10/25/06 Problems with new design American Standard toilets

American Standard 738651-0070A Champion Toilet Flush Valve Seal found on faucetdepot.com was only $10.11 - they would not give shipping cost until you provide them with all your personal info so best I can tell is it would ship UPS which means at least another 5 or 6 bucks or more putting this flimsily rubber gasket at about the $20.00 bill level.

On faucetdirect.com it was only $9.00.  At least faucetdirect.com displays the shipping charge at checkout before they harvest your personal info.  After all, how much could it cost to send such a small item.  faucetdirect.com shipping was $5.99 via UPS ground.  A simple envelope and a stamp would be more than enough but no, they insist on UPS.

Bottom line is this is a small part that was supposed to be better than what we were used to and it lasted just under a year.

American Standard rep made it clear that I had to have a receipt to get a part under their 10 year warranty.  She sounded like she enjoyed telling me that Home Depot only sold the fixtures and not the parts.

If I only knew what I was buying at the time you can bet I would not have purchased this contraption.

Of course the Home Depot that sold us the toilet does not carry the valve seal.  What a surprise.  Sure am glad they are building a new 84 Lumber close to the house.  Looks like you could put 2 Home Depots and a Lowe's store on the same property that the new 84 Lumber is being built on. 

I was going to replace the whole assy with a flapper valve, like a normal toilet,  but the hole in the bottom of the tank must be the better part of 4 inches.  Way to big to adapt the normal flapper ball valve

The 738651-0070A Champion Toilet Flush Valve Seal looks like a Mason Jar seal.  Wouldn't be surprised if it is the same.  Might bear checking out when I have the time.

2733.016
Features Champion® Flushing System performance platform
3" non-adjustable, flapper-free flush valve
16-1/2" Rim Height for accessible applications
10 year warranty

UPDATE 11/26-08

Wouldn't you know it.  The day before Thanksgiving with a house full of company the flush valve fell apart.  The first problem was in Oct of 06 so just at 2 years before the plastic parts start going to hell.

There was a plastic piece and a spring laying on the bottom of the tank.  I had no choice but to attempt a repair as there was no way to get someone out over the holiday.  It took me some time to figure out the rube Goldberg affair that they designed for the flush valve.  What a piece of crap!!  I will never forget the American Standard name.  Especially now when we are starting a 2700 sq ft addition on the house.  Yes, the addition is larger than the existing house.  You can bet that nothing with the American Standard name on it will be bought and I don't care how much cheaper it may be.

So I figured out how to reassemble the crappy flush valve.  Not sure how long it will last so I hit the internet and lo and behold, not really surprised, they know they designed a piece of shit and have redesigned the flush valve.

Yes, I would call that redesigned!  Looks like they might even have made it simpler. Wow, what a concept! You wouldn't believe the parts that are inside the tube on the valve on the left.

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