How to Care For a Commercial Milking Machine

If your milking machine can't milk the cows, it can't make any money for you. Proper maintenance of you machine will reduce your long-term repair costs. It also will ensure that your machine works instead of sitting unused. Here's how to care for your milking machine.

Instructions

1. Inspect milk cooler parts. Listen for unusual noise. If you find any, zero in on the source and replace any noise contributing cooler part. Switch out parts showing wear and tear. Make sure that you're running at the right temperature. Check your owner's manual for your specific machine's temperature range.

2. Look at your refrigeration unit. Remove anything that impedes efficiency. Purge tubings and coils of anything that obstructs smooth flow. Also ensure that this flow doesn't have a means of escape, except where they're supposed to escape to. Make sure that your thermometer is correct. If you find any problems, contact the owners guide for service repair numbers.

3. Physically manipulate vacuum pump sections to make sure that operation mechanics operate the way they're supposed to. Refer to your owner's manual for oil level check frequency. Check pipe and pump input and output.

4. Examine your vacuum control valves. Ensure that the regulator is situated per the description in your owner's manual. Test your regulator's capacity. Clean your valves, screen and filters per the frequency recommended in your owner's manual.

5. Time your operation. Measure the length of time the machine milks, then rests. Check the rate this happens as well. Make sure that filters and diaphragms are clean. Think electrical safety when doing this part of the maintenance.

6. Remove leaks, residue, and buildup in the vacuum pipeline. Replace rusted tanks and make sure that each tank has enough milk holding capacity per your operator manual. Retire rubber tubes that have holes in them. You want the milk to go to a container, not on the floor or on the machine. Make sure that your air tubes and liner in good condition. If not, get new ones.

7. Clean dirt and other filth from the milk claw's air vents. This'll speed the milking process. Make sure that your milk pipeline has the proper slant--you want to use physics to your advantage. Make sure that there are no leaks.

Tips & Warnings

• There are different systems in use. Your owner's manual contains specific maintenance steps for your machine. Your milk machine owner manual takes precedence if there's a conflict between the above instructions and what your manual says. The company that made your milk machine knows it best. If you have a question about the best contract and repair services, don't hesitate to contact your milk machine's manufacturer.

Resources

• Milking Management lists detailed milk machine maintenance steps.
• The Milk Production website discuses using and maintaining milk machines.