toto drake identifying original generation and now equivalent third gen . . . ?

archibald tuttle

why do manufacturers have to mess with success one wonders. the drake was my goto toilet for years now but my distributor tells me that they made an updated version (of the drake itself, not the drake II) shortly before the pandemic and it was a complete functional flop so now they have gone back to the original design but because of logistics problems with the pandemic you can't get them . . . so where to get the old old ones that match the new new ones that aren't available?

they only have old stock, i.e. the original design, in ADA height. So now i'm wondering if i go out in the big wide internet world how to tell which one i'm getting. the tanks always have a number in them and my extant installed base is typically ST743E but that doesn't designate the base from what i understand and if there is a number on the base I would have to pull a toilet to find it. there are stickers on the base way up high where you don't see them that say 1.6 liter flush or less (the tank is 1.28) but it doesn't have a model number on it!

thanks,

perplexed in exeter

PS or, in good ole fashion here on the wall, it's not hijacking to recommend any alternative that is as functionally and cost effective.

Jamie Hall

I've actually had fairly decent results with the low price American Standard ones from (shudder) Lowes...

Steamhead

We have a Gerber Viper in our shop, and despite our best efforts we haven't been able to stop it up yet. Here is a video from when it came out, to show how they test these things:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FalvA10CYxY

Note that in the first part of the video, the material being flushed is not "the real thing".

PC7060

I too loved the original Toto Drake.  Had the same problem sourcing units a year or so ago and went with Kohler Cimaron units complete with lids for around $180-$220 from Lowes or Homers. 

Units work quit well, on par with the Toto. 

When assembling you will find these small 1” football shaped plastic pieces that can be used to help tighten up the seat screws.  Don’t discard, the pieces are actually snap into the top section of the seat so it doesn’t slip agains the seat.  I didn’t figure it out until the second terlet install!

BigRob

The Toto Entrada is good, too. I have two and the slim tank is more attractive than the Drake, in my opinion. It also makes a bathroom look a little bigger. Pretty sure they all have the same glazing, but market it explicitly on the more expensive models. I have no proof of this, but the Entrada stays very clean and I doubt Toto would have two glazing production lines.

archibald tuttle

thanks for all the recommendations. @BigRob I did jsut buy an entrada about 6 months ago for a job that had to have the narrow tank. But i'm only just getting back to that job to install. do you think the entrada is as good as the drake flushing wise? It's got a 3" flush valve IIRC. I'll be on that job tomorrow. I don't take issue with the ashetics one way or the other. I only have it because I had to have narrow for this job but maybe i'll just go that way.

speaking of toto, before i get on to the others, i see the 'ecodrake' online. is that the interim model, does anyone know?

@Steamhead they seem to have thrown everything at the viper. one of my distributors may carry this. i'll call them tomorrow. although i am intrigued with the 3" flush valve notion and i don't think the viper goes that way and despite its apparent effectiveness and your positive experience there were a couple negative reviews on it's flushing. not sure if that is just trolls for the competition of someone who manages to produce outlier conditions . . .

@Jamie Hall the Cadet 3 with 3 inch flush valve seems to be a solid entry in this sweepstakes. and cost effective.

now i may have too many to choose from . . .

thanks again,

brian

BigRob

I would say it's as good, at least- never had a problem with it.