Improved Champion 4 flush valve

[PlayaSusia]

This is a quick comparison of the old vs improved champion 4 flush valve. I have two of the old style champion 4 flush valves and both were ghost flushing. I contacted American Standard and they sent me 'improved' flush valves. They switched over to the new design sometime in 2020. I read somewhere there is a potential class action against American Standard for the ghost flushing issue so I guess this change was made to address that. Anyway...

- Overall about the same size. The old has grey plastic and the improved has a black plastic body.
- The improved top is one piece, which eliminates the need for the o-ring.
- There is a more prominent ridge on the improved bottom mating surface where the gasket contacts for a better seal.
- The gasket on the improved is totally covered by the plastic flapper as looking down from the top.

The only issue I had installing it was the pull chain was too short, so I had to transfer the old chain over. I didn't notice this until it was fully installed and the tank was back on, and the one piece design makes it more difficult to remove the top half of the flapper in the toilet to change out the gasket.

Just a few observations I noticed, time will tell if it works out better than the old design.

-Old design on the left, Improved on the right.

-Old design

-Improved design

 

[btakashi]

I have the old style flush valve, shown here, and it is leaking slowly / ghost flushing about once every 10 minutes.
In order to remove the thumbscrew to get at the flapper, is there something I have to do other than just turning it counterclockwise? It doesn't seem to unscrew easily, there are little plastic pieces that seemingly impede unscrewing.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[WJcandee]

One thing that folks with ghost flushes can do is to rip that piece of garbage flush valve out and replace with the Korky 3"/4" Flush Valve. Fits great. Works great, and when it's time, you just change the flapper like any other flapper. https://www.korky.com/products/flus...ts/large-3-4-flush-valve-tank-bowl-gasket-kit

 

[TomD]

I've come here to find any resolution to my specific problem. I've read the larger, older Champions 4 topic started many years ago. I've had a Champions 4 installed for about 4-5 years. I had our plumber come fix our "ghost flush" and the toilet was fine until about a month ago. It started up again but after me getting into it, my problem is not a "flush". It's a short refill. Water is getting thru the seal and after the water level drops, the fill valve opens up and refills the tank. If I turn the water off and come back in, say, 2 hours the water level has dropped to only the seal level. I went to Ace hardware and bought a Korky replacement. Didn't fix it. Purchased a replacement from AS. Still leaks by. I did notice that the seal I replaced had blisters around it. If a blister happened to be in the area that is supposed to be in contact with the seal surface that could definitely allow water thru. But two new seals haven't corrected the problem.

My issue is a slow drip thru the seal. I can hear a drip...drip...drip. But the kicker is, it doesn't happen all of the time. Very confounding and infuriating. BTW I have cleaned both surfaces that seal comes into contact with and I never noticed anything. I guess my next reasonable step is to replace the entire "flapper" contraption.

 

[TomD]

One thing that folks with ghost flushes can do is to rip that piece of garbage flush valve out and replace with the Korky 3"/4" Flush Valve. Fits great. Works great, and when it's time, you just change the flapper like any other flapper. https://www.korky.com/products/flus...ts/large-3-4-flush-valve-tank-bowl-gasket-kit

Can you provide me with a Korky model number? The link doesn't work for me.. Thank you

 

[GReynolds929]

Can you provide me with a Korky model number? The link doesn't work for me.. Thank you

Here

 

[TomD]

Here

Thank you Mr. Reynolds. That worked. Happy NY