Lavatory Cistern Problem

[Stargazer]

my very old cistern has a sticking lever which I have to force up in order to get it to flush. It is about 65 years old and has the word "standard" in pale blue on the rear of the bowl. Do I use some sort of grease or WD40 when I take the lid off? I don't want to break anything?

[Buenchico]

This might help:

[jennyjoan]

You need a very good plumber. You need the whole insides of the cistern replaced as i did last month but my cistern insides are 33 years old

[Hopkirk]

A handyman might be able to lubricate it, but at that age I fear replacement might be necessary.

[The Builder]

A "Standard"? That's almost a museum piece, Stargazer. ;o)
Follow Bueno's video to undo the backnut and dismantle the lever fitting.
Try a smear of vaseline where the rod passes through.
If not that, then it often happens that the wire thingy that connects the rod to the plunger has got out of alignment.
Pulling up of the plunger needs to be in a straight line to operate properly.
Or... maybe the plunger is sticking. In which case, replace the whole assembly with a modern one. (They fit inside the old type of cistern that you have.)
Try the simple things first. If you need to replace, come back to us and we'll tell you how.

[Stargazer]

Thank you builder you always manage to help me. However this time I may need a video. My "standard" porcelain lavatory dates from when the house was built in 1958 and the chrome lever has to be gently, but with a bit of effort, forced upwards in order for it to be pushed down to activate the flush. This takes more than one push and I am afraid of breaking something that may be fragile. The cistern has a large round orange plastic ball and the videos seem to show more modern fittings. Any further advice most welcome.

[The Builder]

Ok. Not just a sticky handle then. More likely, it's the syphon (flush valve.) That's the gubbins that lets the water out to do the flushing.

The bit that slides up and down carrying the diaphragm, has either collapsed, or has partially seized up with age.
Easily replaced with something like this.....

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I'm assuming it's a traditional "low level" cistern with a downpipe that connects the cistern to the bowl, and NOT a close-coupled where the cistern actually sits right on the bowl (modern type.)

Have a look at this..................