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-   -   Leak from bottom of pressure-assist toilet tank (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=120863)

  • Aug 18, 2007, 10:26 PM
    MP-Squared
    Leak from bottom of pressure-assist toilet tank
    I have a one piece Kohler pressure-assist toilet that is about 14 years old. Recently it started to leak from the bottom of the porcelain tank. It appears to be dripping from a metal bolt in that area. I imagine the pressurized tank or a fitting is leaking but I can't see that area when I remove the tank lid. I consider myself somewhat handy but I'm hesitant to remove the pressurized tank, since I've never worked on these toilets. Or is it even necessary to remove the tank? I know the tank has to be emptied before working on it because of the pressure. Is this a major job? Is it a D-I-Y job or shouldn't I even consider it? Any suggestions or advice is appreciated. Thanks.
  • Aug 19, 2007, 04:19 AM
    XenoSapien
    You can do this yourself. Just shut off the water to the tank, then flush remaining water out of tank.

    XenoSapien
  • Aug 19, 2007, 04:41 AM
    MP-Squared
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by XenoSapien
    You can do this yourself. Just shut off the water to the tank, then flush remaining water out of tank.

    XenoSapien

    Thanks for your confidence in me. Can anyone give me an idea of what I might be up against when I start pulling the pressure tank apart? Doesn't look like it's easy to get at it.
  • Aug 19, 2007, 06:27 AM
    speedball1
    If you're referring to the tank bolts, (see image) the tank will have to be removed by shutting off the water and and disconnecting the supply line.
    Next remove the nuts securing the tank and lift off. Now snug up the tank bolt nuts and reassemble. When you reassemble the tank leave about 1/4 inch of play in the tank. DO NOT tighten the tank bolts so that there isn't a little give as it's very possible to crack the tank if you lean back. Good luck, Tom
  • Aug 19, 2007, 06:04 PM
    MP-Squared
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by speedball1
    If you're referring to the tank bolts, (see image) the tank will have to be removed by shutting off the water and and disconnecting the supply line.
    Next remove the nuts securing the tank and lift off. Now snug up the tank bolt nuts and reassemble. When you reassemble the tank leave about 1/4 inch of play in the tank. DO NOT tighten the tank bolts so that there isn't a little give as it's very possible to crack the tank if you lean back. Good luck, Tom

    This is a ONE PIECE Kohler toilet with a pressure assist tank. I don't think there's a gasket on the bottom of this tank, as in your diagram. I assume the bolts on the bottom of my tank are attached to the pressure tank. If I remove those nuts will I be able to remove the pressure tank? There must be a water supply connection and a connection through which the water passes into the bowl. Are there any 'tricks' to disconnecting these so the tank can be removed to check for leaks? Thanks a bunch, Marc
  • Aug 19, 2007, 06:55 PM
    alphadog00
    As an Authorized Factory Service Technician (1990 - 1997) I repaired a lot of these. I am not sure which model you have but I can tell you that these toilets went through a lot of changes. Both American Standard and Kohler had lots of problems with early models flushing inconsistently.

    Anyway, You may have trouble finding parts, so make sure you have the model number of the toilet and the year it was made - if you do find parts you want to make sure you have the right version too.

    If you want to repair it, none of it is rocket science and it is nothing more then swapping parts out.

    In some of the early models, Kohler changed so much of the guts, that we swapped the whole tank - you may have to do that if finding parts is an issue.

    Even these toilets have a gasket that joins the tank to the bowl and a standard water connection on the bottom.

    SORRY: I missed the one piece part. There should not be enough water outside the pressure tank in the porcelain reservoir to cause a leak. I think you have more then just a bolt gasket as your issue.
  • Aug 19, 2007, 07:13 PM
    letmetellu
    You said that this is a one piece commode, if so are you sure that the water dripping off a bolt, do you think that this could be a bolt that holds the seat to the commode. If that is where the water is coming from it might be possible that water is splashing up and hitting the lid and them trickling down on the outside of the tank.

    Since this is a one piece Kohler commode you should not have any bolts that hold the tank to the bowl, the only thing that you should have coming out of the tank is the ballcock where the water enters the tank. The only other things I can think off might be a couple of bolts that hold the pressure tank inside the tank. I therefore think that if you turn off the water supply, drain all of the water out of the tank that you can, remove the nuts from the bolts that you mentioned, disconnect the water to the pressure tank and take it out of the tank. Then you will have to renew the neoprene seals on the bolts, there should be two washers on each bolt, one against the tank inside and one against the tank on the outside. Tighten the nuts until you can feel the tension, do not over tighten. Connect the water back and turn the supply valve on slowly. If you have no leaks you are finished.
  • Aug 23, 2007, 09:15 AM
    MP-Squared
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by alphadog00
    As an Authorized Factory Service Technician (1990 - 1997) I repaired a lot of these. I am not sure which model you have but I can tell you that these toilets went through a lot of changes. Both American Standard and Kohler had lots of problems with early models flushing inconsistently.

    Anyway, You may have trouble finding parts, so make sure you have the model number of the toilet and the year it was made - if you do find parts you want to make sure you have the right version too.

    If you want to repair it, none of it is rocket science and it is nothing more then swapping parts out.

    In some of the early models, Kohler changed so much of the guts, that we swapped the whole tank - you may have to do that if finding parts is an issue.

    Even these toilets have a gasket that joins the tank to the bowl and a standard water connection on the bottom.

    SORRY: I missed the one piece part. There should not be enough water outside the pressure tank in the porcelain reservoir to cause a leak. I think you have more then just a bolt gasket as your issue.
    OK, Thanks a lot. The one piece Kohler pressure-assist toilet is a model K3404 PB #20080, made on 8-6-91. The Kohler Pressure-Clean Flushometer Tank is a Model 81100.

    Water is dripping from one of the bolts on the bottom that holds the pressure tank in place. It drips all the time and only stops when I shut off the water supply to the toilet. I shut off the water supply, flushed the tank to relieve the pressure, removed the two plastic nuts on the bottom bolts, disconnected the water supply line at the pressure tank, pulled out the two clear small (5/8 inch?) plastic tubes that appear to feed into the bowl, and unhooked the trip lever.

    Now, the pressure tank seems to be attached only to the 1.5 inch black hard rubber hose which feeds the flush water to the bowl. How do I detach this black hose from the bottom of the pressure tank? There is a plastic collar around the hose, just below the bottom of the porcelain tank. Does that unscrew? Will that release the pressure tank? I figure I must remove the pressure tank to see where the water is coming from.

    Much appreciate any help here!

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