Can't install new Kohler rialto Flush Value
Had a leaking flush valve bowl gasket so I remove the old
flish valve and when to replace it with a new one. I cannot
compress the flush valve gasket to twist the flush valve into
the bowl. I contacted Kohler and they recommended I heat up the gasket in hot water to soften it up and try it. The hot water did
not work. The gasket is about 1/2 inch thick and you need to
compress ir about 1/4 inch. This is a once peace toilet with a
rectangular flush valve and you just can't get any leverage. I had
a plumber come in and after 45 minutes he gave up.
Does anyone have any ideas other than to pull the plug on this
toilet?
flish valve and when to replace it with a new one. I cannot
compress the flush valve gasket to twist the flush valve into
the bowl. I contacted Kohler and they recommended I heat up the gasket in hot water to soften it up and try it. The hot water did
not work. The gasket is about 1/2 inch thick and you need to
compress ir about 1/4 inch. This is a once peace toilet with a
rectangular flush valve and you just can't get any leverage. I had
a plumber come in and after 45 minutes he gave up.
Does anyone have any ideas other than to pull the plug on this
toilet?
Home - Kohler - K-3386-0 Rialto one-piece round-front toilet with seat and...
Answers & Comments
First things first, remove the fill valve, and the flush handle mechanism. This will give you plenty of room to work with the flush valve. Before installing flush valve lubricate tabs with plumbers grease. Now put on a pair of work gloves, pushed down very hard and turn the tabs should slide easy because of the grease. Remember do not alter the gasket, the gasket needs to be compressed to do its job. I know removing the fill valve and the flush handle seems like a pain, but there is no way to get your hands in the proper position to install the flush valve assembly.
Take your new gasket to a hardware store and try to find a thinner gasket.
The bowl material is rough so the plastic flush valve teeth will not slide across it under the pre-load of the gasket. I solved this by lubricating the gasket where it touches the bowl, the triangular plastic teeth and underside of the bowl flange with I-D Millennium personal lubricant. I-D Millennium is pure silicon. Once everything is covered (be careful to keep it off your hands or you won't be able to hold the parts) the valve goes in and can be rotated into position. Other silicon lubricants may work but I had this one on hand.
jspie, Kohler has nothing I can find on its website to deal with this problem. The flush valve gaskets on my 3 Santa Rosa toilets all started disintegrating, and when I removed the first flush valve, after tremendous effort, the tabs broke. So I ordered the flush valve kits, and it is impossible to get them in. They came from Kohler with no instructions, so I finally found your solution, but even that won't work. What a poor design!