The plastic arms and those tiny screws are the real culprits most of the time.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a couple of half-flush issues that weren’t about the hardware at all. Sometimes it’s just mineral buildup in the rim holes or even the flapper not sealing right. Had one toilet where adjusting everything did nothing until I cleaned out the jets. It’s not always about cheap parts—sometimes it’s just gunk or a weird install.
Had a similar situation in one of my older units—thought it was the handle or chain, but turned out to be a calcium buildup clogging the rim jets. Funny how a little cleaning can save you from swapping out parts you don’t actually need. Sometimes it’s just the simple stuff.
Funny how a little cleaning can save you from swapping out parts you don’t actually need. Sometimes it’s just the simple stuff.
That’s spot on—people jump to replacing the flush valve or flapper, but mineral buildup is way more common than most think. Did you check if water’s coming out evenly around the rim when you flush? Sometimes those jets get half-blocked and you end up chasing a problem that’s just gunk. If you’ve already cleaned the rim jets, have you looked at the float height or fill valve adjustment? That can mess with flush strength too.
Yeah, you’re totally right—sometimes it’s just a bit of scale or gunk making things weird. I’ve been guilty of assuming the worst and almost dropping cash on new parts before realizing it just needed a good scrub. It’s wild how much difference a quick clean or a little tweak can make. Don’t feel bad for missing it at first... those little details are easy to overlook, especially if you’re not used to messing with plumbing stuff.
Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times a “broken” half flush was just a sticky button or a bit of limescale on the mechanism. Here’s what usually works for me: pop the lid off, check if the dual flush valve is moving freely, and give everything a good clean—especially around the seals. If it’s still acting up, sometimes the cable or rod that triggers the half flush gets misaligned. A quick adjustment there can save you from buying new parts. It’s rarely as complicated as it seems at first glance...
