How can I remove the cistern from the wall if it's attached with silicone?

no you don't need to remove old system from wall just disconnect down pipe from system to pan and unscrew the large nut to remove syphon , if its close coupled you will need to separate the system from bowl .

bill
July 2009

Take a piece of nylon cord about 1 metre long(kite string is ideal)and tie a few single knots along its length, attach something to both of the ends so the cord does not cut into your fingers. it should resemble the wire cheese cutter that is used in the supermarkets. Wrap this over the cysten and pull this "cheesecutter back and forth useing the knots to cut through the silicone, if the string breaks make another. should only take a couple of minutes to do. It shouldn't break the cystern or the tiles

Mick
July 2009

is it a close coupled wc ?
not all syphons need to be taken out to repair the diaphragm thomas dudley syphon come apart in the middle.

if the cistern needs to be removed then it will come off just be carefull in your approach the way you do it.

hi-spec plumbing & heating (essex)
July 2009