Toilet sponge gasket sealant?

Zab

Had to replace the siphon on a close coupled toilet cistern.

That part went okay but after attempting to replace the rubber gasket between the cistern and the bottom part, it turns out that the lower part of the toilet is at an angle (by design I'm pretty sure) and the previous installer had put some sort of thick sealant substance around the gasket to make it seal. Or at least that's what it appeared to be, looking at the original gasket afterwards you could break this sealant off and crumble it with your fingers.

So what was this sealant? Or what should I use instead of it?

I see you can also get differently shaped gaskets which could also be an option if I could find them, but then I also don't know the exact shape.

whizbang

Its a doughnut washer. Usually foam type material, any plumbing shop, even Woodies do them.

Zab

Thanks whizbang. I have the doughnut washer (called a sponge gasket in the OP) though, it's what type of sealant was used to overcome it being the incorrect shape that I'm after.

sullzz

You shouldn't need any sealant for the washer, there are a couple of different type of washers, make sure you are using the correct one, i have attached a picture, the washer to the left generally suits all cister/pans , it should mould itself to any imperfections of shape, i find the one to the right pretty useless.

Zab

Yeah, that's the one I have.

Unfortunately due to the angle at which the cistern meets the toilet it isn't forming a seal at the back of the toilet.

While it's possible that it's supposed to have a differently shaped gasket. the one that was already in the toilet was covered in some substance in order to make it seal. As that had probably held for a couple of decades I'd like to just redo whatever was originally done, but I don't know what to use.

sullzz

Zab wrote: »

Yeah, that's the one I have.

Unfortunately due to the angle at which the cistern meets the toilet it isn't forming a seal at the back of the toilet.

While it's possible that it's supposed to have a differently shaped gasket. the one that was already in the toilet was covered in some substance in order to make it seal. As that had probably held for a couple of decades I'd like to just redo whatever was originally done, but I don't know what to use.

You say what was on it previously was crumbly when removed, possibly plumbers mate putty.
You could gunter it with silicone and let it set in position over night but it can be messy to remove if it fails.

Zab

Thanks sullzz, plumbers putty looks like a strong candidate!

Before you replied I had cut the original doughnut gasket into a wedge shape and added it above the new doughnut. Appears to have worked well. I'll keep an eye on it and get some plumbers putty if it looks like it'll fail.