Flat rectangular pleated filter that sits at the vacuum (blower) inlet inside a truckmount waste tank. It is the last screen between the recovered water and the blower, catching lint, fibre and fine debris that get past the strainer basket. Sapphire Scientific part number 20-071. Current Legend Brands number 113471.
Legend Brands number 113537 is no longer available — 113471 is the updated part number for the same filter.
Part numbers
This is one part under several numbers, depending on which brand's catalogue it came from:
- Sapphire Scientific 20-071
- Legend Brands 113471 (current) — replaces Legend Brands 113537
- Prochem 14-806569, also written PP14-806569
- Prochem 8.619-354.0, also written 86193540
Prochem's parts books list it as "STRNR, WST TNK RECT. 1.5 in", which is why CCW and the trade call it a strainer; Legend Brands lists the same part as a blower inlet filter. Either name is correct.
Which tanks it fits
This filter is for waste tanks where the vacuum outlet carries a flat rectangular filter in a slot — not the threaded cylindrical screen used on older Sapphire 370, 570 and 870 tanks.
- Prochem Apex (listed in the Apex parts manual, waste tank assembly, one per tank)
- Prochem Everest and Everest HP
- Prochem PTO
- Prochem Blazer
- Sapphire Scientific tanks with the slot-style outlet — Sapphire lists the part as 20-071. Owners of the 570 Apex and 870HP Everest should check the tank as described below before ordering
The quickest check: lift the tank lid and look at the vacuum outlet. If a rectangular panel about 30 cm by 20 cm lifts out of a slot, this is the part. If a round screen unscrews from a pipe thread, it is not — contact us with your machine model and serial number and we will identify the right filter.
Specifications
- Style: rectangular pleated panel filter
- Size: approximately 305 × 203 × 38 mm (12 × 8 × 1½ in), per Legend Brands distributor listings — confirm against the old filter before ordering
- Element: pleated stainless-steel mesh
- Frame: flexible rubber surround that seals in the tank slot
- Sold: each
Why it matters
The blower on a truckmount has very tight internal clearances. Lint or grit that reaches it scores the lobes and housing, and a damaged blower is one of the most expensive repairs on the machine. Sapphire's operation manuals are blunt about it: never run the unit with the vacuum inlet filter removed, damaged or incorrectly fitted. A torn or collapsed pleat is a reason to replace the filter, not to keep using it.
Cleaning and replacement
- Check the filter at the end of every working day when you rinse the tank. Lift it out, hose it clean from the clean side, and refit it.
- Clean the strainer basket at the same time — a blocked basket pushes more debris onto this filter.
- Replace it when the mesh is torn, the pleats are collapsed, or the rubber frame no longer seals in the slot. Air that bypasses the frame carries debris straight to the blower.
- A filter that blocks quickly is usually a sign of a missing or damaged strainer basket upstream, or of extracting heavy lint (new carpet, upholstery, pet hair) without an inline waste filter on the hose.
What we see in the field
[Technician's Note — replace before publishing: two to four sentences of first-hand CCW field experience relevant to this product. A pattern you see, a mistake customers make, or something learned from servicing or selling it. Not spec repetition, not a sales pitch, not invented.]
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the round waste tank filter on my Sapphire?
No. Older Sapphire 370 SS, 570 SS and 870 SS tanks use a threaded cylindrical screen at the vacuum outlet. This rectangular filter fits the slot-style outlet used on Prochem Apex, Everest, PTO and Blazer tanks and on Sapphire tanks that carry the 20-071 number. Check the tank before ordering.
Can I run the machine without it while I wait for a replacement?
No. The manufacturer's instruction is to never operate the unit with the inlet filter removed or damaged. The risk is blower damage, which costs far more than a day off the road.
I ordered 113537 before — is 113471 the same part?
Yes. Legend Brands retired 113537 and issues the same filter under 113471.
Do I also need a strainer basket?
Yes, the two work together. The basket at the tank inlet catches the coarse debris; this filter at the vacuum outlet to the blower catches what gets through. Running without the basket shortens the life of this filter and the blower.
Related parts
- Waste Tank Gasket Strip 25mm x 5mm (Sapphire 41-018) — lid seal strip for truckmount waste tanks
- Harwil Waste Tank APO/Shutoff Switch (Sapphire 69-000S)
Not sure which waste tank filter your machine takes? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse with the machine model and serial number before ordering and we will confirm the correct part.
