How To Repair A Leaking Mansfield Toilet is a simple task that many people will not undertake because the design of the Mansfield flush valve is so different than many other toilets. In reality it is no more difficult than changing a flapper in a conventional toilet.
Most of the Mansfield toilets in service today utilize a unique flush tower design that many people just look at and cannot quite figure out how to work on. There are four basic designs but, all are very similar and just two easily identifiable seals are used on the model 208, 209, 210, and 211 flush valves. The Mansfield flush valves all are secured through the tank with a nut and rubber seal holding it in place. There is a horn shaped tower that has the bell of the horn on top of one of the two seals, the narrow part of the horn goes up above the water line and is held in place by a guide rod with a stop bumper on the top. The tank lever causes the toilet to flush by either going through a loop on the upper end of the horn or, a chain that runs from the bell end of the horn up to the handle. Ether way the tank lever lifts the horn up against the stop bumper, allowing water to flow under the bell end into the toilet bowl, causing the toilet to flush. After flushing, the horn drops back down in place with the bell again sealing against the base of the valve stopping the water flow into the bowl. While the tank is refilling a tube from the fill valve secured into the center of the stop bumper runs water down through the center of the horn into the bowl to refill the bowl to the proper level.
Identifying Which Mansfield Flush Valve Seal To Use
Identifying which seal is use is simple there are only two to pick from.
Toilets that have the Mansfield 208 and 209 flush valves use a black rubber seal that secures to the bell und of the horn and the seal raise and lower with the horn when the toilet flushes. Toilets that use the Mansfield 208 and 209 flush valve use the Mansfield # 630-4837 flush valve seal but you may also use a Korky # 426BP flush valve seal. This seal snaps in place over the bell end of the horn similar to putting the lid on a Tupperware container.
Toilets that have the Mansfield 210 and 211 flush valves use a rubber seal that is usually but not always red in color and secures in a groove located on the stationary base of the flush valve on the section that doesn’t move up and down with the horn when the toilet flushes. The bell end rises off the seal when the toilet flushes and comes back down on it on the completion of the flush. Toilets that use the Mansfield 210 and 211 flush valves use the Mansfield # 630-0030 flush valve seal but you may also use the Korky # 427BP flush valve seal.
Replacing Mansfield Flush Valve Seal
The replacement of the Mansfield flush valve seal is very similar on all four of the flush valve models. When replacing the black rubber flush valve seal I encourage you to wear latex or, nitrile gloves as the deteriorating black rubber will stain your hands badly and once it is removed I usually hold it in my palm and pull the glove off from the wrist bagging the old seal in the glove. Turn off the water supply to the toilet usually at the stop valve under the left side of the tank. Remove the tank lid and place it on the floor out of the way, placing the lid on the floor is something you should do to prevent the lid from getting broken. (Buying a replacement tank lid can be quite expensive costing up to $150 plus shipping.) Flush the toilet and verify the water is off, then pull the bowl refill tube out of the stop bumper on the on the top of the flush valve. Unscrew the stop bumper of the top of the flush tower and set the stop bumper aside. Raise the horn straight up off the guide rod, turning the loop off the tank lever as you raise it if that is type of valve you have. The chain type just lifts off and the chain does not have to be unfastened. Once the horn is off the procedure varies.
- If you have the Mansfield 208 or, 209 flush valve with the Mansfield # 630-4837 flush valve seal make sure you use gloves like I stated earlier. Peel the seal off the bottom of the horn and palm it while wrapping it in the glove as you take off the glove to avoid messes. Then take the new Mansfield # 630-4837 or, Korky # 426BP flush valve seal and place the tube in the center of the horn through the hole in the center of the flush valve seal while snapping the outside of it over the bell. Make sure that the seal is flat and not rippled anywhere or, cocked on the center hole. You are now ready for reassembly.
- If you have the Mansfield 210 or, 211 flush valve with the Mansfield # 630-0030 flush valve seal set the horn aside. The seal fits into a groove on the flush valve, simply grab the seal and pull it outwards stretching the seal out of the groove somewhat like undoing a button and remove the old seal. Take the new Mansfield # 630-0030 or, Korky # 427BP flush valve seal and place it in the thin upper groove on the flush valve working around the entire valve then stretch it getting it into the groove on the last section. Inspect it making sure it is in the upper thin groove all the way around. The seal is thin and probably rippled from not seating correctly. Take the seal and rotate it around in the seal and back and forth. The seal will seat properly and rest flat. You are now ready for reassembly.
Reassembly of the Mansfield Flush Valve
Place the horn bell end down over the guide rod sliding it down into the position rotating the tank lever into the loop as you guide it down if that is the type you have. Lower the horn to the closed position, then screw the stop bumper back on. Place the bowl refill tube all the way back into the center of the stop bumper. You are now ready to turn the water supply back on and test the operation of the toilet. Your Mansfield toilet should flush properly and not leak water from the tank into the bowl. Replace to tank lid and cleanup you have replaced the flush valve seal.
