My toilet tank uses a flapper to seal the tank to toilet base opening. For some reason, when I flush the toilet and let go of the handle, the flapper closes, stopping the flush. In other words, the toilet will not flush completely unless I continue to hold down the handle. I've replaced the flapper with a new one, and that did not work.

Any ideas?

 

Shorten up the chain a hair. Not a plumber but have fixed a toilet with that issue.

 

Yep, set the chain so that the flapper begins to move within 1/2" of the arm's movement.

 

Hmmm, the chain length sounds right, but doesn't totally dictate how long the flapper stays up.

For future reference, when replacing ANY parts in the tank replace ALL the parts in the tank.

The newer style flappers are connected to the fill tube, makes them operate really smooth.

 

By the name of the thread I thought this was going to be about our economy!!!

 

Agreed but if the flapper is not coming up enough it is not allowing enough water to flush and then settling back down to allow fill. Just make sure the chain is not to tight and you get the tank leaking into the bowl.

 

Make sure the arm is long enough to fully open the flapper. Sometimes people have the chain hooked to close to the handle end.

 

The flapper is suppose to float. When the chain pulls the flapper up it stayes up till the water is drained. The flapper will then rest in the drain and the pressure from the water pushes the flapper down, it doesn't float because the bottom of flapper is no longer in water. The reason for it not working is either it doesn't float any longer, something is holding it down or some type of binding in the pivot assembly. I just get all new stuff, you have to take the bowl off but it's worth it IMO.

 

I had this problem... the arm was breaking on the inside of the toilet, what the handle is connected to... it had nothing to do with the flapper.