VPI 3124 Vaccum Tube Holder with Ring for HW 16.5

The VPI Vacuum Tube Holder — The Part the Pick-Up Tube Plugs Into

VPI's replacement vacuum tube holder, sold singly with its ring and guide pin, for the HW-16.5, HW-17 and HW-27 Typhoon record cleaning machines. It is the component the pick-up tube connects to, and it is what holds that tube in the right place.

People replace pick-up tubes routinely without ever thinking about what they drop them into. A holder that has worn or cracked lets the tube sit slightly off square, and a tube that is not square to the record surface cannot seal against it, however new it is.

Fit and Function

Holding the Tube Where It Needs to Be

The holder locates the tube over the record and carries the vacuum path back into the machine. The guide pin fixes the orientation, and that is what stops the tube working its way out of alignment while the platter turns beneath it.

Which Machines It Fits

VPI lists it for the HW-16.5, HW-17 and HW-27 Typhoon. Those three machines share the vacuum arm arrangement, which is why a single holder covers all of them and why the model designation is all you need to check.

The ring is part of the assembly rather than an optional extra. It seals the joint between holder and tube, and a hardened or split ring leaks in precisely the spot where a leak costs you the most suction — right at the record.

Who Is This Holder Best For?

• You own an HW-16.5, HW-17 or HW-27 Typhoon — all three take this holder
• Your tube will not sit square — a worn holder or a missing guide pin is usually why
• Suction has dropped and the tube is new — then the leak is likely at the joint rather than the tube
• You are servicing the vacuum path — sensible to replace alongside a tube and hose clamp
• Your machine is a Cyclone or another make — those use their own arrangement; their spares are in record cleaning accessories

How Do You Fit It?

Unplug the machine and remove the pick-up tube first. Take the old holder off, check the vacuum path behind it for residue while you have access, then fit the new holder with the guide pin correctly oriented. Refit the tube and test on a record you do not mind risking.

Pairs Well With

What most owners replace alongside.

• Record cleaning accessories — the rest of the spares and consumables
• Record cleaning solutions — the fluid the machine is there to remove
• Record cleaning machines — if you are still choosing one
• Record brushes — for the dust that never needs a machine

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it fit my machine?

VPI lists it for the HW-16.5, HW-17 and HW-27 Typhoon. Those three share the vacuum arm design; other machines do not.

How many do I need?

One per machine, supplied singly with the ring and guide pin. It is not a routine consumable the way a tube or a brush is.

Does it come with the pick-up tube?

It does not. This is the holder, the ring and the guide pin — the tube itself is a separate part, and the one that wears with use.

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