The Ametek Lamb 116600-44 is a two-stage thru-flow vacuum motor on the 5.7-inch frame for 120-volt machines. Motors in this family are fitted to commercial vacuums and built-in central vacuum power units, and they are bought as a whole-assembly replacement: carbon brushes and bearings are the parts that wear, and once they are gone the motor is changed as a unit rather than rebuilt in the field.
Built for
- Built-in central vacuum power units on 120-volt service
- Commercial canister and upright vacuums using a 5.7-inch thru-flow motor
- Dry pickup machines in facility and janitorial service
- Service depots stocking 5.7-inch two-stage thru-flow spares
- Blower duty on clean, dry, filtered air
How this motor works
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 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.
Stage count is the trade-off that decides which motor belongs in a machine. Each additional fan stage buys sealed lift and costs airflow. A single-stage motor moves the most air and is right behind a short hose; a two-stage motor is the general-purpose choice; a three-stage motor is what you want when the hose run is long or the tool is restrictive and the machine has to hold vacuum against that restriction.
The thermostat with automatic restart on this motor is a detail worth knowing about in service. A motor that shuts off mid-job and comes back a few minutes later has usually tripped that thermostat, and the cause is almost always restriction, a full bag, a clogged filter or a blocked hose, rather than a failing motor. Clearing the restriction is the fix; ignoring it is how a motor gets cooked.
Carbon brushes are the wear part on any Ametek Lamb motor, not the motor itself. Ametek's own guidance is that a set of brushes can be changed twice before the armature and the rest of the assembly need replacing, with roughly 60 percent of original life left after the first change and about 40 percent after the second. If a machine has begun surging, losing suction intermittently, or throwing sparks at the commutator, brushes are the first thing to check before condemning the motor.
The one symptom that is not a brush job is a burning smell. Technicians on carpet-cleaning and contractor forums are consistent about this: a scorched odor means the armature has overheated where the brushes ride, and the machine should be shut down at once rather than run to the end of the job. A motor that has cooked its armature is a replacement, not a repair.
Ametek Lamb part numbers are not interchangeable by diameter alone. Before ordering, pull the old motor and match four things: frame diameter, number of fan 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
- Motor type: series universal, single speed
- Stages: 2
- Voltage: 120 V AC
- Fan diameter: 5.7 in
- Airflow system: through-flow
- Bearings: ball bearings both ends
- Frame: skeleton frame, carbon brushes, no inlet tube, no RFI choke
- Brackets: aluminum commutator bracket and aluminum fan bracket
- Thermal protection: thermostat with automatic restart
- Insulation: Class A
- Connection: lead wire
- Duty: intermittent
- Operating temperature: 32 to 104 degrees F
- Approvals: UL Recognized, CSA certified
Fitment
No manufacturer machine compatibility list was found for this motor, and published airflow, sealed lift and air watt figures for this part number disagree between sources with no manufacturer data sheet located, so no performance figures are stated here. The published spec sheet also leaves the air discharge type blank, so it is not claimed. Confirm the part number, fan diameter, stage count and voltage against the motor currently in your machine before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Why are no CFM or water lift figures listed?
Because the published figures for this part number disagree between sources and no manufacturer data sheet was located. Rather than repeat a number we cannot stand behind, we list only what the spec sheet confirms.
What does the automatic restart thermostat do?
It shuts the motor down on overheat and restores power once it cools. A motor that cycles off and back on usually has a restriction, such as a full bag or clogged filter, not a fault.
What is a thru-flow motor?
One cooled by the working air, so the air being vacuumed also passes across the windings. It is efficient on dry pickup and unsuitable for wet recovery.
Can I rebuild this motor instead of replacing it?
Carbon brushes are replaceable and are the usual wear item. Beyond brushes, these motors are replaced as an assembly rather than rebuilt in the field.
Is it UL listed?
It is UL Recognized and CSA certified as a component, with Class A insulation and intermittent duty rating.
Discount Cleaning Products is a United States based dealer for Ametek Lamb vacuum motors and stocks the matching carbon brush kits, gaskets and mounting hardware alongside them. Our 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.
