MACHINERY ON FARM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AFTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 84, 11 January 1950, Page 5

MACHINERY ON FARM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AFTER

(By W. H. Mahdeno, Consulting Officer, Herd Recording Dept., N.Z. Dairy Board) It was obvious to anyone calling on farmers in November that a large amount of harvesting machinery had caused annoying and costly delay through lack of maintenance. As harvesting draws to a close it is well to take action to avoid a recurrence next yeffr. With increased mechanisation there must be an increased recognition of the necessity for proper attention to equipment. The Department of Agriculture is alive to

this need and has appointed a Farm Machinery Officer to give assistance (in this direction. Co-operative Dairy Coys, have in many cases employed experts to ensure the engineering workshop for general farm repair work. Most firms dealing in agricultural equipment advertise “sales and service” so that from every angle the chance of unexpected breakdown is reduced—if only the farmer plays his part. Home Repairs

Many young farmers today have considerable mechanical experience and ability. They find farming able fully to satisfy the urge which in the past has caused much loss of capable men from rural to urban life. Those who may possess greater ability for stock or pasture management must nevertheless appreciate the economy of having gear able to do the job properly when

it is due to be done. Likewise it is

relevant to suggest that those with ■a mechanical flair should not forget ■that developments in the stock and pasture side of their work constitute the major source of profits. Thg higher speeds of modern operations have enforced a greater appreciation of the value of correct lubrication and fewer farmers now need the reminder that the oilcan is the cheapest mechanic. At the same time it is being realised that

the oil companies have developed special qualities in the lubricants , for different machines. ■, In the vacuum pump—the heart of the milking machine—the whole action

depends on the airseal formed by •the film or oil on the rotor. Too much stress can not be laid on the

fact that only oil developed for The job is in this typical case the cniv one to us<-.' Hiring Specialists Pays

Farms must be equipped to do

normal running repairs, but advantage should be taken of specialist servicing. Men who know their jobs are far cheaper to employ at high hourly rates for a short time that

those who could not more economically engaged -in the actual operation of equipment. All the precision tools only to be found in the •engineer’s workshop are there to :give a satisfactory and lasting job at an economical cost. ' 1 Too often these services are not

used and the sales division has no ■difficulty in making a good case for a new machine. It is of interest that * ,

where a competent serviceman is attached to a dairy company the sales of new equipment are greatly reduced. Too seldom is it possible io find a farmer operating old machines. When a farmer and his son ■can milk more than a cow per minute .with a machine in which most -of the components are 30 years of age it would appear that many ■other dairymen have been “taken in” by sellers of new gadgets. This is unfortunately, due to lack of simple care in operation by a great majority of farmers. Many water pumps have worked continuously for 10 to 20 years. Would it not be economical to have them overhauled before an “unex-

pected” breakdown wastes-a day or

two for the farmer and cuts out the water supply with reduction both in quantity and grading of cream? Will there be equipment for sale next year that an astute t)uyer can cheaply put in first class working order? This can largely be avoided if the harvesting gear is put away so that a few minutes in assembly will enable it to give immediate service.