Fuildmaster fill valve

[shaken-n-stirred]

I have a fuildmaster toilet fill valve. I installed it in a little used bathroom. It did not work from the start. I now wish to "fix" it.

When you flush the toilet, the flapper rises, floats, and always the toilet tank to drain completely, and flush the toilet perfectly. Please read that again as every continues to point to the flapper.

The problem is that while the flush lever raises the flapper and raises the float, the rise of the float does not trigger the fill valve and the toilet tank will not refill. If I hold the flush lever just for an extra second or so, then the float is allowed to fall (as the water level is now lower) and as a result the trigger is allowed to operate and the tank fills.

For the life of me I can not see how to adjust any thing so as to not have to hold the flush lever down.

IT IS NOT A FLAPPER PROBLEM. Hold the flush lever for a nano second flapper is fine, hold the lever for 20 minutes the flapper is fine ............

 

[Matt30]

The height of the entire unit is adjustable. Raise it to a point where the float drops low enough to trigger water, then set your high level.

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

What do you mean "set high level"? Is that the screw thread dealy?

 

[havasu]

The black tube at the bottom of the Fluidmaster is designed to be turned clockwise or counterclockwise, so the float will stop before spilling into the overflow tube. The float itself has a small chrome pinch clamp which can be adjusted to give you a final accurate float adjustment.

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

Thank you Hav , you are the first person who seems to be familiar with this item.

Questions:

1. Where is this "chrome pinch clamp"? Is it under the float? I do not see one, but maybe I need to remove the tower and turn it over to look on the underside.

2. I guess I still do not understand how the fluidmaster is supposed to work exactly.
It is clear that once the toilet is flushed (if all works right) the water will run into the tank UNTIL the float rises hard up to the top of the tower. Then the float is LOCKED in that position and will not FALL from that position until the TRIGGER is pulled via the flush. If you flush and the trigger is triggered (ie the chain pulls on it), but the water level has not dropped immediately, then the float will not be released by the trigger. By the time the water level has dropped enough to allow the float to drop and start the water inflow, I HAVE RELEASED the flush level and the trigger must grab the float before it has time to drop. HENCE, no refilling the tank. If I go back and flush the flush handle again, obviously the float falls IMMEDIATELY because the tank is empty and nothing is there to hold the float up.

Obviously I have a pretty good idea of how thing work roughly, but I am missing something? What is the deal? Does this have to do with your mysterious chrome pinch clamp?

3. What is the screw shaft on the side of the float for? I turn it, but nothing seems to change???

thank you so much for trying to help me!

 

[havasu]

The The Fluidmaster 400 a has the screw shaft and is the newer style. It does not have the chrome pinch clamp. I will tell you that is this toilet is used rarely, you will get calcium and contaminants which make the float stick, and not rise and fall with the water level very well. You can either try cleaning the slide shaft or spend another $12 and replace it.

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

That is the exact beast!

As for deposits, I installed this unit a couple of years ago and it did not work from day one. I installed it and did not want to redo the job. Every Christmas we have guests and I tell them to hold the flush lever down for an extra second or the next time you flush, the toile will not flush but will then refill with water. Call me lazy and thoughtless. Well, it is time to fix both of those things as well as the toilet.

So it is not calcium build-up, it is either operator error or a defective unit.

So, how is this unit supposed to work. How can the float fall immediately to start the inflow if the water level has not really started to drop? Both the flapper and the trigger are pulled by the flush lever at the exact same time. Therefore the water level has not dropped when the trigger is pulled and therefore the trigger reattaches (ie quickly unlocks the float and relocks it immediately). If the float could drop immediately the trigger would not relock.

Defective or adjustment????????????????

You can take one more stab if you like and then say "I don't know". LOL

 

[havasu]

A look inside your toilet tank would be worth a 1000 words. Is it possible to take a pic for us? I do know if the flapper chain is not adjusted correctly, it will not lift up high enough to break the air bubble under it, and will close before actuating the filler float. This is the area where I would be concentrating my thoughts.

 

[phishfood]

+Is this one of those Rube Goldberg designs that has the flapper and flush handle and fill valve linked, that is supposed to prevent the toilet tank from filling if the flapper sticks open?

I have seen two of them, and replaced both with standard fill valves and flush handles. Got tired of trying to make them work properly.

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

No,the the flapper float floats for very long time. It floats until the water is drained, but the float fill valve remains in the locked position so no water comes in. If I hit the flush lever again it releases the trigger, the float drops, and the tank fills.

Both actions (flapper and fill) will happen also if I just flush the toilet once but hold the flush level for an extra second or so. What this means to me is: The flapper is released, if I hold the lever it allows the water level to drop and holds the trigger release in a released position so as the water drops the float is then allowed to drop with the level. If I do not hold the flush lever, the trigger is released but since the water level does not allow the float to drop the trigger REENGAGES and remains the locked positon

 

[Matt30]

I've had those fill valves installed where they don't sit quite level, and the float won't slide straight up and down, it would sometimes get hung up and needs a little shake to make the float drop. I've rectified this be re-levelling the toilet tank, or just going with something other than fluidmaster because I think they are garbage anyways.

Either way, it should be a simple fix but I'm still not 100% clear on what's causing your issue without pictures.

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

I think it is the Dm Trigger. Why there is this trigger lock anyway is a mystery to me. I think I am going to see if I can just break the DM trigger off and just let the float --- float and drop. (I once said that a picture posted here was exactly what I have, on closer inspection of the photo, I notice the photo DOES NOT HAVE THE DM TRIGGER!!!!!, The plot thickens)

Yes this thread is long and the toilet is still not fixed, but I must add I have been in and out of town and not in town much to spend on this issue other than to whine and read about it. Not mention a burned out stove burner and a repair of a dripping sill cockk.

 

[frodo]

WTH..you started this thread, now MY toilets leaking...

epidemic, I cant stand a fluid master, I will go back old school, brass ball cock

 

[Matt30]

I have removed fluidmasters from my inventory and now just have traditional ball cocks, and Korky quiet fill valves, which are my new favourite. I havent had one come back on me yet. The first one I out in was for my mother over 4 years ago and no issues.

 

[frodo]

I'm serious, my darn fluidmster started leaking and wont stop, pull the float up, wont stop

pull the arm up wont stop.

if i put a sewer snake in the tank will that fix it?

 

[phishfood]

i have been installing nothing but Pro45B's for the last year and a half, and have not had a single call back or issue with them as of yet.

Hope you guys have not jinxed me!

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

Well it only took BREAKING the fuildmaster in order to make it WORK!

I broke the trigger/release off of the float! Now the float float to the top and shuts the flow off and when flushed there is no trigger lock to LOCK the float in the locked position not allowing it to fall and start the flow.


What the heck is up with that? You have to break a product to make it work?

 

[frodo]

I broke mine right out the toilet into the trash can.

put in a real ball cock. goodby, good riddance fluid massah

 

[Mr_David]

I think I know what the problem is. You're talking about a trigger.
What you bought was a Leak Sentry.
It has an extra feature not on the most commonly use fill valves.
the trigger or extra feature is attached with a chain to the flush handle.
This is a locking device that prevents the float on the fill valve from dropping if you have a slow leaking flapper.
Good for rental units that don't pay the water bill. You won't hurt the unit if you remove it.
Look at the picture Havasu. No locking clip on bottom of float.

 

[Matt30]

I have never seen that model. Sounds like junk just like a traditional fluidmaster.