my son cleverly flushed the toilet too forcefully and has broken the spindle top in the flushing mechanism - any advice on how to replace the spindle please?

Ally, October 2008

I think you mean the spindle that joins the handle mechanism by means of an S shaped metal conection to lift the flush. If this is so, then you can repair the spindle, but by the time you have messed about trying to do that, you would be better off buying a new flush syphon complete or even one of the new type with the lifting flap. They don't break easily and are dead easy to repair or replace. Hope this helps.

Ced, October 2008

Do not blame your son - Cistern handles are sometimes poorly made and unable to withstand vigourous flushing.

Go to your H/W store (B&Q in UK for instance) and buy a new handle assembly - go for the plain rather than the fancy - it's the fancy ones that break - I bet yours is cast alloy with a ceramic handle and the cheap metal has just snapped - Bathstore?

Replacement is easy with minimum of tools and effort.

If you have any other similar handles in the house might as well buy a replacement for them too as they will surely snap before long!

Peccavi, October 2008