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Author:
stevecon (MA)
Recently, my elderly mom told me she hears the upstairs toilet filling by itself now and then. I figured a flush / flapper valve replacement is in order. I went to inspect it but couldn't recognize the parts in the tank!
There was a wide, black tube fitted over the opening in the tank to the bowl. It looked like it was about as high as the water level in the bowl. I went to the local HD and grabbed a "Universal" flush kit but became skeptical as the looks of it didn't seem like it was going to fit the toilet. I found an employee restocking plumbing products and asked about the valve. I told him that the toilet is a one piece construction type, has "Standard" printed in blue on the top of the bowl between the seat hinges and tank and is in excess of 60 years old. He told me what I had was likely a "curtain valve" and that the universal valve I had in my hand wouldn't work. He even suggested changing the toilet completely as it used 5 or more gallons per flush.
Changing the toilet is more work than she or I want to do at this point, and getting the toilet to stop running is our priority. Plus, I figure a valve replacement will be cheaper and much faster than replacing the entire toilet. I'm looking for confirmation that this is indeed a curtain valve and if replacing it will solve my problem.
Thanks!
Steve
Edited 2 times.
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Author:
hj
American Standard one piece toilets have a multiplicity of unique flush valves, but in most cases you only need to replace the flapper/disc, so we would need a picture of yours to tell you what you need.
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Author:
hj
You need a Am/Std #4 flush valve. It should have three rubber plugs which will seal the bolt holes yours uses. Make sure they are in the kit, because not all of them have the plugs. The new one will have "toggles" that rotate out to grab the sides of the opening.
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Author:
LemonPlumber (FL)
slide the fm clip down to lower the fill level.nice adaptation of the flush valve.
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Author:
stevecon (MA)
Thanks for the reply! I'll check my local HD / Lowe's for this - failing that, there's an F.W. Webb nearby I can get it from I suppose.
Steve
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Author:
stevecon (MA)
I understand sliding the clip to adjust the fill level. I may load a couple bricks in the tank as I'm sure this one uses significantly more than 1-1/2 gallons per flush.
Thanks,
Steve
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Author:
hj
quote; this is indeed a curtain valve and if replacing it will solve my problem.
It is a CERTIN, not curtain, valve.
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Author:
stevecon (MA)
I found a document / page:
www.@#$%&/americanstandard/2000.pdf
This seems to indicate that the tilt valve style and Curtain 50 valve aren't interchangeable. They sell both, the tilt style going for about $37 and the Curtain about $90. The American Standard #4 that is mentioned has the same part number (47086-0700A), yet seems to have several variations judging from pictures of the valve retrieved by Google. Lastly, they also sell the leather seals for about $13.
www.@#$%&/search.asp?key=am-2000&x=10&y=10
I wonder.. would replacing them would solve the problem for a fraction of the cost of either style valve?
Thanks,
Steve
Edited 2 times.
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Author:
hj
There is only ONE #4. It has three toggles which go through the center opening in the bottom of the tank then rotate out to tighten against the bottom. The three rubber plugs are then inserted into the holes which the Certin flush used for attaching.
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