The Ametek Lamb 116455-50 is a single-stage, 5.7-inch thru-flow motor on 120 volts that trades sealed lift for air movement: 112 CFM at 63 inches of sealed vacuum, drawing 6.8 amps for 750 watts. That combination suits machines with short, wide air paths - shop and utility vacuums, blower duty, and OEM equipment that was designed around a single-stage motor from the start. It is bought as a direct replacement, most often by a technician who has the old motor in hand.
Built for these use cases
- Single-stage replacement in 120-volt shop, utility and commercial dry vacuums
- Blower and air-mover duty where airflow matters more than lift
- OEM machines originally built with a single-stage thru-flow motor
- Short-hose or large-diameter applications with little restriction
- Service benches stocking a common 120-volt single-stage spare
A thru-flow motor is cooled by the working air, so every cubic foot the machine pulls also passes across the armature and field. That makes for a compact, efficient and economical package on dry pickup, and it is why thru-flow motors dominate residential and light commercial vacuum production. It is also the reason they are the wrong choice for wet recovery: moisture, foam and cleaning solution carried in the airstream reach the windings directly.
The 112 CFM figure is the headline here, and it comes with a caveat worth understanding. A single-stage motor produces that airflow only while the air path stays open. Add a long, narrow hose, a loaded filter or a clogged wand and a 63-inch sealed lift rating runs out of headroom fast. Machines built around this motor are designed with that in mind; retrofitting it into a machine that shipped with a two-stage motor will feel like a loss of suction, because it is one.
Ametek Lamb part numbers are not interchangeable by diameter alone. Before ordering, pull the old motor and match four things: frame diameter, number of stages, discharge configuration and nameplate voltage. Two motors that share a body size can have completely different gasket surfaces, lead lengths and airflow paths, and a mismatch usually shows up as a motor that physically drops in but never reaches its rated suction.
Specifications
- Manufacturer part number: 116455-50
- Frame diameter: 5.7 inches
- Blower stages: 1
- Cooling: Thru-flow
- Voltage: 120 V
- Current: 6.8 A
- Power input: 750 W
- Airflow: 112 CFM
- Sealed vacuum: 63 inches of water
- Air handled: Clean, dry, filtered air only
Frequently asked questions
Why does this motor have high CFM but low sealed vacuum?
It has one fan stage. One stage moves a large volume of air but cannot build much lift. Two- and three-stage motors in the same 5.7-inch frame stack fans to raise sealed vacuum at the cost of current draw.
Can I put this in a machine that had a two-stage motor?
It will often fit, but you will lose suction through any restrictive hose or filter. Match stage count to what came out unless you are deliberately changing the machine's character.
Is it safe for wet pickup?
No. Thru-flow motors are cooled by the working air, so recovered water and solution reach the windings. Use a bypass motor for wet recovery.
How much current does it draw?
6.8 amps at 120 volts, roughly 750 watts. That leaves comfortable headroom on a standard 15-amp circuit.
What maintenance keeps it running?
Inspect carbon brushes around 300 to 500 hours and replace them before the motor starts surging. Keep filters clean, since a restricted thru-flow motor also loses its cooling airflow.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized dealer for Ametek Lamb vacuum motors and stocks the matching carbon brush kits, gaskets and mounting hardware alongside them. Our US-based team works with these motors every day across central vacuum systems, extractors, autoscrubbers and shop equipment, and can help you confirm frame size, stage count, discharge style and voltage against the motor already in your machine before you order.
