Home DIY

Yes I can. Just by lifting up the thingy.
(Presumably the official plumbing term).

I thought the electrics in my house were bad, eg. "shared neutral" in the hallway lights which I think @Airhead described back here (which nearly caused me a shock when I failed to fully isolate it)

Most major building work is taking place now at mine after being there for 2+ years. Renovated 5 rooms so far (all fresh plaster, skirting, sanded floors, etc.), fixed roof leaks, installed mains wiring, and got someone to install central heating.

Just need to re-build this slight extension which we've knocked the dining room into. I reckon it was originally a WC of some sort as the soil stack is right outside.

Is that going to require emptying the cistern and if so are we back to 'going up into the loft mode' as there's no valve?

Not a matter of if, more when.

You should be able to fix that without dismantling - as @Aroogah says, could start with a replacement handle.

This is what's in there at the moment.

The black bar is new - was previously cracked. I believe it's in the same position as before. If I lift it up manually it flushes but using the handle it doesn't work.

When you say the replacement handle do you mean the exterior handle on the outside of the cistern? It seems solid enough :/ there's no give in it - none that there wasn't always at least

So grimy. Very tempted to burn it all and just shit in the woods / garden.

I used these guys to fit two large uPVC windows/balcony doors in North London. Would recommend. http://www.northwoodglass.co.uk/

Just seen this review on screw fix for a new handle:

" A mate had been using a bucket to flush his toilet for months til I came round to do a bit of painting for him. A 5 min. trip upto my nearest Screwfix and 5 min. fitting this and his life has changed for the better. Quality of product = Quality of life! "

Sold.

Try moving the black arm further along the square metal bit. When you flush you will be pulling at an angle. Try to get it so it pulls straight up.

If you need to empty the cistern, just stop the ball cock from dropping and the valve won't open. Flush the water out, job's a good'un. I don't see why you'd need to stop the supply anywhere else.

Am hoping no one comes back with a reason this wouldn't work... Potential so obvious it's genius is potential.

The black arm only has one square hole in it and if I put the metal hook at the other end through different holes it's still giving me the same result :/ Will have another fiddle later and see what happens. Screwfix tomorrow for various new parts and if that doesn't yield results then shitting in the garden it is.

That worked for me when I had to replace the siphon in my toilet (the diaphragm was ripped so even a manual pull of the metal bit didn't make it flush properly).

Only tricky thing, from memory, was the need to undo a massive plastic nut (60mm or so in diameter I think) to be able to remove the siphon. I ended up cutting a bit of wood into a makeshift spanner as nothing I had would fit something so big.

The black arm only has one square hole in it and if I put the metal hook at the other end through different holes it's still giving me the same result

No. Move the black arm to the end of the square rod (towards the back of the cistern) so it sits directly over the flush mechanism.

Usually pump pliers work on those nuts, just to free them then they should turn off by (a gloved) hand.

When you are replacing a flush mechanism it's a good idea to hoover out the water from the bottom of the cistern as the flush never gets rid of it all.

Check if the handle is pulling the arm up far enough, you can shorten the flush mech arm by bending the top a bit more.

Loving the bit of swimming float that's saved someone from having to replace the ball cock. Probably couldn't find a ball cock that would fit in the cistern on that arm and couldn't face the dodgy inlet valve plumbing. I'm seriously remembering that bodge for the day I might need it.

Ah. I did think/try that but the black arm knocks into the siphon so it has to be angled (the previous one was angled and it's at the same position. I was thinking of sawing off the tip of the black arm to make it fit but then it would still be pulling it at an angle which wouldn't get the clean pull needed. However @Airhead 's suggestion of bending the wire arm sounds like it could be a winner. Will report back.

Re. Bodgespiration - glad some use has come of this : )

If I wanted to buy some plywood to make shelves (low and long probably), is somewhere like Travis Perkins my best bet or is there somewhere cheaper around? Needs to be near Holloway or deliver

TP can sometimes be more expensive than B&Q, etc if you don't have a trade account. Plus B&Q will make cuts in the shop for you which is nice.

Chambers in forest gate are good and cheap - they deliver and an independent business

If you can lift that bar and it flushes then it shouldn't be too hard to fix.

Is the spindle bit slipping or not engaging? If you've replaced it, I wonder if it's just in the wrong place?

Cheers guys, I'll have a look at both

To the bloke with toilet troubles , I cannot recommend home serves plumbing policy enough. For year one it costs something like 7 quid or whatever, I've had then out a few times unblocking drains And replacing washing machine valves and flush mechanisms. You need to remember yo cancel it at the end of the year and renew in your wife or girlfriend/boyfriends name to get the price back down to 7 or 8 quid (a year)

I can't recommend it enough

Ta for the tip. 12 quid a year with no excess sounds like a bargain. Wonder that their call out times are like?