Product Overview
The vacuum relief ring for the Hydro-Force SX-12 rotary tile tool.
How the Vacuum Relief Works
Three vents in the top of the tool head sit under a hand-operated sliding plate. There is no spring and no automatic valve — you set it and it stays set.
Closing the vents forces all the recovery airflow through the brush skirt at the floor, which maximises water pick-up. Opening them bleeds atmospheric air straight into the vacuum chamber, which lowers the lift holding the tool down and makes it easier to push.
Hydro-Force's own guidance is to match it to your machine. Higher-airflow truckmounts generally need the vents opened more; smaller portable extractors usually recover best with them closed. Their instruction is to try different positions on each job rather than treat it as a fixed setting.
Important: the slide direction is not the same on both tools. On the SX-12 you move the slide right to close. On the SX-15 you move it left to close. Check your own tool rather than assuming.
A Note on Fitment
This part is confirmed by Hydro-Force's own SX-12 parts list as the SX-12 vacuum relief ring. It is not used on the SX-7. Several distributors list it as fitting both tools, but that is wrong — the SX-7 vent ring is its own separate line item in Hydro-Force's parts list.
If you are ordering for an SX-7, this is not the part. Contact us and we will identify the correct vent ring.
The SX-15 uses a different relief ring again, NM5765.
Specifications
| CCW SKU | NM4086 |
| Type | Vacuum relief ring |
| Confirmed fitment | Hydro-Force SX-12 |
| SX-7 fitment | Distributor-listed, not manufacturer-confirmed — contact us |
| SX-15 equivalent | NM5765, different part |
| Material | Not stated by the manufacturer |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the vacuum relief do?
It bleeds air into the vacuum chamber to reduce the lift pulling the tool onto the floor. Less lift means an easier push and less grabbing; more lift means better water recovery.
Which way do I move the slide?
On the SX-12, right to close the vents and increase recovery. On the SX-15 it is the opposite. Check your own tool.
My tool sticks to smooth tile. Is this the fix?
Opening the vents is the first thing to try. That is exactly what the adjustment is for.
Will it fit my SX-7?
Possibly, but we have not been able to confirm it from the manufacturer. Ask us before ordering.
Related Products
- Hydro-Force SX-12 Rotary Tile Cleaner (AW104)
- Gekko SX-7 Attachment (AR51G)
- Brush Ring for SX-12 (AB50)
- SX-12 Tee Bar (NX102)
What We See in the Field
If the SX-12 becomes exhausting to push, opening relief can make it usable again; if the floor is being left wet, too much relief may be the reason. Set it for the machine and surface in front of you instead of leaving it in one position forever.
Tool sticking or recovery poor? Contact us and we will talk through the relief setting before you buy anything.
