Thanks for all the responses and I think I finally have it whupped.

As everyone probably knows by now (with all my frantic cries for help) we have two tanks. A Mueller that had no outlet valve, is low on freon, and a bad thermostat, that I COULD get a calibration chart for and a Milk Keeper that is in perfect shape but COULDN'T get a chart for.

Here's the plan. I put a new thermostat in the Mueller. The buyer has an adapter that will fit the wrong valve that was sent for the Mueller tank so the hauler can guage the tank and empty it. (I have an adaptor on the way from Hamby so that covers that.) Soooo, just before the hauler comes next Tuesday, we transfer the milk from the Milk Keeper tank into the Mueller tank and hope the hauler comes fast. (It'll freeze at the bottom because of low freon). Then the county extention agent will come out and we'll calibrate the Milk Keeper tank. Thanks Cindy for turning me on to that calibration forum. Dennis is going to do the spreadsheet for me. That'll get the Milk Keeper legal! (And hope we can get it finished by night milking.) I went online and took a test to get certified by the EPA to buy R12 freon so now if I can just come up with the bucks to buy R12 online I'm fixed on the Mueller tank. Beats $350 for a tech to come out do to it and I can help other people around here with the same problem. (I'll recycle the R12 and retrofit to the new non CFC's when I can afford it) Eureka!

Now, if this all goes as PLANNED I'm gonna have a PARTY!

Where there's a will there's a way. Thank God for good people and the internet!

Dennis

-- Dennis Enyart (westwoodcaprine@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002

Answers

wow, whats that website? , and how can i get it ???, i am supposed to go get another tank, but this one isnt disconnected, and i have no idea what i am doing, the local dairy supply company isnt really friendly to DIY, maybe cause there are so few dairies????

i dont know, anyhow, good luck dennis!!! keep me posted, and let me know how/what you all have to do to make it flow right!!!

-- Beth,in ND (famvan@drtel.net), April 12, 2002.

Beth, be SURE you have the calibration charts with the tanks. If no chart see who made them and email to see if they can provide you with a calibration chart for that model before you haul them home. It's been a fight and a footrace to get this "orphan" done. If I'd known then what I know now, I wouldn't have bought it. And you're right, cow dairy people don't like goat people. We're competition!

-- Dennis Enyart (westwoodcaprine@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

Oh, have a refrigeration and air place evacuate the system on the tank that isn't disconnected yet. Then replace the freon back into the system when they set it up. Save a bunch of money that way.

Dennis

-- Dennis Enyart (westwoodcaprine@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

Hi Dennis,

I have sent you a couple of emails that were responses to your calibration problem, I do not know if you received them or not. The last is from NIST of Georgia and he knows the procedures for actually having someone come out and do the cal of the tank that you have no chart for. Anyway, he said he was working on your problem and would get back to you in a day or so to let you know how to proceed.

Please let me know whether or not you have received the emails, as I would like to thank the calibration group for responding so quickly to your problem. The above email is a good one - I had to change my private email address and hubby won't let me use it to post with as we received so much junk mail at old address). I check the one above daily. Thanks Cindy

-- Cindy (sidepasser@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Hi Cindy,

Yes, got your emails and thank you very much! I've even been contacted by the National Weights and Measures who will be sending me a procedures document from that level. I'm attempting to get procedures implemented so that either ADGA, DHIA or our County Agricultural Extention Agents can calibrate our orphan tanks. We'll whup those cow dairies yet. To think that there is someone close by who is capable of calibrating this tank but can't because Dairy Farmers of America says we're competition and you don't help goat people. Really angers me.

Thanks so much,

Dennis

-- Dennis Enyart (westwoodcaprine@yahoo.com), April 16, 2002.

to get your tanks calibrated simply call your milk market administrator or any local milk plant to be put in touch with him and he will come and calibrate your tank free of charge and mail you a calibration chart. To help keep a bulk tank from freezing the milk on the bottom NEVER turn the tank on before the milk touches the agitator. Hope this helps in the future, however late this is. I am a wife of a retired DeLaval dealer and owner of a small herd of Jerseys that has been in the family since 1867. When I was younger many things panicked me . Now......

-- Dixie Scheiderer (bgfjersey @1st.net), September 22, 2002.