Flapper will not close properly

jscashion · #1 Aug 27, 2006, 01:05 PM

Hi, it appears that there is a lot of good plumbing advice here. Here's my problem.

I have had problems with the flush valve on my 3.5 gallon one-piece Crane toilet for about the past month. I have replaced the old flapper, a white plastic frame with a cup on one end and a flapper on the other. The cup acts as some sort of counterweight to hold the flapper up. Once the cup drains the flapper lowers back onto the flush valve seat. The problem is that the flapper does not completely seat. It is being held open about a 1/4 inch by what appears to be bubbling coming from the flush valve seat. Sometimes the flapper will seal, but most of the time I have to remove the lid and hold the flapper down for a couple of seconds to overcome the upward force from the bubbling that holds it in a slightly raised position. I replaced the old flapper, but I could find nothing wrong with it and the new one still acts the same. The flapper operates freely and does not appear to be binding on its pivots. Why would there be bubbling pushing back up from below? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Jim

jscashion · Aug 28, 2006, 08:43 AM

Hi Tom:

Yes, the toilet flushes just fine and water is coming out of the rim OK. I am not aware of anything that could have gone down the flush valve. I believe you must be correct about the back pressure. I had already guessed that something like that was taking place, but I am not sure how to find or clear any obstruction in the inner workings of the bowl. When this occurs, the flapper tries to seal, but it just sits there "bouncing" up and down preventing the tank from filling. If I hold down on the flapper long enough for the tank water to fill over the flapper, there is enough downward pressure to counteract the upward movement of the bubbling.

Thanks
Jim

jscashion · Aug 28, 2006, 12:31 PM

Yes, this is a Crane one-piece toilet dated 1987. It has been installed and working great for us since 1987. Do you have a source for this recommendation? Do you have a part number for this flapper? I appreciate the help



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