What do I need to do and know to replace a part in the toilet tank?

Unless it’s an expensive weird stunt toilet, toilet fixes are easy and cheap.

Does this describe the situation?

There’s a flap at the bottom of the tank.

Reach in there (ewww, yeah, but in truth it is clean water), and pull up the flap.

Open the flap, water rushes down and flushes the bowl.

Drop the flap and the tank fills, ready for the next flush.

It does describe the issue. The black arm on the inside of the tank that went from the external flush mechanism to the flap snapped as close to the outside lever as possible.

I replaced the flapper on a toilet a few years ago. It sounds like what you need is the top bit not the bottomw but it should be do-able. Parts are generally pretty standard and you can find videos on You Tube on how to repair. If you can remove the broken part, take it with you to a DIY store and get the replacement.

I will do that. Being a renter allowed me to be neglect fix it projects.

@Unbroken

Sweet, the flap is OK and you can work the toilet until it’s repaired.

You just need a new lever.

Super cheap and easy repair. A toilet tank lever is less than $10 US and every hardware store has it.

Like this from Lowes

I got the part but i can’t see very well what is holding the old one in place. Looks like I need a very small Allen wrench. But I am awfully afraid the old one is stripped I can’t make out the corners the hole just looks round. I didn’t pick one up yet so I guess I will hold my breath until I can get one and try it out

If you leave the lid off then you can put your hand in and lift the flap like @jaytkay said to flush when you’ve been…you can do this for a while. Saves washing your hands as well?

There is probably a big nut on the inside where the shaft on the handle goes through the tank.
Your new part probably is the whole assembly with the handle and the inside lever that pulls up the plunger. Loosen up that big nut on the inside of the tank and the whole assembly will go out the front.

Using a little common sense, it’s easy to fix toilets. Remove the broken part and take it to your local hardware/plumbing supply store.