Calving Jacks - Technal or HK or Vink ???

SoJoMo

In the market for a calving jack with moorepark head and the choices are

Technal - €110(Magentadirect) - €124(Agridirect) with square tube

HK - €189 with round tube and alternating ratchet

Vink - €300~ with square tube.

From previous posts alot of people with the Technal jack responded http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74140716)

So why are the other jacks dearer?
Have people experience of these other ones?
Is the round tube ok?

mallethead

I have a Technal and a Vink
i found the technal was fine for smaller cows but when using on bigger cows it used to slip a lot ,might as well have nothing
We have a vink and it works very well on bigger cows the head is about 4 inchs bigger makes an awful difference a lot easier to use i found

49801

just going on threads over on bff the Vink is the boss of all calving jacks. Its up to you to decide if you really need/justify the boss.

SoJoMo

4inches bigger - very interesting thanks Mallet
yeah I seen that on bff 49' but they dont give good reasons why
I'm inclined to buy the best one as I dont want to be stuck at 3am cursing my stingyness.
Anyone have experience of the alternating ratchet or is it just a gimmick?

redzerologhlen

My auld lad had a vink for 20 years and then he broke it. Bought a technal then and every time he has to pull a calf he's f***ing and lighting that it's a prick of a thing compared to his old jack. Have heard of a lot of technal jacks slipping under pressure too. Don't know much about the hk apart from a a friend that made a hoop of one, the ratchet on them seems nice to use though.

Hugh 2

mallethead wrote: »

I have a Technal and a Vink
i found the technal was fine for smaller cows but when using on bigger cows it used to slip a lot ,might as well have nothing
We have a vink and it works very well on bigger cows the head is about 4 inchs bigger makes an awful difference a lot easier to use i found

Was it the head that slipped?
I have a technical(and never seemed to have ratchet mechanism slip-unlike an earlier tubular one that I had)
I like that I can take off the preassure and re-start when necessary.
Have mine 20 years and think it is about time I had a new one handy as a standby .
Is the vink really a better jack?
I can't seem to find any descent pictures of jacks online?...? Hard to make decisions braised on thumbnail

freedominacup

On our second technal here. Had to get a loan of a neighbour s vink last year and wouldn't take a present of one after using it. Useless and dangerous for the cows. Alternating ratchet is vital.

delaval

What do ye mean? Could someone post a pic?

Don't know what I have

Hugh 2

delaval wrote: »

What do ye mean? Could someone post a pic?

Don't know what I have

I was on the same boat till I looked at one of the sites mentioned in an earlier posts but I haven't seen bigger pictures enough to see any great detail)
http://www.magentadirect.ie/prodimages/calving%20jack%20inc%20moorepark%20head.jpg.jpg
CALVING AID TECNALL + M/P HEAD Price: €120.00 (inc. VAT)


http://www.magentadirect.ie/proddetail.php?prod=MAE0032&cat=12

CALVING AID VINK 1.6M
Price: €284.00 (inc. VAT)

If the left and right legs do not get pulled alternatively then I think I would not like the Vink

I don't know how to get multiquote to work but I am concerned about the post from Redzerologhlen and Freedomaincup seeming to totally contradict each-other.??

moy83

I have the technal one in the top picture and have no problems with it anyhow

mayota

moy83 wrote: »

I have the technal one in the top picture and have no problems with it anyhow

+1

Greengrass1

I have two robes and my arms. That's all we ever need:D
There us a jack there some where its probably rusted to bits

onyerbikepat

I have the Tecnall aswell and find it fine for the use I give it. It is bulky but plenty strong. I got mine from Magenta Direct too.

Hugh 2

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I have two robes and my arms. That's all we ever need:D
There us a jack there some where its probably rusted to bits

No "we" here just me so jack nearby is always necessary.
Have had plenty back pain in the past
Calving cows ---the wee bit of help that turns out to be a wee bit tougher than expected and assisting staggery cows to their feet are 2 of the things that dont help

onyerbikepat

I hurt my back pulling with just ropes. That's when I decided to get the jack.

Brown Podzol

I have a cage jack:eek: with donkey's years. Repaired a couple of times but I rarely have to use it. A few years ago I bought a technal Jack because everyone including my vet said 'twas way better than the cage but I have never used it. I suppose it is what you are used to.

Genghis Cant

Brown Podzol wrote: »

I have a cage jack:eek: with donkey's years. Repaired a couple of times but I rarely have to use it. A few years ago I bought a technal Jack because everyone including my vet said 'twas way better than the cage but I have never used it. I suppose it is what you are used to.

A calving jack is one of the few things I ever bought hoping not to use it!

On the subject, as important as the jack itself is the ropes. Don't let them light white one's into the place. Get the soft heavy Red/Blue ones. Much better job.

Zr105

Genghis Cant wrote: »

A calving jack is one of the few things I ever bought hoping not to use it!

On the subject, as important as the jack itself is the ropes. Don't let them light white one's into the place. Get the soft heavy Red/Blue ones. Much better job.

Would have to agree with all above, went an got the red and blues this year(€7.50 in local glanbia so not a big expense anyways) after hearing so much about them over the last year. Haven't been used yet and hopefully wont but bloody hell their unbelievably superior i you ask me, i wouldn't even think twice about replacing if they end up lost or whatever... They have to be far far easier on the calf, and i also think the 2 colours is great as it can be hard remember which is which when its 3 in the mornin and that awkward bugger has finally decided its time after messing about....

Hugh 2

Glanbia are doing the Tecnall with Moorpark head for 118 euro at the moment....