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Author:
sum (FL)
Took apart an old 3 gallon tank toilet and when I removed the tank from the bowl there were two small pieces of rubber "channels" which I believe were supposed to prevent the porcelains of the tank hitting that of the bowl. I thought the big round thick gasket does that, are the smaller little pieces important? They are all dry and disintegrated and I can't find replacement for them and not sure where they go anyways.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
There set on the ridge behind the seat to support the front of the tank. There is usually a third on in the center at the rear. If you do not mind a little "wiggle", and sometimes it is a good thing, then they are not needed.
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Author:
packy (MA)
some gaskets have spacers built into them. this one is an eljer that our sponsor carries.
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
In a pinch I've used rubber cone supply washers as spacers before.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Make is immaterial. MANY manufaacturers send those spacers with the combination.
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Author:
sum (FL)
Well, I got a Fluidmaster 400AK Complete Toilet Tank Repair Kit and replaced all the guts inside the tank.
I did put the old spacers on the "ridges" of the bowl (I assume this is where they go because the spacers are U shaped). Once I connected everything I did a test flush and water leaked out under the tank.
Is there any likelihood the spacer may have prevented a tight seal to the bowl gasket?
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Possibley, but it would be rare.
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Author:
sum (FL)
When I removed the tank, right below the tank where a hole to the bowl is, there is a small gasket recessed into that hole.
I pulled out that gasket.
Then I put on the large red color gasket that comes with the FluidMaster kit which covers the large nut.
When I flush water comes out below the tank from that recessed hole area. Not the tank bolts and not from the floor.
If I lift the flapper a half inch and let water into the bowl slowly no leak.
If I fully flush the tank empties and water pushed out of there.
I wonder if I need to put back the old gasket which recessed into the bowl hole? And let the red gasket seal to that?
I think this is an old Gerber toilet.
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Author:
johnjh2o (FL)
Your using the wrong tank to bowl gasket. The old stile Gerber had a large gasket that just fit over the flush valve. It didn't have a recess for the flush valve nut.
John
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Author:
sum (FL)
Should I use the old nut and old gasket from the old flush valve?
The FM repair kit says "UNIVERSAL"...
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Author:
johnjh2o (FL)
The flush valve is fine it's the tank to bowl gasket that's wrong. This is the gasket you need. Notice that it is not hollowed out for the nut.
[www.doitbest.com]
John
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
johnjh2o (FL)
That is the gasket I gave you the link to,
John
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Author:
sum (FL)
John, that's correct.
What's confusing to me was, that's not the gasket used when I took the tank out.
That's puzzling.
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Author:
johnjh2o (FL)
Then the tank to bowl gasket had to have been replaced at some time because the one you have now used is the one that comes with the toilet. Why it didn't leak I can't give you a answer to that. Unless they packed the gasket with putty.
John
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Actually it sounds like an American Standard "Vent-A-Way" and that is the vent hole. If so it has to be sealed since the tank does not have the venting mechanism.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Usually, you have to use a metal washer between the gasket and valve nut so the nut does not ccmpress into the rubber.
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Author:
NOMADPLAYER (DC)
I had the same issue with a Gerber. The issue is that the surface where the tank meets the bowl is recessed as can be seen in your photo. Most toilets surface whee the tank mounts are flush/solid. Hence you need the tall gasket to travel the recession. That's the long and short of it. I was puzzled too and enlisted a plumber who immediately stacked two regular gaskets and VOILA, problem solved. I eventually went back and inserted a solid tall gasket.
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