Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?

That’s interesting, because my place is early 80s and the half flush is basically a suggestion, not a command. I’ve fiddled with the chain, checked the flapper, even swapped out the button once - still ends up being a double-flush situation more often than not. Maybe it really does come down to pipe age or brand quirks. Or maybe my family just uses way too much TP... wouldn’t be the first time.

Honestly, you’re not alone - those older dual-flush setups can be finicky. I’ve had similar issues in my ‘79 place, and sometimes it really does come down to the age of the internals or even just mineral buildup in the pipes. You’ve already done most of what I’d try. And yeah, too much TP can definitely tip the scales. Sometimes it’s just the reality of older plumbing... not always a quick fix, but you’re not missing anything obvious.

Yeah, those old toilets can be stubborn. I’ve messed around with mine for ages and found a few extra things that helped, beyond just checking for mineral buildup or worn parts. First, I’d pop the lid off and actually watch the flush - sometimes the chain on the half-flush lever gets just a bit too much slack, so it barely lifts the flapper. Tightening it by one link made a noticeable difference for me.

Also, if you haven’t already, take a look at the float adjustment. If the water level’s too low, there’s just not enough force behind the half flush. Bumping it up a bit (without causing constant running) can help. One thing I learned the hard way: even a little bit of calcium on the rim holes can mess with flow, so a quick scrub with vinegar now and then doesn’t hurt.

Not saying it’ll fix every issue - sometimes old pipes are just cranky - but tweaking those bits got my half flush working better than before. Worth a shot if you haven’t tried already.

sometimes the chain on the half-flush lever gets just a bit too much slack, so it barely lifts the flapper. Tightening it by one link made a noticeable difference for me.

Funny you mention the chain - I've seen folks go nuts replacing parts when all it needed was a tiny chain tweak. It's wild how that little detail can mess up the whole flush. Personally, I swear by checking the seal on the flapper too. Sometimes they get a bit warped and let water sneak past, which totally ruins any half-flush effort. And yeah, those calcium deposits... they're like the toilet's way of saying "clean me, or else."

Honestly, I think people focus way too much on the chain and flapper. In my experience, the real culprit is often the float adjustment. If the water level’s off by even half an inch, the half-flush just doesn’t have enough oomph. I’ve wasted way too much time fiddling with chains before realizing the float was set wrong...