Care, Maintenance Of Milking Machines

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1947, Page 2

Care, Maintenance Of Milking Machines

THE paramount importance of efficiency of the milking machine vacuum pump was commented upon by the Dairy Board’s consulting officer for Northland (Mr R. H. Ellis) in an interview at Whangarei yesterday. He has stressed this point in the course of recent addresses to branches of Federated Farmers and Young Farmers’ Clubs throughout the province. No matter how good the rest of the machine was, clean and efficient milking could not result unless the pump was efficient, he said.

Speaking of care and maintenance, he emphasised the need for adequate oiling with the correct grade of oil, pointing out that the removal of wicks between milkings would reduce the total oil consumption. It was undesirable that any water or milk should be allowed to find its way into the pump. When this occurred the liquid broke an oil film between the rotor and the case, and efficiency was impaired. He advocated the use of ordinary straight inflations in the cups, stressing the importance of regular tightening. A good plan was to tighten at two weeks, end-for-end at four weeks and replace at six. The use of adequately tightened in-

flations prevented any obstruction of the milk flow from the cotv.

Discussing moulded inflations, he said there was no danger of these collapsing to prevent the milk flow, but their disadvantage lay in the fact that they were only renewed once a year. By the end of this period the rubber had absorbed quantities of butterfat which could contain mastitis or any other germs present in the machine. This could be a factor in spreading disease. To clean inflations the best method was to put warm water through each set of pumps, followed by a gallon of boiling caustic water to each set. followed by a rinse of one gallon of boiling water. This should be done twice daily.