Replacing toilet push button

[Emma1988]

Morning,

I have a Thomas Dudley Niagara Pneumatic Dual Flush toilet. I've been having issues with basically it only flushing if I hold in the push button. I got a plumber out for another issue (the pan connector had come away from the wall) and asked he look at the flush as well. He decided it was the flush valve and changed it to see if that fixed it but it didn't as the valve was working fine and properly. He checked the water inlet and all fine. Sometimes the toilet would actually just run for ages so he'd turn it off at the isolater valve.

He said it seemed like my push button was faulty as it wasn't able to push enough air to get a flush or something. There's no leaks in the tubes and he switched them around onto the dual flush button and the same issue happened where you have to hold it in. The button feels really weak when you push it - like there's no pressure behind it and if I want a full flush I have to press it in quickly and hard in the hopes it sort of catches and does the flush properly.

I'm living with my parents and they said they couldn't be bothered to spend more money and said to just keep using it by holding the push button in. However - it feels less and less effective. This problem is over a year old now and it hasn't actually stopped working so I understand what they're saying.

How easy is it to change myself? I'm fairly sure it's this I need - Dudley Vantage 51mm Dio Pneumatic Dual Flush Push Button 327733 - that I can order myself. It's just connected to a horizontal plinth that I know how to pull out and I know where the tubes go to connect it. I'm a female with zero plumbing skills so happy for someone to tell me it needs a professional or if there's any really indepth youtube vids I can watch.

 

[just pumps]

One little trick worth trying is to cut 5mm off the tubes then reconnect to the flush button.

 

[opps]

Does it still occasionally run contiguously?

I am not a plumber btw. I am (only) guessing that the push button has diaphragms which push air to the flush valve. Why not disconnect the air pipes and blow in to each of them. If the flush valve engages correctly, you will have proof that the button is faulty. To be honest, I don't see why holding the button down makes any difference, perhaps it maintains the air pressure. If so I would then be looking at the part of the button that lets the air back into the button after the button is released.

Replacing the button should be fairly trivial. Remove the panel, release the back nut. Remove the pipes (making sure that they do not fall away). Fit the new button, tighten the back nut.

However, as per @just pumps ' recommendation, try to trim the pipes slightly first.

 

[Emma1988]

One little trick worth trying is to cut 5mm off the tubes then reconnect to the flush button.

Thanks!
The plumber tried cutting the tubes first and then once he reconnected it the toilet started running. He fiddled about with it again, jiggled the small box behind the button and reconnected the tubes and it was back to only working when holding the push button in. It never runs anymore so think that was just due to his fiddling.

 

[Burnerman]

This may sound a bit bizarre, but anyway.......
I take the tube off the flush button, and quickly give a spurt of breath down it. If the loo then flushes ok, its the button itself so try
toiletspares.co.uk for what you need!
John