Weak flush

Long story short.. helped a friend remodel bathroom and went to install the old toilet. My friend cracked the fill valve so we installed a new one with new flapper and float. The toilet went in but now it seems the toilet does not have enough "gusto" to finish the flush. It also appears the the bowl does not fill up enough after each flush. (the original flapper had a little yellow float device on it) Should we have found the original parts to replace the broken ones, or are we doing something wrong?? (American Standard toilet 1.6g per flush)

Two things I can think of: there should be a fill line on the tank - does the water fill to that point; if not, then adjust the fill device. Second, some flapper valves are specially designed to stay open to allow the specified amount of water to be used - you may need to replace the flapper valve with the manufacturer's rather than a generic. The float may let it stay open longer than a generic one.

Last, you can try to hold the handle to let (most of) the water flow out for a flush. If it flushes well, and the level is up to the fill line, then the flapper is dropping too soon. Otherwise, you probably have an obstruction.

Set Water Level

Did you set the water level in your tank? It should be about an inch below the overflow tube.

Yes,

water level has been adjusted...problem still persists. It just seems it is not getting that final drive to send everything home.

float

That little yellow float was to insure that the flapper closed quickly, not to keep it open longer. There are many replacement flappers and if you got an adjustable one it may be set for the shortest flush period. If you used a standard flapper, and the water level is correct, then the toilet should not only have a good flush, but might suck the water out of the bowl two or three times before the flapper shuts.

Prejudice

I'm so prejudiced against the low flush American Standard toilets that I wonder if it ever flushed right in the first place.