Babson Brothers Surge Bucket Milker Parts and Rebuild Info

[@hairymanonetwo]

Great video.......just take note....... I used surge bucket milkers for 40 yrs. Wide bore shells will double your mastitis issues ! Always use narrow bore shells ! Cleaned a many pulsators with tooth picks.......and resurfaced the pulsators using a sheet of class and emery paper ! The older style milkers ( with a seam ) are most often rejected with inspectors because of the contamination factor. There were 5 and 6 gallon buckets otherwise.

[@mommymilestones]

That's interesting info. Thanks for the tips. Funny thing is as a nursing mom the only time I ever had mastitis is when the baby started weaning or not nursing regularly. Milkers heplp out a lot with that for cows and moms :)

[@hairymanonetwo]

@@mommymilestones In general the wide bore shells were meant for goats..... or cows with very large teats. Such as.......the cows that the Amish milk by hand. The large bore shell cause the teat canal to be opened more then normal....... thus allowing inner contamination / causing mastitis. Otherwise......sure both work ! When cleaning a pulsator a common mistake is to put too much oil on then. Use a light coat of Vaseline instead. There are also stainless steal insert available to place behind the leathers. Those inserts have tiny fingers that help force the leathers outwards. Often if the pulsator sits for a while the leathers become lax and wont seal. The other simple solution is to take them apart and hyper - extend the leathers so they will seal again. Or turn them around backwards. While apart..... inspect the leathers for tiny cracks. Cracks are the primary cause for the pulsator to fail.

[@l2iowacowgirl893]

Ooh thanks for you videos

[@mommymilestones]

Glad you like them!

[@crmitchell4989]

The milk company required us to take these apart and clean them daily. We had 4 milkers, any of us were able to put them all together in a few minutes. The pulsator was never submerged in water but cleaned each orfice with a small brush. The insides were wiped out.

[@mommymilestones]

Good sanitary practice

[@acesalvage6718]

Where does one buy one of these surge milkers? Seems they are getting hard to find now. At least for me.

[@mommymilestones]

I have them. I sell them rebuilt. Follow the Etsy link on my main channel page. Thanks.

[@acesalvage6718]

I was going to buy one but doesn’t ship to Canada

[@l2iowacowgirl893]

Have you used the silicone inflators?

[@mommymilestones]

No, the increased cost can not be justified in our case.

[@tomkimball9798]

I have two of the older versions. Question; could these be used to heat water over a fire without destroying welds or solder? Anyone?

[@mommymilestones]

I dont see why you could not but it would be hard on a rubber gasket over time if you had the lid on, similar to using a pressure cooker. As far as solder or welds that is how maple syrup pans are made.

[@tomkimball9798]

@@mommymilestones found a second Surge milker, this one is one piece, no seams. Was going to use to heat water over camp fire for a Hipcamp shower set up....so will give em a try.

[@rodeorulz15]

Have you ever dealt with any sears brand buckets, shells, etc and the farm master pulsators? How about converting a cow set up to be used on goats?

[@mommymilestones]

No Sears. It's Babson or DeLaval mostly that lasted over time. Easy use for goats. Just need Shut of valves. Check out Hoegers goat supplies online.

[@rodeorulz15]

@@mommymilestones darn, I was hoping you had some experience with those. Thank you!

[@rodeorulz15]

@@mommymilestones I was gifted a surge rv-2 that I am working on getting up and running and am hoping to still use the sears pieces that were also gifted to me. Hopefully it all works out in my favor. I need at least one new pulsator so if you have recommendations on what might work for my set up I would sure appreciate it. I am hoping the surge replacement parts will work for the belly bucket (gasket and check valve, etc). Do you also have any recommendations on how to rebuild that farm master pulsator without an actual kit? Then I need also figure out which liners might work in the sears shells. Ugh! Any help is so very muchly appreciated. I think I can figure out a way to make all the tubing work.

[@destingardner8230]

My pulsater isn't working could it be because of to much vacuum 🙃?

[@mommymilestones]

It can be dry and needs cleaning and lubrication. It could be your lid or pulsator gasket not seating properly, it could be the adjustor screw.

[@l2iowacowgirl893]

I was wondering if you have a small bucket? I understand there 2 different sizes I'm milking Dexters I'm struggling with carpal tunnel and have this machine Dexters are so short it's hard to get under her the bucket even sits on the floor I have 2 of the 5 gallon buckets (c)

[@mommymilestones]

A lot of people will make new tubes to run from the pulsator to the cow. Clear tubing from Menards/Lowes stores. You mentioned loosing vacuum. As long as the tube size is correct it should be fine. Some slight adjustments on pressure setting can help and making sure you're pulsator is oiled well so the sliders are free. Btw: People add the tubing extensions all the time for goats.

[@carlbormet9698]

Cool

[@mommymilestones]

Thanks!

[@markzanetti6228]

but how is it powered? what provides vaccum? not electric?

[@mommymilestones]

The surge bucket and pulsator assembled with a vacuum pump draw suction.

[@stevemort9616]

Where can I purchase parts and tubes?

[@mommymilestones]

Hamby Dairy Supply has everything online and easy to find/order. Ebay is excellent for comparison shopping when the parts are available.

[@YZJY]

I came across a Surge Babson pulsator that seems to have some features of the S type, but the serial number is only four digits and ends with -R. Any information about this type? It has the pin in the mounting socket so it works with an S type lid, and the slider blocks are only slotted like the S type... but it is stamped as R. I'm confused as I can't find any reference online to an R type pulsator. Any advice would be most welcome.

[@mommymilestones]

Ok there is a P for pipeline. Maybe its a scratch. (A P pulsator will not fit C lid It may sit on an S lid but not create vacuum). Maybe it fits the older stuff before Babson went out on their own. Ive forgotten all the history - they were called Pine or Pinetree bucket milker. Im sure you could google it or read the history of Babson/Surge Milkers on the Hamby Dairy web site. That's your best source for info.

[@YZJY]

Thanks for the reply... I had asked Hamby Dairy the same question and sent some pictures of it. They sent an email letting me know the situation. The pulsator is an S.. it has the pin and uses an S type lid, and seals properly although one chamber is a little slow at low speed. They said the unit had been sent to the Babson factory repair center probably about 70 years ago and they had replaced the original main block. The replacements have a new shorter serial number and an R at the end meaning replacement. Another interesting point is that the top slider cover and side shells for the piston are brass yellow instead of nickle silver like all the others. I also am trying to find an old Babson service technician's manual and tool kit for pulsators. I saw a photograph of a printed graphic and description of such a kit and manual. But I have never seen one for sale anywhere. Have you ever seen anything like this being sold anywhere? I have a copy of the patent drawings for the S and C type pulsators that have helped answer some questions, but a service manual and technical drawings would be better and explain more things. Any help finding something like that would be most appreciated. Thanks for you time and energy in answering my questions. Cheers.

[@mommymilestones]

I have never seen anything on a tool kit but you can use anything you have. I have several colors of the sliders, covers and serial numbers variations. Many complete buckets, lids and Over 30 complete pulsators and some loose parts. Interesting info on the R. Thanks for sharing!

[@Brandywine-farm]

How do you know which size inflations you need?

[@mommymilestones]

Lots of research! I had to read and reread old advertising, operator manuals, and new catalog literature. I really learned a lot from comparing new and old products.

[@Brandywine-farm]

@@mommymilestones Mine has C Shells and a C lid. My Jersey has smaller teats.

[@ricksells8808]

How do you slow the pulsator down on it

[@mommymilestones]

There is a thumb screw on the pulsator. This controls the speed of the pulsator from the vacuum pump.

[@destingardner8230]

My lid dont look anything like that it has a wedge type weight that looks like a bell

[@mommymilestones]

is it a surge? Sounds like a C lid.

[@stuffnsuch631]

Mine has the bell as well

[@pigtailbbq1982]

I pull my inflation out every week to wash very thorough

[@mommymilestones]

That is a good idea for keeping bacteria count down down sure. Inserting dry is important too.