I think the flushing mechanism on my toilet is worn out. When I push the handle to flush the toilet, the handle moves too easily. (It is exactly like when you try to flush a toilet too soon after the previous flush.)

The toilet does fill with water properly. The mechanism inside the cistern seems to be okay. Are there washers or other wear and tear parts that need to be replaced?

Daniel N, July 2005

Take the cistern off the toilet and undo the big nut on the bottom to release the syphon mechanism. This will probably mean disconnecting both the water in and overflow pipes. The syphon has a worn out diaphragm which takes about a minute to change once you have the mechanism off. Either buy a new one (£1.50 @ B&Q) or cut one out of some plastic. Easy job.

Peter, November 2005

There cheap enough at B&Q less then a tenner.

Mr Kipper, September 2005

The syphon has gone , this is the main unit in the toilet which has a big nut on the bottom of the cistern to get it off.

Steve, August 2005