My toilet keeps running from a hole in the side of the white body , shooting almost out of the tank. I have tightened the screws and adjusted the ball cock and it is quieter, but still running. It is a very old Briggs toilet .

Just replace the entire assembly with a newer float style. They cost less than $10 are an easy DIY job. Meanwhile, turn the water off at the stop to keep from wasting water.

Hi Eelliott

Look in the bottom of the toilet tank and see if you can find a tube... plastic or copper. If you find the tube attach it to the stem sticking out of the "white body" (fill valve) and attach the other end to the tube in the center of the tank (oveflow tube)... should resolve the issue.

If there isn't a tube to be found, then it is time to replace the fill valve as suggested by Ma0641... ;)

Mark