Kohler 1044458 Flush Valve Kit

Anyone reporting that the installation of this Flush Valve was easy maybe was not using the same Kohler 1044458. The gasket is very firm and impossible to adequately compress by pressing down on the valve. I tried all the tips from the forum including olive oil, etc. I found two tips that finally allowed me to install the valve. The use of while and black Sharpies to mark the alignment of the valve tabs with the toilet hole was useful (from Julie). After about an hour of pressing on the valve with no luck, I used the compress and freeze tip (from Nancy). I used two 5 inch squares of 1/2 inch plywood to sandwich the gasket. Then using four, 2 inch "C" clamps to compressed the gasket to about 1/4 inch. I put it in the freezer overnight. In the mooring I removed the clamps and carefully used a knife blade to separate the frozen gasket from the plywood. The gasket easily slipped over the plastic tabs on the valve and, using the alignment marking, I very easily inserted and twisted the compressed gasket and valve into place. I left if for a couple of hours to allow the gasket to thaw and decompress before turning on the water.

Product worked fine... I applied olive oil to both surfaces of the rubber seal... lined up the tabs after inserting the seal on the unit. Rotated 15 to 20 degrees while pressing down hard enough to turn (both hands). Upon inspection of the old unit I saw it could have been re-used... just needed a new rubber seal and flapper... that woul have saved a few bucks. I cleaned up the old unit and will re-use it in 10-12 years lol. I can see why some folks had trouble getting enough downward pressure to rotate it... it takes some brute force.

Dimensions are closer to 11x6x4 and 4" up to the flapper. I put some petroleum jelly on the gasket where it meets the valve, this made it MUCH easier to turn in place. Works great.

Part works fine for my toilet and Kohler website has a nice parts identifying feature. Installation was very difficult though. I was afraid I’d break the plastic funnel and/or tabs by applying the force necessary to compress the seal enough to lock it in place.Kosher suggested boiling the seal for 2-3 minutes to soften it up. Others suggested spreading vegetable oil on both sides of the seal. Neither helped.I finally tried pushing down on the center with a rubber 3lb dumbbell with one hand while turning with the other and was finally able to generate enough force to rotate the part and get a good seal.

This flush valve kit is very easy to install when you follow these simple steps. I think it took me 2 minutes from start to finish.1. Remove the rubber seal and trial fit the valve in the opening on the bottom of the tank. Do not rotate it. You want the valve in the position when you can pull it straight up to remove and drop it straight down into the opening. The goal is to mark the exact position so you know where to initially place the value to install. In my case, the top of the plastic valve was touching the back of the tank. At the point the value was touching the back of the tank, I used a silver sharpie to draw a vertical line in black plastic on the valve and black sharpie to continue the vertical line on the inside of the tank.2. Using the suggestion from many others on this forum, I coated the top and bottom of the rubber seal with vegetable oil.3. Place the seal on the valve.4. Place the valve inside of the toilet tank and line up the vertical lines.5. Push down and rotate the value clockwise. This step was easy and did not require much force.If you are having to apply a lot of downward force, I’ll make a guess that the tabs are not lined up correctly with the opening

Couldn't find this flush valve anywhere local, so I’m grateful that Amazon was able to get it to me next day. My Kohler toilet is from 2008. The old flush valve was a goner, as all 3 of the flanges had broken off. I’m used to diy as a single women in my late 60’s, but this was a challenge only because of the amount of pressure it took to compress the gasket while at the same time turning the valve with the tank right against the wall. The reviews were very helpful. It was key for me to “generously” coat the gasket with some vegetable oil, as the small amount I tried first didn't do the trick. Now the valve is in there nice and solid and no plumber needed.