Don in Ohio
New Member
Hi plumbing enthusiasts! I have 3 Crane Walsan wall-hung toilets in our 1959 vintage home. They're all working perfectly (albeit not very water-efficiently!). One of them has a bent flush handle - apparently some miscreant decided to step on the flush handle rather than pressing the handle by hand. It's bent enough that it doesn't provide the kind of leverage needed to easily operate the flush action. Here's a picture of it ...
I thought about trying to bend the handle straight, by putting it in a vise and using a large pair of padded channel-locks on it, or alternatively, by putting the flat of the handle between a couple of wooden shims and them squeezing it down in the vise jaws. I am worried that the handle might snap off or the chrome finish will flake off. Not sure if the part is pot metal or brittle.
This is obviously an obsolete part, but I'm hoping to find someone who is in the business of replacing toilets and runs across an old Walsan and this part I need. Or perhaps a reader here knows of a place that may specialize in old plumbing parts that might have this flush handle available. Any help would be appreciated, and if you happen to have one of these handles (in like-new or gently-used condition, or at least better than the one pictured above!)and are willing to part with it, I'm interested in purchasing it, including any handling and shipping charges. Please respond to this thread if you can help! Thanks in advance!
I thought about trying to bend the handle straight, by putting it in a vise and using a large pair of padded channel-locks on it, or alternatively, by putting the flat of the handle between a couple of wooden shims and them squeezing it down in the vise jaws. I am worried that the handle might snap off or the chrome finish will flake off. Not sure if the part is pot metal or brittle.
This is obviously an obsolete part, but I'm hoping to find someone who is in the business of replacing toilets and runs across an old Walsan and this part I need. Or perhaps a reader here knows of a place that may specialize in old plumbing parts that might have this flush handle available. Any help would be appreciated, and if you happen to have one of these handles (in like-new or gently-used condition, or at least better than the one pictured above!)and are willing to part with it, I'm interested in purchasing it, including any handling and shipping charges. Please respond to this thread if you can help! Thanks in advance!