I have a minor leak coming from the nut holding the flush pipe to the bottom of the cistern. I think the washer may need changing but I don't want to remove the nut until I know I can buy a washer to suit!
Can anyone describe the washer I need please? - the thread is 2" diameter.

Rob, August 2010

Thanks for the advice - the leak was only when the cistern was flushed. A slight tightening of the nut has done the trick.
Rob.

Rob, September 2010

The flush tube is unlikely to leak until you flush the toilet and if that's the case try tighten by hand a little more that maybe the problem. If still leaks but all the time then it is most likely the syphon nut on the base of the cistern hold the syphon head with one hand and give an extra turn a bit on the nut. Do the flush nut back up again holding the syphon head tighten.
Try it. I've never looked for these washers, tapered on the flush pipe and flat on the syphone inside. I've had same and carried out above and it stopped. I've never had to renew a washer on a syphone and as Pecavvi says you might not be able to buy these seperate but try DIY store or Plumbing shop you might be lucky if above doesn't work.

Charlie, August 2010

On a close coupled cistern there are two washers - one inside the cistern to stop the water dribbling out under its own pressure (will be part of a syphon kit and probably not available individually) - and another big squisshy washer that sits between the cistern and the WC pan called a doughnut washer because of the way it looks. It's compressed by a flat metal plate that's pulled down by bolts & wing nuts - one each side at the back pointing downwards - you can often fix a leak here by just tightening the wingnuts. The doughnut washer just seals the joint between the two units and prevents low pressure leaks when flushing.

Peccavi, August 2010