BCS, another alternative

[PaulChristenson]

http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/index.html

http://www.bcsamerica.com/index.cqs

[PaulChristenson]

http://www.wikco.com/bcsfeaturesp.html
This page shows photos on the complete line of BCS Roto Tillers and accessories and attachments; this page may load slow. It is BIG...:D These photos are also shown on the various pages for each series of tiller.

Some of the stuff displayed maybe out of print...;)

[Brad]

Some of those units are beasts, aren't they? Other than large, heavy-duty tillers, I didn't know that these types of implements were available in such quality. Wonder if there is a substantial market for them.

[PaulChristenson]

Actually in Europe these ARE the tractors for some of the small plot farms...;)

Here in the states...real small vegetable ops, a couple of acre types, use them...:D

I switched over to one...to drop my need for separate powered little tiller, wood splitter, snow blower, lawn mower, flail mower for walking paths, and the real reason...the rideable trailer...:D

[wvbuzzmaster]

That is one very impressive 2-wheel tractor. If I didn't already have my arsenal of David Bradley 2-wheel tractors and large implement selection I would buy one. But for what David Bradley implements I lack, the Gravely 2-wheel tractor I have makes up for them.

[PaulChristenson]

http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/assets/images/722ghost.gif

[PaulChristenson]

http://home.earthlink.net/~bcsshop/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bcstransmission.jpg

[Simon Smith]

We look after a few of these, get through a lot of clutches and gearbox parts. Theye were bought by local water company to replace old Gravelys but the BCS machines are no match for them.

The BCS machines are now being replaced by Rapid machines, much better quality and now sold in the US badged as Gravelys.

[PaulChristenson]

We look after a few of these, get through a lot of clutches and gearbox parts. Theye were bought by local water company to replace old Gravelys but the BCS machines are no match for them.

The BCS machines are now being replaced by Rapid machines, much better quality and now sold in the US badged as Gravelys.

Well I have seen the Rapids, nice looking machines but oh the price, by the way these are 2007 prices because that's when I looked at them, $7500 for the smallest one and $14,000 for the larger models. I can't justify one at those prices, I can buy a regular tractor for the price of the larger machine...:(

[Ingersoll444]

I do like the turnable handles. Thats a great idea! Frankly its the tractor that Gravely SHOULD be making now, insted of those Zturns!

[D-Dogg]

Simon,
Would it be fair to say the BCS machines you've repaired for the water company had seen extreme service? How did the engines hold up.

When I was stationed in Germany, I saw these things pretty frequently in the country. They like small and compact over there - lots of small family farms still making a go.

I priced out a BCS 853, with tiller, rotary plow, lawn mower, (pretty much the works), to do everything I would need from both a lawn and garden machine. It came to about $10K.

I doubt one could get as much functionality in a new or used 4 wheeled tractor for $10K.

For example, I already have $2K into my new 21 year old JD 318 (on top of what I paid for it). The PTO and rear tiller (used) would cost me almost $1500, which would cover one of the smaller BCS tractors. Add a 3 point plow, harrow, and cultivator at $500 each and I'm rethinking my strategy.

Should I keep my small 38" weedeater rider for the lawn, turn my JD 318 into a utility tractor with a FEL and rear blade, and look at a BCS for the garden I'm planning? Decisions, decisions.

[Jr88Fan]

Well shucks. I was going to say an 8 team playoff.

[Simon Smith]

The water company has lots of machines, none of which work very hard. They were only used for grass cutting on the banks of the smaller reservoirs.

No problem with the engines at all, barely run in. Cone clutch rusts together if the machine gets wet, you must not pressure wash it. Clutch arm is flimsy and bends, had complaints that the pan mower deck didn't cut very well as it flattens the grass too much, cured by cuttting some of the deck away. Also had to replace some of the gears in two of the machines after only a couple of years. They had replaced Gravelys that had lasted 30+ years which we have since sold on and are still working.

Basically I wouldn't sell you one unless you were very determined.

[PaulChristenson]

The water company has lots of machines, none of which work very hard. They were only used for grass cutting on the banks of the smaller reservoirs.

No problem with the engines at all, barely run in. Cone clutch rusts together if the machine gets wet, you must not pressure wash it. Clutch arm is flimsy and bends, had complaints that the pan mower deck didn't cut very well as it flattens the grass too much, cured by cuttting some of the deck away. Also had to replace some of the gears in two of the machines after only a couple of years. They had replaced Gravelys that had lasted 30+ years which we have since sold on and are still working.

Basically I wouldn't sell you one unless you were very determined.

Well, obviously you have a serious dislike for the BCS system...;)

There is a note in the user manual not to leave the cone clutch engaged (so you pull the clutch lever in and lock it to keep the clutch open) when not in use...to avoid said problem of the clutch sticking...

The gears have a lifetime warranty...so you should have had your dealer fix them...unless it was a case of user abuse...;)

[Simon Smith]

We are the dealer :crybaby:

But have since sold Rapid machines to the Water Company, the oldest of these is now three years old and the only fault has been a slight oil leak from a hydraulic fitting, and a weeping oil cooler pipe.

Rapid are sold in the USA as Gravely now I believe. These are the machines most serious alpine smallholders use.

I think BCS would be fine for domestic use provided you dont get it wet (Its the gremlins you know:ROF ) but wouldn't recommend it for commercial work.

Oh and we don't get that lifetime warranty over here.

[js5020d]

Hmmm, Interesting points of view here on these,,, I have never heard anything but good reviews on the BCS,,, but I dont own one. What model might we be talking about Simon? I do however own a Gravely, its an older model a Com 12 and it is a very good and reliable machine even though its 33 years old. I was giving some thought to a replacement should it ever give up the ghost and came to the conclusion the the Gravely Rapid pricing is out of the park so to speak, a 2 wheeler with a start price of 8k is kinda insane in my opinion and thats for the small model,, the bigger models are at 14k,, wow! to say the least. They maybe the best darn machine out there, I dont know and never will find out with that kinda pricing. I could buy 2 BCS 800 series tractors for less than 1 Rapid, or 1 BCS an a TON of parts to keep it going. Not knockin the Gravely, just the pricing. Really interested in the model with all these problems since I havent heard anyone complain about a BCS, hate to buy a junker ya know.

[PaulChristenson]

We are the dealer :crybaby:

But have since sold Rapid machines to the Water Company, the oldest of these is now three years old and the only fault has been a slight oil leak from a hydraulic fitting, and a weeping oil cooler pipe.

Rapid are sold in the USA as Gravely now I believe. These are the machines most serious alpine smallholders use.

I think BCS would be fine for domestic use provided you dont get it wet (Its the gremlins you know:ROF ) but wouldn't recommend it for commercial work.

Oh and we don't get that lifetime warranty over here.

I would wonder if the Water Company has the same orangatangs operating the Rapids that were operating the BCS units...:D

Which BCS model(s) were they trashing?

[Simon Smith]

Th old Gravelys, the BCS machines and the new Rapids are all used by the same three crews. The machines were bank commanders. We also had to put a clutch in another customers 710 with rotavator attachment after it got pressure washed

[js5020d]

Thanks,,, dont think we have bank commanders here, and the 710 are a bit small for my tastes, might be a good size for a dedicated small tiller though. I think I will keep the old Gravely runnin for as long as there are parts available for it.

[wkmcgee]

I have a 725 BCS with an 8 HP Kohler engine, 30" tiller, sickle bar mower, chipper/shredder, and a rotary plow (THE most awesome attachment!!). I have a small farm in VA & grow for market in raised beds. The rotary plow can make a raised bed out of raw, hard ground in no time flat. I make 2 passes, add any amendments, then come back with the 30" tiller, one pass & it makes the most perfect seed bed. Just like fluff, with any amendments completely mixed in. We have clay soil in VA where I live & the rotary plow is an essential implement for a small farm. I will say, I am a 56 yr old woman, that is very active & relatively strong, but the BCS can give you a workout unless you figure out how to let it work for you. I will say, the spacing of the clutch handle is too ar apart for me to grip it comfortably. I do it, but I would love some advise on how I could lessen that distance. Someone told me to loosen the cable out some & it should loosen up the lever of the handle.
Wanda
I really love my Wheel Horse!!

[wkmcgee]

Hmmm, Interesting points of view here on these,,, I have never heard anything but good reviews on the BCS,,, but I dont own one. What model might we be talking about Simon? I do however own a Gravely, its an older model a Com 12 and it is a very good and reliable machine even though its 33 years old. I was giving some thought to a replacement should it ever give up the ghost and came to the conclusion the the Gravely Rapid pricing is out of the park so to speak, a 2 wheeler with a start price of 8k is kinda insane in my opinion and thats for the small model,, the bigger models are at 14k,, wow! to say the least. They maybe the best darn machine out there, I dont know and never will find out with that kinda pricing. I could buy 2 BCS 800 series tractors for less than 1 Rapid, or 1 BCS an a TON of parts to keep it going. Not knockin the Gravely, just the pricing. Really interested in the model with all these problems since I havent heard anyone complain about a BCS, hate to buy a junker ya know.

You can get the largest model that BCS makes for under $6K, brand new. Check this out.
http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/tractor_prices.html
Earth Tools is in KY & they often have used ones for sale. Check em out!
I bought mine off of eBay for $2,500, got the tractor, tiller, & sickle bar. mower.

[wkmcgee]

Hmmm, Interesting points of view here on these,,, I have never heard anything but good reviews on the BCS,,, but I dont own one. What model might we be talking about Simon? I do however own a Gravely, its an older model a Com 12 and it is a very good and reliable machine even though its 33 years old. I was giving some thought to a replacement should it ever give up the ghost and came to the conclusion the the Gravely Rapid pricing is out of the park so to speak, a 2 wheeler with a start price of 8k is kinda insane in my opinion and thats for the small model,, the bigger models are at 14k,, wow! to say the least. They maybe the best darn machine out there, I dont know and never will find out with that kinda pricing. I could buy 2 BCS 800 series tractors for less than 1 Rapid, or 1 BCS an a TON of parts to keep it going. Not knockin the Gravely, just the pricing. Really interested in the model with all these problems since I havent heard anyone complain about a BCS, hate to buy a junker ya know.

You can get the largest model that BCS makes for under $6K, brand new. Check this out.
http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/tractor_prices.html
Earth Tools is in KY & they often have used ones for sale. Check em out!
I bought mine off of eBay for $2,500, got the tractor, tiller, & sickle bar. mower.
Wanda

[wkmcgee]

You can get the largest model that BCS makes for under $6K, brand new. Check this out.
http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/tractor_prices.html
Earth Tools is in KY & they often have used ones for sale. Check em out!
I bought mine off of eBay for $2,300, got the tractor, tiller, & sickle bar. mower.
Wanda