But I admire your willingness to tackle the project.

Thank you. Frankly if I didn't have my strong, young willing friend, I would have never tried to tackle it by myself.

As a bit of an update, last night after posting on this board (I think it took me more than half an hour to compose it and post), I posted on the LBYM board and got a nice response with some advice at http://boards.fool.com/i-have-replaced-my-share-of-flush-val...

Short story, the rec was to get plumber's putty PLUS a thing I am calling the "external seal." I've updated it and so far, still trying to figure out a method since I can't yet find this "external seal" in any of the local hardware stores. Am frustrated. Right now, this moment, I am seriously debating just using "plumber's putty" as the only additional element to try and stop the leak.

Since March (and next month, April) is a tight month for me and my toilet tank started to give me problems just a few weeks ago, I felt it necessary to try and repair it on my own. As of this morning, I think I've spent about $50 on supplies (I have gotten a new flush valve assembly, fill valve, toilet handle, I can't remember what else, a pliers, plumbers putty ) If necessary, I can keep using the old bucket of water to flush until May, when I hope I'll have some room in my budget to hire a handyman (I just received a recommendation from a hardware store to consider this particular handyman, if I run out of do-it-yourself options).

LCD