WHICH CLUSTER

keep going

Upgrading milking machine at the moment and wondering which claw peice to go for, dairymaster or alfa or whatever, which do you like using and why.what do replacement bowls cost andd do they break often.by the way if ye have some claws to sell I might be interested or is it against the rules here

A cow called Daisy

Don't know if much difference between brands but I would stick with those from whoever services etc your machine just for the convenience if nothing else.
Have alfa 'harmony' clusters and shells here for nearly 15 years. They light weight and would not go back to the heavy ones. No prob with cows milking out with them either. Not sure of cost as it long time since any breakages

5live

A cow called Daisy wrote: »

Don't know if much difference between brands but I would stick with those from whoever services etc your machine just for the convenience if nothing else.
Have alfa 'harmony' clusters and shells here for nearly 15 years. They light weight and would not go back to the heavy ones. No prob with cows milking out with them either. Not sure of cost as it long time since any breakages

Harmonys are 480 euros, iirc from putting in acrs.

I get replacement bowls from Magenta direct/buyrite in wexford. I think they are 50euro apiece, not branded but they have the bowls for different clawpieces.

If you are willing to buy secondhand, there is a crowd in cork selling secondhand dutch parlour spares, advertised on Donedeal.

I have a number of a guy in cork that sells from dismantled parlours and he probably would be able to get a good few clawpieces from different manufacturers if you were interested, just send me a PM.

kowtow

5live wrote: »

Harmonys are 480 euros, iirc from putting in acrs.

Is that the "new" - Harmony? There is still a full harmony cluster selling for about €170 I think, perhaps on an offer - similar to most of the other manufacturers.

There is also a more expensive one - which feels lighter in comparison, sort of wider and flatter around the bowl if that makes any sense. From memory the pulsation tubes have a sort of corrugated shroud around them?

5live wrote: »

If you are willing to buy secondhand, there is a crowd in cork selling secondhand dutch parlour spares, advertised on Donedeal.

Have used that guy - brilliant service for both new and secondhand parts - utterly reliable with delivery in a couple of days and, compared to Ireland, prices are extraordinary.

5live

kowtow wrote: »

Is that the "new" - Harmony? There is still a full harmony cluster selling for about €170 I think, perhaps on an offer - similar to most of the other manufacturers.

There is also a more expensive one - which feels lighter in comparison, sort of wider and flatter around the bowl if that makes any sense. From memory the pulsation tubes have a sort of corrugated shroud around them?

Tbh, i didn't take much notice of the price of the Harmony clusters because i already had 2 complete units ready to go in but i was given the option of getting pieces welded to the base of my units or replacing all my units for Harmonys at 480 a piece. I don't know which type was being pushed.

Budget was tight as it was so stayed with the 'normal' units i had already, at 250 euro a piece, i think.

kowtow

5live wrote: »

Budget was tight as it was so stayed with the 'normal' units i had already, at 250 euro a piece, i think.

I think that is what I will do - the 250 is the 170 + vat I suspect.

I thought them lighter than my very old de laval clusters, but not as light as the new harmony.

td5man

5live wrote: »

If you are willing to buy secondhand, there is a crowd in cork selling secondhand dutch parlour spares, advertised on Donedeal.

I have a number of a guy in cork that sells from dismantled parlours and he probably would be able to get a good few clawpieces from different manufacturers if you were interested, just send me a PM.

Stinsons in Aughnacloy do secondhand bits also.

Timmaay

A dairymaster salesman was telling me the importance of matching the claw piece bowel volume with the clusters, anyone know much about that and what difference if any it makes?