Lube
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Lubricating manual toilets
There are two ways to keep a toilet lubricated: You can spend 10 minutes once a year replacing the same lubricant that's in all toilets when they leave the factory, and which lasts at least a full season. Or you can do the endlessly repetitive job of pouring mineral or veggie oil down the toilet every couple of weeks forever.
The easy way: Buy a tube of Teflon grease--available from most auto parts stores and swimming pool supply outlets....in fact, I think even Radio Shack carries it. Lift up the top of the pump (all you have to do is loosen the hex nut and lift up the top)...put a healthy squirt of the grease in the pump...pump a couple of times to spread it all over the inside of the pump cylinder...repeat...put the top back on and tighten the hex nut. Should take you all of 10 minutes, and will keep the pump working smoothly for a full season without the need for any more lubrication. Do it annually as part of spring recommissioning...as PREVENTIVE maintenance. Also the least expensive way...'cuz that $4 tube of teflon grease should last you at least 5 years even if you also use it to lube your seacocks, v-valves etc too.
The hard way: You can pour a tablespoon of olive oil, mineral oil (baby oil is mineral oil, btw), vegetable oil, or liquid "head lube" down the toilet every couple of weeks for the rest of your life--'cuz anything thin enough to be poured down the bowl is so thin that it washes out again in just a few flushes. Should only cost you about $20/year for oils or "head lube" unless you always wait till the toilet gets stiff and starts to squeak before using any...then you can cut that cost in half...but add $50 for a rebuild kit.
There are two ways to keep a toilet lubricated: You can spend 10 minutes once a year replacing the same lubricant that's in all toilets when they leave the factory, and which lasts at least a full season. Or you can do the endlessly repetitive job of pouring mineral or veggie oil down the toilet every couple of weeks forever.
The easy way: Buy a tube of Teflon grease--available from most auto parts stores and swimming pool supply outlets....in fact, I think even Radio Shack carries it. Lift up the top of the pump (all you have to do is loosen the hex nut and lift up the top)...put a healthy squirt of the grease in the pump...pump a couple of times to spread it all over the inside of the pump cylinder...repeat...put the top back on and tighten the hex nut. Should take you all of 10 minutes, and will keep the pump working smoothly for a full season without the need for any more lubrication. Do it annually as part of spring recommissioning...as PREVENTIVE maintenance. Also the least expensive way...'cuz that $4 tube of teflon grease should last you at least 5 years even if you also use it to lube your seacocks, v-valves etc too.
The hard way: You can pour a tablespoon of olive oil, mineral oil (baby oil is mineral oil, btw), vegetable oil, or liquid "head lube" down the toilet every couple of weeks for the rest of your life--'cuz anything thin enough to be poured down the bowl is so thin that it washes out again in just a few flushes. Should only cost you about $20/year for oils or "head lube" unless you always wait till the toilet gets stiff and starts to squeak before using any...then you can cut that cost in half...but add $50 for a rebuild kit.
Jabsco
Lift up the top of the pump (all you have to do is loosen the hex nut and lift up the top)...put a healthy squirt of the grease in the pump...
I am guessing this is for a different brand toilet... I have the Jabsco brand, no nut... at least that I can see. So I am guessing remove the screw and lift the cover off the pump area (under the handle) and squirt some grease in there?
Thanks
Lift up the top of the pump (all you have to do is loosen the hex nut and lift up the top)...put a healthy squirt of the grease in the pump...
I am guessing this is for a different brand toilet... I have the Jabsco brand, no nut... at least that I can see. So I am guessing remove the screw and lift the cover off the pump area (under the handle) and squirt some grease in there?
Thanks
Actually those are the directions for the Jabsco...but whether you have a hex nut or 6 screws depends on the age of your toilet.
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