What is the difference between wide bore and narrow bore inflations?  I think what's with this one looks like the wide bore?

Is the link I posted the right type of vacuum pump?  I don't know anything about vacuum pumps!

I agree about that system Suzanne, especially since it COMES with a vac pump.  The pump you linked too is only 3 CFM (Cubic Feet per Min) and the ones listed with most of the milkers are at least 8 CFM.  I don't know for sure but I believe the "surger" unit, which sort of simulates the pulses of a sucking calf or the rhythmic flexing of your hands, need a specific CFM to work with… or a close range at least if not specific.  It may be very possible to find a less expensive one that would work, I know the old one in the milk house (before they built the fancy shmancy milking parlor was a little rickety but still worked.

The portable vac pumps listed on that site are all between $450 – $675 (I think)  the bigger pump with the exposed flywheel, which is actually a little cheaper due to it being less compact and self contained I'm sure would work, if 52 were to build a little enclosed 'house' or box for it so it was very well protected from weather, nesting chickens and ground squirrels and curious goats and calves etc.  and it could stay out in the milk shed for you to plug in at milk times.

//Editing to add// That borrowed one is very much worth refurbishing!  except for the vac pump thing.  If you, or a local farmer friend, or your cousin, or whoever can find a workable vacuum pump, then you're golden!

Yep, plus having the more portable pump that comes with that refurbished one would be good, even if you do find a larger more stationary one for the future.  You can still look for a good one at farm sales and auctions.  If I were you I'd be watching for those like crazy!  You can get the milkers and pumps for great prices.  Sad, because some family farm is closing up shop, but no reason for you not to buy at it either.

Having that portable one could easily come in handy, while having a stationary one in the shed means less toting and carrying.  The portable on is still a reliable back up in case BP needs to be milked in some other location for whatever reason.

I also have a question about how those of you who use milking machines transport things around?  I'm thinking even with the lighter-weight system, that's too heavy to carry everything!  Especially once there's milk onboard, too!  Do you pull it on a little cart, or what?

I will have her dried up in the worst part of winter, so I won't be milking her then.  We'll be breeding her in June for a spring baby.

I could get a little cart over there, if I had one!  I might not even need to take her in the milk stand.  We have another big feed barrel where I feed her sometimes and I could milk her right by the gate.  I saw them use a milking machine on her at the farm where we got her.  It took like two minutes!  She's docile enough to stand for that long, even not in a stand, if she's got some feed.  I've hand-milked her out of the stand before (when I was milking her in the goat yard).

I wonder if it would fit in a dishwasher?  bet the smaller parts would!  why not? have to think on that one.

Do you have a stationary tub by your clothes washer?  The deep sinks in the milking parlor were like deep double stationary tubs.  It's not so much of a scrubbing as rinse/washing immediately with a sanitizing soap… which you do NOT want to wash down your septic system BTW.  Yeah, yet another thing to worry about, but a hose running from the sink drain out the door will work.  (ask me how I know!)

Y pipe with a valve and a fitting on it and a hose out the door!  I bet it'd be easy to do especially with PVC fittings like we have in our stationary tub.  may look a little funky, but do you really care?