Convert a lever handle to a twin push-button on a close coupled toilet?

[Yorkieguy]

I wonder if there are any plumbers out there who can answer a question for me?

i have a close-coupled toilet which is about 30 years old. Along with the sink taps the toilet handle is gold, and looking decidedly old-fashioned, so I'm converting them to chrome. While I'm at it, I though that rather than just replace the toilet lever handle, I'd convert it to a dual-flush push-button. However, a plumber friend has said that the hole in the ceramic cistern where the lever handle is, isn't large enough to fit a push button unit. (It's approx 20mm diam).

I've looked at a couple of youtube videos and as far as I can see, the toilet cisterns are just like mine, but none of the kits state the actual dimeter of the push button unit which has to go through the cistern and secured with a nut. No-one seems to stock the lever to push-button conversion kit, and I don't want to have the hassle of buying something online that I have to return.

At about 7.30 mins in, this 2019 video appears to show that the threaded part which goes through the hole, is quite small (20mm diam?), and has a spacer on the outside (which wouldn't be needed for say a 40mm diam hole), so would fit my cistern:

https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...ate=ive&vld=cid:7c5d245f,vid:Q6G-s2fAvro,st:0

Likewise, in this video from 2014, at 4mins 35 secs it seems to confirm that:

https://www.google.com/search?q=con...ate=ive&vld=cid:a4a29faf,vid:T-WPaiLsMDU,st:0

Any advice would be welcome, and a recommendation of source a suitable conversion kit, even better!

I've attached a couple of pics showing the existing handle arrangement.

Thanks for reading.

David.

 

[MikeJhn]

Lever systems operate on lifting the syphon physically with a rod and lever as can be seen in pic1, push button systems/cistern's do not, they work from a push cable, you will need a new internal syphon to operate with a push button, easy to do if you know how to take you close coupled cistern to bits: https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/viva-skylo-dual-flush-valve-long-cable

I would go for a modern modular built in cistern and toilet: https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk...-shape-soft-close-seat-with-concealed-cistern If you don't have children and of an age, I would recommend the comfort height toilets that are just a little easier to get down to and up from.

 

[Spectric]

I would avoid anything with a flap valve and use a proper syphon from Thomas Dudley, especially if you have a close coupled toilet as you can replace the diapragm without removing the unit from the cistern so maybe sticking with a lever is not a bad thing, buttons and complexity are great for plumbers bank balances but not house holders.

 

[ChaiLatte]

Your links are Google search pages, not specific YouTube videos.

Try this. Do as they say and send them a photo and measurements:

https://www.toiletspareparts.com/collections/conversion-to-push-button-kits

The button and chrome surround project from the face of the cistern. It is only the white operating shaft that goes through the 20mm hole.

I think this is the 2019 video to which you refer.



They link to the product manufacturer here:

https://www.vivasanitary.co.uk/

Contact them and find out the part number.

 

[Windows]

An easy fix for a gold handle is some paint if you’re not wedded to the buttons.

 

[Yorkieguy]

Lever systems operate on lifting the syphon physically with a rod and lever as can be seen in pic1, push button systems/cistern's do not, they work from a push cable, you will need a new internal syphon to operate with a push button, easy to do if you know how to take you close coupled cistern to bits: https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/viva-skylo-dual-flush-valve-long-cable

I would go for a modern modular built in cistern and toilet: https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk...-shape-soft-close-seat-with-concealed-cistern If you don't have children and of an age, I would recommend the comfort height toilets that are just a little easier to get down to and up from.

Thanks for reading.

The conversion kit will do me fine if the push-button unit will fit the 20mm hole in the cistern. the kits come with the syphon unit and all the parts necessary. It's well within my capabilities to fit it.

The bath, pedestal basis and toilet are 'whisper grey' -the height of fashion 30 years ago when the house was built, but not now! Hence, I don't want to replace the toilet as it would inevitably have to be white and wouldn't match the bath or pedestal. I could simply fit a chrome lever handle to replace the gold one and leave it at that, but if the chrome push-button conversion unit will fit the 20mm hole, that would be a better option.

This is in the guest bathroom which is only used when we have visitors to stay. We have an en-suite bathroom which we've just upgraded - bath out, shower compartment in its place, thermostatic shower, re-tiled, dual fuel ladder towel rail, new vanity unit and yes, a comfort height seat!

 

[Yorkieguy]

An easy fix for a gold handle is some paint if you’re not wedded to the buttons.

A chrome one is under a tenner, but I'd prefer a push button conversion. The only issue is whether they will fit the 20mm hole in the front of the cistern, which is the essence of my query, which I hope someone will be able to answer.

 

[Yorkieguy]

Your links are Google search pages, not specific YouTube videos.

Try this. Do as they say and send them a photo and measurements:

https://www.toiletspareparts.com/collections/conversion-to-push-button-kits

The button and chrome surround project from the face of the cistern. It is only the white operating shaft that goes through the 20mm hole.

I think this is the 2019 video to which you refer.



They link to the product manufacturer here:

https://www.vivasanitary.co.uk/

Contact them and find out the part number.

Thanks - I've done that and await a reply.

 

[Yorkieguy]

Your links are Google search pages, not specific YouTube videos.

Try this. Do as they say and send them a photo and measurements:

https://www.toiletspareparts.com/collections/conversion-to-push-button-kits

The button and chrome surround project from the face of the cistern. It is only the white operating shaft that goes through the 20mm hole.

I think this is the 2019 video to which you refer.



They link to the product manufacturer here:

https://www.vivasanitary.co.uk/

Contact them and find out the part number.

Thanks - that looks promising.