Disassembly

< Won't see me wearing one... | Building the new tower >

	Posted by Glenn in Home Repair Thursday, November 24. 2005

***UPDATE***
The Ultimate American Standard Toilet Repair
The following procedures have been superceeded by the repair described at the link above.

Proceed with caution.

Please read the DISCLAIMER before proceeding. You will probably void any warranty you may have if you attempt this procedure. This is an easy procedure to perform, but is VERY DIFFICULT to undo. Very small parts may become dislodged and lost inside the toilet while attempting this procedure. Do not attempt this procedure unless you are willing to accept all risks and liability for your actions.

The parts American Standard doesn't want you to see...

These are the internal parts of the American Standard Champion Toilet Flush Tower. Since American Standard doesn’t provide a parts diagram detailing these components, I will have to specify my own names for these items (Clockwise from left).

Lift Chain
Lift Assembly Cap
Lift/Release Carriage
Spring
Retaining Clip

Steps to disassemble flush tower:

1. TURN OFF THE WATER

Let's see what's hiding under here...

2. Remove lift chain from lift rod (aka- the “handle”). The chain is attached to the assembly cap by a notch next to the hole on the top of the cap. Slide the chain out of the notch, and into the hole. Now the cap can be slid off the chain.

It comes out easier than it goes in.

3. Raise the Lift/Release Carriage all the way up and hold in place. (The outer cylinder will drop when you do this.) Remove chain by pulling it out the side, below the top of the carriage. CAUTION- don’t drop the chain into the tower assembly, you may lose it inside the toilet.

TINY PIECE ALERT! (Front View)

Don't drop the clip down the hole!

Secret Thingamajib

4. While holding Lift/Release Carriage, remove Retaining Clip. CAUTION- The clip and spring are easier to drop and lose than the chain. Take great care to not let these pieces fall into the tower assembly, as they may become lost inside the toilet. Once the retaining clip is removed, the spring and carriage will come out together.

Get that thing outta there!

5. Flush Tower outer cylinder can now be lifted out.

This thing won't come out.

6. You will notice that the rod which the retaining clip was attached to fell down the center hole. This “Limiting Rod” limits the upward travel of the cylinder before triggering the release mechanism. This part cannot be removed without removing the tank. It is long enough that it will not go further down into the toilet, and can be safely left in place.

At this point, you can still operate your toilet. If you were unable to reassemble the flush tower lift/release mechanism, you could still set the cylinder in place and lift it by hand to operate the flush cycle. Not very elegant, but it will get you by until you’ve got the New Flush Tower built.

Proceed to Constructing the New Tower.

***UPDATE***
I get occasional google hits for "Flush Tower Diagram." To my knowledge, no such diagram exists, but hopefully these pictures will help shed some light on what is going on inside this thing.

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Glen,

Thank you so very much for posting this! My stupid flush tower came apart. I found the spring and clip in the bottom of the tank and spent hours looking online for a diagram until I found this post. My six year-old and I just finished putting it all back together and it works again. I will never buy an American Standard toilet again!

#1 Chris on 2006-11-18 20:08 (Reply)

Great post.

I followed all instructions and it worked including re-assembly. Here are some addition hints I found helpful:

0. Purchased ASP738651-0070A CHAMP FV SEA (red flush value seal ring) from faucetdepot.com after the original delaminated into a bubble. What is in the bubble I can only imagine.

1. Stuff a paper towel down and around the inside of the flush tower to prevent small piece fall down and, more importantly to wedge the rod pulled up during secret thingamajig re-install. Wedging the paper towel against the rod and tube wall will keep the rod from falling back down.

2. I used two small flathead screwdrivers to gently pry off the retaning clip. One along side the rod and under the clip and one between the tooth of the clip. It snapped right back in place during intallation.

3. I used a bread wrapper paperwire tie to compress the spring, both sides. Remember it has to hold the spring compressed and has to be removable once installed. And if you do it right it can be used as a handle for the compressed spring during installation. I grabbed the rod with needlenose and worked the wire tied compressed spring down the rod.

4. I used a small tail and a long leash of thin masking tape taped to the back of the retaining clip during reinstallation. It was easy to lower the clip down the tube using the tape to hold and lower it. Then just snapped it back onto the rod.

5. I used a length of thin sewing thread tie between the first and second chain balls. I threaded the thread through the cap an pulled the chain through the hole in the cap. And I thought the thread would prevent losing the chain down the tube too.

6. I counted 5 chain balls to the handle clip and four balls to the top of the clip before disassembly. I reassembled the same way.

7. Who in the world would design this for the consumer market, where toilet seals wear out with regularity? And worst, why did I end up with one?

#2 Karstdiver on 2006-11-21 15:12 (Reply)

Wow.....

I'm glad there was dialogue on this out there, because my flush tower also blew up. I hacked the repair using old and new parts, and it works, so thanks for the reference.

Ken

#3 Ken Joy on 2007-01-09 16:54 (Reply)

Glen, thanks for posting this and Chris, thanks for the additional suggestions. The paper towels helped a lot. I used floss (at my 5 YO's suggestion) to thread the chain through the holes... It was convenient and in the room! Awesome site! Now I'm off to buy some lemons to flush.

#4 Donna on 2007-04-06 17:23 (Reply)

Glen, THANK YOU for the pictures, and Chris, for your suggestions!!..

my flush tower also came apart, and i'd been looking everywhere, to find how to put it back together..Now i see that the clip is gone, but i'll figure out a way to rig it up..

my toilet flushes great, if i can just keep it together!

#5 Susan Mc. on 2007-10-24 03:12 (Reply)

Thank you thank you thank you for these pictures. I would have NEVER gotten this overly complicated toilet back together after the little spring holder "thingy" came off. As with the other post, I used a needle and thread also to get the chain through those tiny holes.

Jeff

#6 Jeff McReynolds on 2009-10-11 16:27 (Reply)

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