How do I replace the washers in a Caroma toilet cistern?
I cannot find how to get the internal parts out to replace them.

It is a Caroma Dual Flush.

John Hobbs, November 2005

Cheers to Ross P for the explanation. Much appreciated, and too easy. Steve

Steve l, November 2013

mine is a twist out canister, can't get the blasted thing back in!!!!!!!!

Alanna, January 2013

Thanks all. Unfortunatly my local hardware store didn't have a spare outlet washer, so I cleaned and turned it over. Fingers crossed it did the trick. But because they don't have one, I'll have to order one somehow.
Does anyone have a part number for the silicone replacement seal (approx 60mmX25mmX1.6mm thick)

Rex, December 2012

Finally, I can take the washer off. after about 6 months have no idea to do it.
Its caroma stylus one. Thanks Alan from salter point wa.

Tkj22, October 2012

I too did all that has been suggested and replaced both inlet and lower flush washers. The bowl flush washer was very difficult to instal as I couldn't remove the plastic 'thingy' it surrounds. Had to cart to my neighbour for advice and assistance.
My toilet is much quieter now, although I'm not convinced the 'Fix-A-Loo' brand was most suitable and am intending on visiting my local plumbing specialists as I think there is still a little seepage. All in all though - it's much cheaper than contacting a Plumber!

Cath At Home, March 2012

Simple when you figure it out..
The lid comes off with a snap clip each side. Push in the central pin with a small diameter pusher of some sort.
Then remove the float arm by wiggling the brass pin out of the pivot point. Put it to one side.
The entire central assembly comes out as one unit. The are two snap clips at the front. Push these out using the same "pusher" as above.
Then wiggle the back slide in supports loose with a pair of pliers. And the whole lot will then lift out.
Halleluia.
The old rubber seal (a circa 60mm dia flat washer) can be ripped out of its seating position. Its stuffed presumably.
And the new one is stretched into the same position, and wiggled around until central.
Then reverse engineer all of the above.

Ross P, November 2011

Thanks to all. You have just saved me $100+. So simple when you get the right advice.

IS - Sydney, July 2011

So simple - thanks for the advice.

AM, April 2011

In my Caroma Concorde cistern the bottom flush valve had perished. Thanks for your helpful advice about how to remove the old washer (flat rubber disk with central hole) simply by stretching it and pulling it off the groove in which it fits.

But to get there you have to take out the mechanism around it. Easy once you get it. Mine had two slots at the back and two flat tabs at the front with a central built-in plastic stud that locks them in. Secret: Start at the back; grab each corner of the mechanism with pliers in turn and check that they can be eased out upwards. Once they are loose, separate the locked tabs gently, one at a time, by bending them in opposite directions until their central pins pop out.

I bought a pack of 4 washers from Fixaloo.com.au suitable for Caroma for $6 approx, and only needed 2. I decided to replace the inlet flush valve too. Note this needs 2 washers - a small central black one like a tablet and a red disk one that goes outside. You can pop out the old central black plug using a pointed object and replace it with the new one. Then fit the wider one around it.

Barry A, Melbourne, March 2011

This helped me a lot.
I went to www.fixaloo.com.au and their instructions
for replacing washers are not much.

Donny Dunny, January 2011

This applies to the STYLUS dual flush model (Tank 8-1C48)
The washer (and flush mechanism) are contained within an 80mm dia plastic tube. Grasp the tube near the top with two hands and firmly twist ANTI CLOCKWISE about 1/10 th of a turn. Lift tube straight up. Washer is mounted on the bottom of the mechanism - remove by stretching over the flanged retaining lug.

Alan from Salter Point W.A., December 2010

Sometimes new Caroma seating washers leak a lot; to fix this, push the outer edges of the washer towards the centre to get the inner edge snug against the assembly.

Philu, October 2010

Thank you Stephen and Charlie. A relatively simple task following your steps. Other sentiments endorsed exactly. I nearly threw the cistern out and spent $140 plus on a new one. I got change from $11.00 for a washer.

Graham, N.P.,N.Z., September 2010

Many thanks to Stephan and Charlie. After much struggling and disassembling of everything in the cistern, my husband removed the plastic assembly and was looking for a high tech way to remove the seating washer. It really was as simple as pulling the old one off and stretching the new one on! Work still in progress, but hopeful the loo will soon be leak free. Thanks again...

Val, Melbourne, September 2010

Slow leak from cistern to bowl. How do i get access to seating washer. Have tried to remove internal mechanism but cannot locate any unlocking clips or ways of unsecuring.
Is washer replaced from the underside?
Caroma Duo installed 1987

Mick O'Leary, July 2010

thank god for the net. 3 hardware shops, numerous diy books and zero from caroma. get a plumber the major advice at $100 call out plus job for a washer replacement. and thanks for the advice about pulling the bottom seal off. otherwise i would have had to have got that plumber

john, perth wa, April 2010

I missed the second last step in my below instructions:

Then you need to twist the centre bottom bracket to release it.

Stephan Fry, April 2010

Ok firstly there are DIFFERENT TYPES of Caroma Cisterns. Everyone tells you "just pull out 4 tabs" Well mine and many others DON'T have 4 tabs!!
Secondly they don't tell you there is no need to "remove the valve float arm that BLOCKS the obvious removal of the plastic assembly." you work around it.
In mine it had 2 side "tabs" the same pink colour as the square surround. It turns out they CAN'T be pulled out...

I read everything on the web and a video (all useless) that avoids the hard parts and things just miraculously appear or disappear!!
Finally after trying in vein on my own for ages I got mad at the whole f'ing thing and pulled so hard it feels like you are going to break it and presto, it is just designed to be pulled out.

There are NO TABS just locking notches on some models.

Next you have to lever off the slot off the middle plunger. Then after trying to lever off the bottom centre of the plunger to replace the washer one realises this isn't going to work you need to pull the old one off and stretch the new one on.

Simple when you know but no one tells you..... Companies like Caroma should web publish simple instructions for all their different products and save us all some grief. Simply retarded that they don't.

Pray for some intelligence in companies writing DiY manuals
Anyway Peace Bliss and Blessings to all this Easter

Stephan Fry, April 2010

The answer supplied does not first explain how to remove the valve float arm that BLOCKS the obvious removal of the plastic assembly.

John, November 2008

It's an easy fix. First take out the plastic assembly by unsnapping the 4 plastic snaps & pull the inner assembly straight up. Turn it over & you'll see a rubber seal on the end of the 'plunger'. Carefully stretch it over the center hub, remove & replace it with my Silicone replacement seal, $2.50 each delivered USPO.

Charlie Smith chazmith@aol.comto order, August 2008