How to repair a toilet flush - push button flush not working

Here is a video of how I repaired my push button toilet flush which was not working. I hope it can help anyone else who experiences this problem and explains how I diagnosed and fixed the problem.
My toilet has a concealed cistern hidden behind a cabinet and is operated by a push button which causes the toilet to flush by pump action. The cistern is a Dudley Vantage.
Please comment if this video has helped you out. I'm not a qualified plumber, just a DIYer who wants to share the answer to a problem.
Constructive comments are appreciated.
(c) consumedbynature 2014

[@scotchscott]

7 years on and it would seem this video is still an absolute life saver. I’m completely useless at DIY but within this guidance I was able to identify the problem and with the help of areldite and gorilla tape, get the flush working while we wait for a new part. Thanks 🙏

[@davidcourt225]

Thanks, like so many others I found this video really useful. I'd planned to take my own apart but wasn't sure I'd have enough room to work as the manufacturer describes the front hatch as being the service panel. Your video showed me that it can all be done through the top, and that gave me the confidence to go for it. No obvious faults in the end, but I reseated all the tubes firmly and suddenly the flush has a new lease of life. Thanks for such a clear vid!

[@robertblaikie958]

Many thanks, this is the first information I've found being exactly the same as my system. Saved me a lot of hassle!

[@thomasJcollison]

Brilliant! Same model and problems encountered in new home. You're a sanity saver. 👍

[@derekwadley8816]

A relief to find your video still on uTube, certainly has helped on a couple of occasions. Good for you and thank you so much for sharing.one of life's' problems .. Derek Wadley

[@ipillion9975]

Thanks for the video. I have a similar issue but my problem is getting the flush valve out through the top and the Thomas Dudley video does it all through the front opening but the way you dismantled the water input side inside the cistern has solved it for me. Hats off to you. Jon

[@peterturner2976]

Thank you. Brilliantly explained the inner workings. Love the metal plate repair - will try to replicate it.

[@tony5006]

Really helpful video. Thank you for taking the time to make it. I repaired my flush in the same way that you did. More satisfying than just buying a new one.

[@KembleSteve]

Still a valuable video, 5 years since you made it. Many thanks for the excellent video work and pracitcal advise.

[@davidray5601]

Very good straightforward commentary that enabled me to understand how it works, and what to do to get mine going again. Thanks

[@andybrown3653]

I too must thank you for this upload. I have the Dudley Niagara Single flush, that well, stopped flushing. Using the info you videod I identified the culprit was a wheezy bellows (the green clips were fine). So after a certain amount of time and a £13 urgent delivery Ebay purchase, I now have it installed and flushing again as per normal. Saved me god knows how much in Plumbing charges - particularly due to the current Covid-19 silliness. Thanks again bud.

[@cathyburton6176]

Thank you so, so much for such a detailed and helpful video. Ours flushes sometimes and not others, so throwing a bowl of water down was our answer, but embarrassing when visitors have been around in the past. Now we know how to take it to pieces we've discovered the flush mechanism works so we can either check the green innards out or just order a new 'green' piece. Can also now easily change from a single flush button to a dual flush button. Update: we did it. Thank you again. You made it so easy. We put aside the morning to tackle the job, giving us all day if necessary! It was completed in about 20 minutes. We found the plastic 'stick' that travels up and down in the centre, moving the actual mechanism up and down, sometimes went too far and instead of going back up through the hole it was centred through, it was catching on the edge. The new flush valve has a different centre to it with no risk of catching. Job done 👍🏻👏 so thanks once again.

[@steveking9513]

Thanks for putting the video on KZbin , this had allowed me to fix this myself quickly and cheaply

[@mobiusgrey9522]

Cheers for uploading this vid, never seen one of these push flush cistern ones before, managed to sort my toilet out in a few mins and saved a fortune on a plumber.

[@consumedbynature]

Glad to hear it helped, thanks

[@normafreeman3687]

THANK YOU!! Simple when you know how. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge.

[@mikestephenson8633]

Thanks really helped, my cistern not quite the same as yours but near enough to guide me through the repair, great vid.

[@shivkaul]

This video is so much better than 99% of the other plumbing videos on KZbin. Really great job. I have the same cistern but in my case the push-button mechanism was the issue. The white plastic bit with the air pipes connected to it broke. It was no-longer airtight and so no air was getting to the flush cylinder.

[@consumedbynature]

Thanks for the kind words

[@carlyoung5035]

Thank you! Simple is always best. Not only did watching your video help fix my broken cistern, but it explained how the entire mechanism works. Excellent.

[@consumedbynature]

Thanks Carl, I'm glad it helped

[@sambowist]

Thanks for the video, mine had stopped flushing all together, bought a new flush valve for £29 from screwfix and the job took about 5 mins thanks to the detail in your video and now the toilet works a charm flushing better then it ever did before👍🏻

[@psbh1]

Excellent video. I wouldn't have tried the repair to my flush cistern without having seen this video first. After watching the video I diagnosed the problem, bought the new part (a Dudley Niagra dual flush valve) and fitted it - all in a few hours. Thanks!

[@consumedbynature]

Thanks for the feedback. really glad it helped

[@stanbest3743]

Thanks, knowing you could remove the valve like that saved the day. It is all back together and working again.

[@scoopermanuk]

Thank you for your time to create this video. I have the same hidden cistern and after a flush some times the water keeps running. Having watched your video I now know how to take it apart and have a go at fixing it.....

[@samoakins4011]

Thanks. So helpful when someone who knows what they're doing has *exactly* the same parts and exactly the same problem.

[@kobeer68]

Brilliant. Thanks for posting this video. I had exactly the same problem with the broken clip. Luckily there was a diaphragm on both sides so I just swapped the tube. Cheers - saved me loads!

[@Bernard0146]

Great video, clear, full explanation and good pictures - just what people need. Thank you.

[@alsatch_]

Thanks i followed this guide and i found 2 problems, the plastic clip had seperated just above the diaphram, and the tubing had cracked so the air was leaking. Ordered new parts and should be good to go. Thanks for putting this guide on, its very helpful.

[@wynnmorris6270]

Thanks for that. I always worry about breaking things when I don't know how it comes apart. Piece of cake after watching your video!

[@SuperCatXx]

This video was excellent. It helped me find out exactly why my toilet wouldn't flush anymore and how to fix it myself - the thin tube coming from the push button had disconnected from the cistern inside. All I had to do was push it back on. Thanks for your great help!

[@philchesterton232]

Thanks for taking the time to post this video. My cistern is exactly the same and you saved me a lot of time.

[@buliglasgow]

Really appreciate you taking the time to record this. Has really helped me

[@sputnikjr123]

I wanted to thank you very much for posting this video. I never thought that it would be so important and full of relevant information on a toilet system that I am having problems with. When you opened the top of the Dudley Vantage dual Flush thing to fix the metal bracket, at that point i recognised the guys who installed mine, 18 years ago never put the top back on mine. And it clicked that's why mine doesn't look like anything out there on the market. your filming was very good too. especially the hydroflo float. Thanks

[@sarahrushworth6958]

Thanks for this, gave me all I needed to sort out my cystern issue. nice one!

[@megalith2436]

This is brilliant, thank you so much! Really appreciate how clearly you showed all the steps.

[@consumedbynature]

Thank you

[@spider1292]

I just want to say, thank you so much! The tube had come off the flush valve and I had no idea where to reconnect it... This video showed me! Thank you again!!!

[@consumedbynature]

Hi, thanks for letting me know. Really glad my video helped thanks

[@woodbandit9799]

what a great informative video you have made here, i have the exact same problem with mine and hadnt got a clue how to dismantle it, thanks to you i have taken mine apart found the same broken clip as you have, i have made a similar braket and all is now working well. YOU HAVE HELPED SAVE ME £££££££££££££s I WAS GOING TO BOY A NEW CISTERN. CHEERS M8.......

[@sbcmg6534]

One of the best and most real life videos I’ve seen, really helpful, good man…

[@thomaswiecko24]

Another thankful person here :) due to the awesome video and also comment below, found out where my pipe got disconnected from (the large green bit) found the hidden section and plugged back in. Thanks again, much appreciated.

[@consumedbynature]

Really pleased to hear my video helped you. Many thanks for taking the time to post your kind comments

[@techassyst]

Great video problem well described and fixed , you are to be congratulated doing it one handed !

[@six6shoot]

excellent - and all done with one hand. I bet you're good at magic tricks too!

[@iancrispin1612]

Brilliant video thank you. Fixed it within 20 minutes once I realized where the water isolation valve was and which way to release the inner pipe !.Once out (no access from above but could still get out via the front opening) one clip needed to be reseated . All seems very fragile and not confident in long term but at least it's working again. Ian

[@davidjames4262]

Brilliant. Big thank you for posting this video. Works perfectly now. You’re a star!

[@juneerica5365]

I found this video really informative. Thank you very much. June Bees

[@kevinjohnson5107]

Thanks a lot for posting this. It gave me confidence to give it a go, and have made a temporary fix.

[@chriseaton6538]

Thank You very much. So clear and useful, I have used it twice now. Fabulous

[@liammcdonald785]

Been fitting these Dudley cisterns had similar problems really good info thanks

[@andrewgrenville5330]

Thanks for the video, mine was limescale rather than a broken part but this helped give me the confidence to take it out and check it.

[@nijasty]

Thanks for this video. Fixed my toilet in about 3 mins and saved me calling a Plumber. Top Work

[@consumedbynature]

njstewart78atgmail Great news. Glad the video helped you. Thanks for the feedback

[@Stevecamden]

I want to say thank you too. My system was a bit different ( dual flush) but the two little hooks had become fatigued whereas yours had snapped off. I’m going to order a new unit ( as you suggest). But you gave me the confidence to investigate!

[@facebegone]

Thanks so much, this helped me fix the loo at night not knowing where the hose attached to the green flush mechanism! So grateful!!

[@consumedbynature]

I'm pleased I could help, thanks

[@TheIronmaster1]

Thank You!! Simpler problem with mine, the pneumatic tube was hanging free in the cistern and I just could not see where it was supposed to fit. Thanks to up your video I could see that it connected part way down the back of the green flush unit. Still couldn't see it but found it by feel, pipe re-inserted, sorted. Excellent.

[@consumedbynature]

Pleased you've sorted it, thanks

[@aishaconner8944]

TheIronmaster1 mom if you know Tori Kelly number tell me toys number now if you don't know it then just ask the girls and tell them to send to me by

[@thomaswiecko24]

Same thing here, your comment also helped along with the video, thanks much appreciated.

[@ashhill84]

Mine was the same problem also. Thanks for the vid. Saved me calling a plumber

[@JohnDean-fi4wb]

Brilliant! Video explained well, I used it to replace broken valve. Job done and works a treat 😁

[@paharnett]

Superb helpful video, many thanks now I can fix mine!

[@SuperBert1000]

Great video, very helpful. Cheers

[@ibuk4309]

Thanks for the vid 👏👏👏toilet constantly running ,enclosed cistern so thought it was major work, thanks to this i found flush valve is removable with a quarter turn ,new one £30 ,problem solved ,cheers .

[@ukDB2400]

A truly excellent video after all these years. I had to replace the green part for my TD pneumatic single flush set up. It had a black plastic part that attaches the tube to it that broke off and so the button wouldn't work. There was not real way of attaching the tube so had to swap it out for a newer that thankfully still worked. I had a lot of trouble undoing then aligning afterwards the ball cock part. If it wasn't lined up it leaked as it filled up after a flush then wouldn't shut off properly. Once I was able to line it up properly it all went back together.Nice one and thanks again.

[@consumedbynature]

Glad the video helped you. Thanks for taking the time to comment with your story 👍🏻

[@antonye7733]

great Video. Very useful! Many thanks.

[@Mad4plumbing-ltd]

Great video! I have a job like this today,thanks for sharing....

[@alexlamb1433]

A very good video and I had a similar problem unfortunately I have no top access so the side access only makes it a little more difficult to get at the flush valve and I ended up removing the complete cylinder to carry out my repair, but thank you, another observation is the clip that holds the water inlet can be unclipped from the rear.

[@esmedench2978]

This worked and stopped me calling a Plumber thank you

[@consumedbynature]

Good stuff. Thanks for letting me know

[@glynjones9681]

Thank you so much for this, I just had the same issue and I would not have known where to start!

[@andyclements7083]

very useful, had a similar issue but the button had to be pressed hard to flush rather than no flush at all. Turned out to be the bellow in the top of the flush valve had come away slightly - mine wasn't glued in but had an O-ring fit. As this was lose it allowed the air to escape slowly. Once this was pushed firmly back with a good fit on the O-ring all worked well. Biggest issue is access and removing the green flush valve from the unit.

[@barriegrimes9320]

ZThanks very much, helped me a great deal. Barrie York

[@iancairns1161]

great video saved me loads of time and money many thanks

[@Shaktical_Airsoft]

Mate you're a life saver! Many thanks for the video it was very helpful

[@consumedbynature]

Thanks for taking the time to comment

[@alysoncook1336]

Excellent video - super helpful... many, many thanks :-)

[@annepeart6685]

Thank you so much! This was an absolute flipping god send xxxx

[@roymartin576]

Great video & helped a lot. However with the same symptoms, a different fault. The 90 degree plastic entry into the green cistern was split. Fixed it by plenty or rubber solution with silicone sealant.

[@markpeti]

you just saved us so much money thank you

[@nuvmo]

Thanks for the video! Helped me fix a similar problem.

[@synappticuser5669]

Just happened to us. Great vid. Job done. Thanks. McIntyre

[@thomasJF85]

I'm going to try a button replacement to see if that's my issue but if that doesn't help I feel a bit better as I was very worried about being able to replace the mechanism in situ and having to smash the bathroom to bits to get to it! This video is extremely helpful. If it comes to it I will probably replace everything as it's very dirty and somewhat of a bodge from whoever installed it.

[@anthonybarra2391]

Thanks mate spot on , all I needed to know cheers

[@arvo56]

If its ABS plastic,- then you could cement the broken hook back on,-but as it prob isn't,- then you did a great job!

[@CenturionHDCCTV]

Great video mine had the same problem, annoying that it would appear be due to a faulty design or perhaps built in obsolescence?

[@andyclark9754]

what is the green replacement part called please, great video thanks for posting it

[@jphilipcarr]

Very, very useful and informative. Thanks

[@johnbull13]

Nice video , really helpful . Thanks !

[@rutherglenloyalist9667]

Brilliant video buddy many thanks for posting! I had the exact same problem as shown in this video but please don't take this as a criticism but rather than replace the whole flush mechanism or do a repair job like you did, I simply switched the white plastic part over to to the unbroken clip on the other side and it works perfectly.

[@consumedbynature]

Hello. Thanks for the comment. I did consider just moving it to the other side but the bellow was glued in and I didn't want to try and remove it and break it. Good news that you managed to repair yours just by swapping sides. Regards

[@kimamey]

Great video, thanks. I could see what you were doing unlike some I've seen.The one I was looking at was in my mother's flat and the push button was sticking in. The whole bathroom and kitchen was replaced by a plumber who's a distant relative and did a good job. I wasn't sure how to get into cabinet around the cistern so we called him out and although I wasn't here at the time I now know where the front panel is. He was going away for 2 weeks the next day but had a look and refixed the tube. Unfortunately a couple of days later it stopped working again and water was leaking from the push button.Looking at your video I think maybe the internal bellows have broken allowing water in so may need a new unit and the only thing stopping me is the fact I don't know how the top of the cabinet comes off. If I did I know from your video I could fix it. So frustrating. Still at least i can now stuck my hand in and flush it and I'm fairly certain of the problem.

[@consumedbynature]

Sorry to hear of your problem. Good luck with repairing it

[@aishaconner8944]

Kim Amey mom I need you to know if you don't know I will send it to you again it's your name is I said my name is James and you should call me by a picture me a message in my name is James my hey my name is Carlton to I need to call you this why if you know my number call me now if you show me a message no sorry I need you to send me a message 402-809-8005 please send me a message I'm so sorry my name is Miss I say I mean and I will like to sing a message and I was wondering to get me a Furrow phone and now and 402-809-8005 please send me a message come here I want you to show me a message for Georgia HOV and that's my number but I have a 4:10 so I can send me a message so please call me right now

[@pujagrafix]

Thanks, your video saved my bucks :)

[@WirralDroneServices]

Thanks for the video, you helped a stressed daddy.

[@johaldoronaldo9393]

Hello mate. Great video! I have exactly the same Dudley pump system as you, but my issue is that my toilet is continuously running. Like an endless slow flush. Any ideas, please?

[@Kitsua]

Really helpful mate, cheers.

[@UGRTechHowTo]

you are gr8 man. very clear nice video explaining the issue and how to solve this. Thanks for that. Hats-off. I am so impressed with your video and so I am subscribing to your channel. keep it up. good work.

[@Bushcat67]

Thanks really helped

[@ronen124]

this mechanism is much more complicated from the old ones that were in use.. at 13:20 do you think that you release a vacuum via the button through this rubber pipe or on the contrary press air through it?

[@mikegeeguitarman8991]

excellent stuff well done lad

[@consumedbynature]

Thanks

[@petermackie7156]

me to bud got it sorted without calling out a plumber saved ££££££ thanks

[@JasperIFS]

Thanks really helpfull video 😃👍

[@sarapavan8086]

Thank you so much! I've managed to fix the toilet! I feel like MacGyver right now 🤣

[@helenvincent1387]

What make is this? We have exact same system and want to replace the parts but I cannot find it anywhere. As all have said, really helpful video. Have dismantled ... All parts pretty degraded so want to replace

[@debradiamond9057]

Mine is a dual flush but operates from the front not on the top Im hoping it's going to be the same cos it will save me the cost of a plumber thank you 💅

[@paulnarramore5354]

Very helpful video and whilst I've fixed the broken pivot with steel wire, the toilet flushes ONLY by depressing the button and holding it depressed. This morning it wouldn't even do that. The button, when depressed, stays depressed and won't return to it's normal place. It sounds like I need a complete green flush valve.

[@jamilaford9999]

Brilliant plumber xx

[@caryllmarden]

Thanks, helped me too!

[@caryllmarden]

The tube had come adrift. On mine its fits inside the connection on the green flush valve housing. trimming the outside with a craft knife helped me get it back in.

[@Defender901990]

Good video

[@hoisin75]

Great video, identified the same problem and have the same cistern. Where can I buy an identical green flush valve please? UK based

[@consumedbynature]

Hi, there are a few for sale on ebay. I searched on Thomas Dudley cistern valve. Regards

[@jamesmurphy7345]

Cheers pal, just saved me ££££

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Thank you for the useful tutorial. Still very annoyed that my old shires flush 1967 to 2016 never any problem except for a few sunken ballcocks, was "Modernized"?? for something as weak and nasty as this system. Simply made to break or a plumbers dream. It's a nightmare waiting to happen again...

[@keliweisgerber3896]

My works too. Used woodprix handbooks and build it with no problems.