I replaced the ballcock on my toilet and I have ended up with 2 problems. Please note that I am a DIY novice. Here goes. The first problem is that after replacing the ballcock, I turned the water on and it immediately started to leak. I figured that the connection was loose and so I tried again but no luck. I inserted the threaded end of the ballcock through the hole in the toilet tank. Underneath the tank with the end of the ballcock hanging out. I inserted the supply hose tube through the ballcock opening, threaded and tighened the washer, then the locknut, then the coupling nut but still it leaks. The second problem is the manipulation of the supply hose has now resulted in a second leak. This leak appears at the junction where the supply hose is connected to the contraption that enables you to shut the water off. Please help! Should I give up at this point and call the plumber.

I replaced the ballcock on my toilet and I have ended up with 2 problems. Please note that I am a DIY novice. Here goes. The first problem is that after replacing the ballcock, I turned the water on and it immediately started to leak. I figured that the connection was loose and so I tried again but no luck. I inserted the threaded end of the ballcock through the hole in the toilet tank. Underneath the tank with the end of the ballcock hanging out. I inserted the supply hose tube through the ballcock opening, threaded and tighened the washer, then the locknut, then the coupling nut but still it leaks. The second problem is the manipulation of the supply hose has now resulted in a second leak. This leak appears at the junction where the supply hose is connected to the contraption that enables you to shut the water off. Please help! Should I give up at this point and call the plumber.


" Should I give up at this point and call the plumber?"

Not just yet.

" I inserted the supply hose tube through the ballcock opening, threaded and tighened the washer, then the locknut, then the coupling nut but still it leaks."

You didn't use a regular chrome tank supply tube? You used a pipe with a cone washer on the end? You DID use a cone washer on the end of the pipe didn't you?

"The second problem is the manipulation of the supply hose has now resulted in a second leak. This leak appears at the junction where the supply hose is connected to the contraption that enables you to shut the water"

That "contraption's called a angle stop. The supply tube's connected to the angle by a 1/4" compression nut and farrule. If it leaks just snug it up.

Let me know what exactly the tank hookup is and I'll answer ASAP. Tom

The supply tube was already in place. It looks like "a regular chrome tank supply tube" and now that you mention it, there was a small cone shaped washer attached to the old ballcock. I did not use this at the end of the supply tube. I assumed that the washer that came with the repair kit did the same thing. So let me make sure that I understand... the washer tha came with the kit is threaded around the ballcock and the cone shaped washer that I need to retrieve from the trash gets placed on the end of the supply tube?

As for the second leak, you stated that the tube is connected to the angle stop by a compression nut and farrule and I just need to snug it up. I am interpreting this as loosening up the nut, pushing the supply tube completely back in place and then tightening the nut. My only concern is flooding the bathroom while I am doing this.

Thanks for your prompt response. I really appreciate it.

The supply tube was already in place. It looks like "a regular chrome tank supply tube" and now that you mention it, there was a small cone shaped washer attached to the old ballcock. I did not use this at the end of the supply tube. I assumed that the washer that came with the repair kit did the exact same thing. So let me make sure that I understand......the washer tha came with the kit is threaded around the ballcock and the cone shaped washer that I need to retrieve from the trash gets placed on the end of the supply tube?

As for the second leak, you stated that the tube is connected to the angle stop by a compression nut and farrule and I just need to snug it up. I am interpreting this as loosening up the nut, pushing the supply tube completely back in place and then tightening the nut. My only concern is flooding the bathroom while I am doing this.

Thanks for your prompt response. I really appreciate it.

Before you start any repair on the supply you must shut the water off at the angle stop. That takes care of flooding the bathroom.
Is the washer that came with the kit a flat one? If so toss it. I don't understand what you mean by, "the washer that came with the kit is threaded around the ballcock" Get a new nose cone and a friction washer before you start the job. Leave the old one in the trash. Let me tell you how it should hook up.
From the ballcock down to the compression nut on the ballcock;
First the nose cone, then the friction washer, and the nut that screws on the ballcock. Then at the angle stop you'll have the compression nut on the chrome tube and the brass ferrule, (brass ring). You DO have a ferrule on the chrome pipe don't you?
If you've already tightened the compression nut and you have the ferrule on there all you need to do is tighten the compression nut until the drip stops.
Good luck and if you run into trouble click on back. Tom

The supply tube does not have a compression nut or brass ferrule. It appears that the tube is directly "welded" to the nut that is actually on (around) the angle stop. The tube is "torn" at the "T" junction and hence the leak. I went off to home depot and I was given a supply tube with a compression nut on the one end and what I assume is a ferrule on the other but this will not work. It looks like I will have to replace the entire supply tube but how do I do this and still keep the water supply turned off?

The supply tube does not have a compression nut or brass ferrule. It appears that the tube is directly "welded" to the nut that is actually on (around) the angle stop. The tube is "torn" at the "T" junction and hence the leak. I went off to home depot and I was given a supply tube with a compression nut on the one end and what I assume is a ferrule on the other but this will not work. It looks like I will have to replace the entire supply tube but how do I do this and still keep the water supply turned off?


To begain you can't solder chrome so I doubt that the chrome supply tube is soldered/welded to the compression nut. We're having a problem with terms here. From the ballcock down to the compression nut on the ballcock;
First the nose cone, then the friction washer, and the nut that screws on the ballcock. Then at the angle stop you'll have the compression nut on the chrome tube and the brass ferrule, (brass ring).
The ferrule does not set on the other end. It sets below the compression nut on the tube. Your best bet may be to " bite the bullet" and call in an plumber to change out the assembly from the anglestop to the ball cock.
Good luck, Tom

I took your advice and called in a plumber. He told me that I have an old supply tube that is no longer manufactured. The tube is directly connected to the angle stop and requires that the entire valve be replaced. He spent 5 minutes replacing the valve and charged me $110. I felt confident that I could finish the ballcock installation for which he wanted to charge an additional $148. After he left I connected the supply tube with the nuts attached to both ends. Now I have another problem - when I turn on the water, the toilet tank does not fill up with water. I disconnected the connection to the ballcock and turned on the angle stop to make sure that water was flowing through and indeed it is. What am I doing wrong? :(

I took your advice and called in a plumber. He told me that I have an old supply tube that is no longer manufactured. The tube is directly connected to the angle stop and requires that the entire valve be replaced. He spent 5 minutes replacing the valve and charged me $110. I felt confident that I could finish the ballcock installation for which he wanted to charge an additional $148. After he left I connected the supply tube with the nuts attached to both ends. Now I have another problem - when I turn on the water, the toilet tank does not fill up with water. I disconnected the connection to the ballcock and turned on the angle stop to make sure that water was flowing through and indeed it is. What am I doing wrong? :(

What make ballcock are you attempting to install? Tom

It is an adjustable anti-siphon piston ballcock manufactured by WHHC. (mfr no 090212)

I purchased it from home depot.

It is an adjustable anti-siphon piston ballcock manufatured by WHHC. (mfr no 090212)

I purchased it from home depot.
Home Depot won't let me call up a picture of your ball cock. Does it have a float ball? Tom

Yes. It has a floatball.

Yes. It has a floatball.

Shut off the water under the tank, remove the three top screws and pull the float ball assembly up and out. Run a thin wire down the open top. Now place a pan over the open top to prevent splash and turn the water back on for a minute to flush out the supply. Do you get a full stream out of the supply? If so, reassemble and you're back in business. Tom