7 Best Goat Shearing Machine Maintenance Tips For Small Farms To Avoid Jams

There’s nothing more frustrating than being halfway through shearing a goat when your machine suddenly grinds to a halt, tangled in a mess of fiber. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it stresses the animal, wastes your limited time, and can turn a straightforward chore into an afternoon-long ordeal. For small-scale farmers, keeping equipment in top shape isn’t a luxury—it’s the key to efficient, humane, and cost-effective animal care.

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Shear a Clean, Dry Coat to Avoid Blade Clogging

The single biggest favor you can do for your shearing machine is to present it with a clean, dry goat. Dirt, vegetation, and especially the goat’s natural lanolin mix with loose fibers to create a thick, gummy paste. This substance is the primary culprit behind clogged blades and frustrating jams.

Of course, a perfectly pristine animal is rare on a working farm. The goal isn’t surgical sterility but to remove the worst of the grime. A quick, vigorous brushing before you start can dislodge a surprising amount of dirt and debris. This simple step reduces the load on your blades and lets them focus on cutting fiber, not grinding through grit.

The "dry" part, however, is non-negotiable. Shearing a damp or wet coat is a recipe for disaster. Moisture makes the fibers clump together, instantly jamming the comb and cutter. It also increases the risk of pulling the goat’s skin and promotes rust on your expensive blades. If you have to wash a particularly dirty goat, allow it to dry completely for at least 24 hours before even thinking about shearing.

Properly Set Your Blade Tension Before Shearing

Your shearing machine‘s performance lives and dies by blade tension. This setting controls the pressure between the moving cutter blade and the stationary comb. Too little tension, and the cutter will float, failing to cut cleanly and snagging fibers. Too much tension, and you create excessive friction, causing the blades to overheat rapidly and wear down prematurely.

Most machines have a tension knob with a similar setup procedure. A common starting point is to tighten the knob until you feel resistance, then back it off about one and a half turns. This is only a starting point. The real test is the sound and feel of the machine once it’s running. You’re listening for a smooth, high-pitched hum, not a low-pitched rattle (too loose) or a strained grinding sound (too tight).

Getting the tension right is a skill that comes with experience, but it’s the first thing you should check if your shears aren’t cutting well. A jam is often a symptom of incorrect tension. Before you blame the blades or the goat’s coat, stop the machine, reset the tension, and try again. Proper tension ensures the machine works with you, not against you.

Apply Clipper Oil Every 10 Minutes During Use

Think of clipper oil as the lifeblood of your shearing machine. Without it, you’re just grinding two pieces of metal together at high speed. The friction generates immense heat, which dulls your blades and can even burn your goat’s skin.

Make it a non-negotiable habit to stop and oil your blades every 10 minutes, or after every animal, whichever comes first. Apply a few drops of a quality clipper oil across the teeth of the comb and at the back rails where the cutter blade slides. Keeping the machine running while you do this helps distribute the oil evenly across all the moving parts.

This simple act does more than just lubricate. The oil also helps to flush out the tiny fibers and grit that work their way between the comb and cutter. This constant cleaning action is critical for preventing the small buildups that lead to major jams. Don’t be stingy with the oil; it’s far cheaper than a new set of blades or a burned-out motor.

Use Blade Coolant Sprays to Prevent Overheating

While oil is for lubrication, coolant is for temperature control. Even with perfect tension and regular oiling, blades will get hot during a long shearing session. A quality blade coolant, typically an aerosol spray, is an essential tool to have on hand to manage this heat.

Coolant sprays work by rapidly evaporating, which draws heat away from the metal. Many also contain a cleaner to blast away accumulated gunk and a light lubricant. When you feel your blades getting warm to the touch, a quick spray can bring the temperature down to a safe level, allowing you to continue shearing without stopping to change blades. This is especially useful when you’re trying to get through that last goat and don’t want to break your rhythm.

However, it’s crucial to understand the coolant’s role. A coolant spray is not a substitute for clipper oil. Its lubricating properties are minimal and temporary. Think of it as a spot treatment for heat, not the fundamental maintenance your machine needs. Use it in conjunction with your regular oiling schedule, not in place of it.

Thoroughly Clean Blades and Combs Post-Shear

The work isn’t finished when the last goat is running free in its new haircut. What you do immediately after shearing sets you up for success next season. Leaving greasy, fiber-caked blades sitting in their case is a surefire way to guarantee rust and performance issues down the road.

Your first step is a thorough cleaning. Use a small, stiff brush (an old toothbrush works perfectly) to remove all visible hair and debris. Then, use a solvent like a dedicated blade wash or even kerosene to dissolve the stubborn lanolin and grime. Submerge the blades and work the solvent into all the crevices until the metal is perfectly clean.

Once clean, the blades must be dried completely. Any remaining moisture will lead to rust. After they are bone-dry, apply a generous coat of clipper oil to all surfaces. This protective layer of oil prevents corrosion during storage. A clean, oiled set of blades is a happy set of blades, ready to perform the moment you need them.

Maintain a Sharp Edge on Your Shearing Blades

Shearing with dull blades is frustrating, ineffective, and unfair to the animal. A dull edge won’t slice through the fiber; it will grab and pull it, causing the machine to jam and distressing the goat. You’ll find yourself making multiple passes over the same spot, wasting time and increasing the risk of cutting the animal’s skin.

For most small farms, the most practical solution is to use a professional sharpening service. It’s a small investment that pays huge dividends in performance and speed. The key is to plan ahead. Don’t wait until the day before you need to shear to realize your blades are dull.

Always have at least two or three sharp sets of combs and cutters ready to go before you even catch the first goat. As soon as you feel a set start to drag or pull, stop and swap them for a fresh, sharp pair. Trying to "just finish one more" with a dull set is a classic mistake that leads to jams and a poor-quality shearing job.

Keep Air Vents Clear to Prevent Motor Strain

Your shearing machine’s motor is its heart, and the air vents are its lungs. As the motor works, it generates a significant amount of heat. The vents allow cool air to be drawn in to prevent it from overheating. During shearing, the air is filled with fine fibers, dust, and dander, all of which get sucked directly into these vents.

A clogged air filter or vent suffocates the motor. It can’t cool itself effectively, which causes it to lose power and run hot. A motor under strain won’t drive the blades with enough force, leading to poor cutting and an increased likelihood of jamming. In a worst-case scenario, you can permanently burn out the motor.

Make it a part of your routine to check the vents. Before you start, give them a quick brush. If you’re shearing several animals, take a moment between goats to blow out any accumulated fluff. A can of compressed air is excellent for this, but even a stiff brush will do the trick. This two-minute check can add years to the life of your machine.

Proper Off-Season Storage to Prevent Corrosion

How you put your shears away for the season is just as important as how you use them. Tossing a dirty machine into a box on a damp shelf in the barn is a recipe for a seized, rusty mess next spring. Proper off-season storage is a simple task that protects your investment and ensures your equipment is ready when you are.

After your final cleaning and oiling, take a few extra steps. Wrap your freshly oiled blades and combs in an oil-soaked cloth or place them in a dedicated blade case. This provides an extra barrier against humidity. Give the handpiece and motor housing a final wipe-down to remove any grime.

Find a storage spot that is clean, dry, and not subject to extreme temperature swings. A tool chest in a workshop or a shelf in a utility room is a far better choice than an unheated shed. When you pull your shears out next year, they’ll be in the same excellent condition you left them in, saving you the headache and expense of last-minute repairs during a busy season.

Ultimately, shearing machine maintenance is about being proactive rather than reactive. By integrating these simple habits into your routine, you transform shearing from a potential source of frustration into a smooth, efficient, and low-stress task. Reliable tools are the backbone of a successful small farm, and a well-maintained shearer is a partner you can count on year after year.