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Electrolysis With Metal Toilet Tank Components

The situation is corroding stainless steel chain which connects the flapper valve to the metal or anodized trip lever arm in the toilet tank. The tank to bowl bolts that fasten the tank to the bowl are steel, and the trip lever arm I believe is anodized aluminum. The chain, eyelet that connects the chain, and the "S" Hook which connects to the trip lever arm are all stainless steel. The confusing thing is that the corrosion is only occurring on the portion of the chain that is in the water, not the portion out of the water. All this is happening in only three week. The chain ends up coming apart, and you cannot flush the toilet.

Bruce Antunez
Plumbing Components - Pomona, California, USA
2006

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Bogus stainless steel. Try some nitric acid or Lime-A-Way [affil links] on it. If it fizzes, it's not stainless -- maybe zinc or aluminum or magnesium?

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006