Daily and weekly care of a milking machine

A milking machine is in contact with milk and animals every day. Regular care keeps the milk clean and keeps the machine running without trouble for a long time. The steps below are general guidance for mobile milking machines; the manual for your own machine always comes first.

Cleaning after every milking

Clean as soon as milking is finished. Once milk residue dries it is much harder to remove, and it gives bacteria a place to grow.

• Rinse the cluster and hoses first with lukewarm water (around 35–40 °C). Very hot water at this stage can bake milk protein onto surfaces, and very cold water makes milk fat set.
• Then wash with hot water and a detergent made for milking equipment. Follow the dosage and water temperature on the detergent label.
• Brush the bucket, lid and gasket, making sure no milk is left in the corners.
• Finish with a clean-water rinse and let the parts dry. Hang the hoses so the water can drain out.

Using an acid cleaner once a week, or as often as the detergent maker recommends, helps prevent limescale and milkstone build-up.

Pump oil

On machines with an oil-lubricated (turbo) pump, the pump depends on oil. Running low on oil quickly wears the fibre vanes and the pump housing.

• Check the oil level in the reservoir before every milking and top it up with the oil type given in the manual.
• Make sure the oil flow is set correctly. Too much oil is pushed out of the exhaust; too little makes the pump run hot and wear faster.
• Change the oil at the interval in your manual. Replace oil straight away if it has turned dark or has water or milk in it.

Dry-type pumps with graphite (carbon) vanes use no oil, but the vanes wear over time. A change in pump sound, or vacuum taking longer than usual to build, can mean the vanes need checking.

Checking vacuum and pulsation

Look at the vacuum gauge before every milking. Shortly after the machine starts, the needle should settle at the same value each day. If it reads low, check hose connections, gaskets and the vacuum regulator.

As general guidance, vacuum for cows is commonly set somewhere around 42–50 kPa, and lower values are used for sheep and goats. The correct value depends on the machine and the animals. Use the value in your manual, and if you are unsure, call Akçay technical service.

Listen to the steady clicking of the pulsator. If the rhythm becomes uneven or the pulsator stops, it may need cleaning or repair.

Weekly checks

• Inspect the teat liners for cracks, swelling, hardening or colour change.
• Look for splits, kinks or stiffness in the milk and vacuum hoses.
• Check that the bucket lid gasket sits fully in place.
• Clean the vacuum regulator and any air filters.
• Wipe dust and dirt off the motor and pump, and keep the ventilation openings clear.

When to call service

Some problems do not go away with simple care. In these cases, do not force the machine; call Akçay technical service:

• Vacuum will not reach the right level even after you have checked the connections
• The motor struggles, will not start or is stuck
• The pump makes unusual noise, gets very hot or leaks oil
• You suspect milk or water has got into the pump

Our videos show oil change, oil flow adjustment and vacuum adjustment step by step. Our products carry a 2-year warranty, so contact us about any problem covered by it as well.