what seems like a very heavy flushing handle, with no other means of being pulled back up to its upper position other than for this elastic band.
I've tried adjusting the chain tension, also the position at which the chain attaches to the lever arm, the looseness of the flushing handle, flapper, etc. etc. but nothing seems to correct this problem.
I have looked at other flushing handles for sale on the internet and most look to be made of lightweight plastic with a much longer lever arm which apparently acts on the lightweight handle as a kind of counterweight, ensuring that the flushing handle is always going to return to its upper position by itself and without any tension applied to the chain which might otherwise cause the flapper difficulty in closing. The handle and lever arm I have do not appear to share these same characteristics?
This cistern appears to be being sold widely, together with this same flushing handle, so presumably it should be possible to get this set up working with the parts supplied, or at least you'd like to think so.
I've researched this problem on the internet but am unable to find any references to this type of cistern and flushing handle having caused anyone else this kind of problem, so I guess this means that I must be missing the point and overlooking the obvious?
Here are some images of the cistern to help with possible diagnosis:
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/01.jpg (handle unattached to chain)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/02.jpg (flapper and chain unattached to handle)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/03.jpg (handle attached to chain)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/04.jpg (flapper closed when attached to chain and handle in upper position)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/05.jpg (handle attached to chain in flush position)
http://www.themetaldetective.co.uk/wc/06.jpg (flapper continually open when handle in flush position - handle unable to return to upper position allowing flapper to close)
Please can anyone offer any constructive suggestions as to how I should proceed.
What you need to do is get some weight ( I keep a supply of sheet lead offcuts ) onto the black lever handle shown in pic. 2 . Maybe you could tie a large nut to the arm via one of the holes in it and a bit of wire (copper from a flex or cable is ideal ) move the weight until you get a balance of the handle arm that works .
