Grillo and BCS

[ecolbeck]

I have a BCS 730 with 8hp kohler magnum and older spline shaft sickle bar and snowblower which I use with an adapter.

I am looking to buy a Grillo 85d which I want for its 10hp kohler command pro and locking differential.

I want to confirm that I can use the BCS sickle mower as is on the Grillo tractor and the snowblower with special adapter from Earth Tools.

 

[anomad]

I'm no expert, but the ET FAQ page Frequently Asked Questions - Earth Tools #17 says sickle bars should work with both BCS and Crickets. If a suitable adapter is available.

..."Therefore, the only mowers that can be interchanged are the cutter (sickle) bar mowers – which have reciprocating blades, so they don’t care which way the PTO turns."...

Might be worth a look for you. Good luck.

 

[ecolbeck]

I'm no expert, but the ET FAQ page Frequently Asked Questions - Earth Tools #17 says sickle bars should work with both BCS and Crickets. If a suitable adapter is available.

..."Therefore, the only mowers that can be interchanged are the cutter (sickle) bar mowers – which have reciprocating blades, so they don’t care which way the PTO turns."...

Might be worth a look for you. Good luck.

Yes, thank you, I did go there first. The website info seems contradictory. It appears that they sell a specific adapter for snowblowers but when I called the guy I talked to was unfamiliar with the issue and suggest I call back later.

 

[Jrasband]

Call Joel and ask, he would know.

 

[Jens767]

Hi ecolbeck

Joel from Earth Tools is definitely the one to call, as he has a livelong experience with both the BCS and Grillo brands.

Have you considered buying a BCS 732 instead of a Grillo G85D? That tractor would also give you the 10 HP Kohler engine and the lockable differential that you are looking for, and you wouldn’t have to worry about more adapters than the one you have already.

As Joel points out in FAQ #17, you can usually have an adapter if the tractor and implement has a different PTO flange/shaft, „if the PTO shaft turns in the proper direction!“ This is the reason that you can use your BCS 730 with the older spline sickle bar mower and snowblower, as both tractor and implements are build for a clockwise rotating PTO shaft (clockwise, when looking at it head-on).

As Joel also points out, that when working with a rear-PTO implement there are no problems, as both tractor brands have a clockwise rotating PTO. When using front-PTO implements though, the PTO on the Grillo will rotate counter-clockwise! As there is no adapter available that will change the direction in witch the PTO will rotate, most implements can’t be switched between BCS and Grillo tractors. The only exception is probably the sickle bar mower.

So, going back to your original post, I think that you will be able to use your sickle bar mower with a Grillo tractor, as it doesn’t care which way the PTO turns, but you will not be able to use your snowblower, as the auger and impeller will turn in the wrong direction

I also think that you might get some additional information by reading Joels FAQ #12 and #18, if you haven’t done so already.


Best regards

Jens

 

[ecolbeck]

Hi ecolbeck

Joel from Earth Tools is definitely the one to call, as he has a livelong experience with both the BCS and Grillo brands.

Have you considered buying a BCS 732 instead of a Grillo G85D? That tractor would also give you the 10 HP Kohler engine and the lockable differential that you are looking for, and you wouldn’t have to worry about more adapters than the one you have already.

As Joel points out in FAQ #17, you can usually have an adapter if the tractor and implement has a different PTO flange/shaft, „if the PTO shaft turns in the proper direction!“ This is the reason that you can use your BCS 730 with the older spline sickle bar mower and snowblower, as both tractor and implements are build for a clockwise rotating PTO shaft (clockwise, when looking at it head-on).

As Joel also points out, that when working with a rear-PTO implement there are no problems, as both tractor brands have a clockwise rotating PTO. When using front-PTO implements though, the PTO on the Grillo will rotate counter-clockwise! As there is no adapter available that will change the direction in witch the PTO will rotate, most implements can’t be switched between BCS and Grillo tractors. The only exception is probably the sickle bar mower.

So, going back to your original post, I think that you will be able to use your sickle bar mower with a Grillo tractor, as it doesn’t care which way the PTO turns, but you will not be able to use your snowblower, as the auger and impeller will turn in the wrong direction

I also think that you might get some additional information by reading Joels FAQ #12 and #18, if you haven’t done so already.


Best regards

Jens

Thanks for your reply. I have indeed been on the lookout for a 732. However I ran across a Grillo 85d tractor and learned about its equivalence to and some advantages over the 732.

 

[Jens767]

Hi again ecolbeck

As in so many other situations, one also has a number of different brands to choose from when it comes to 2-wheel tractors. Especially if you don’t have one already, or have implements, that has to fit both the old and the new tractor.

You have a BCS 730 already, so adding a second brand won’t make your life easier I think

I have seen more than a dozen of different brands living and traveling in Europe, but in this forum, it seems that BCS and Grillo are by far the most popular brands. As I was looking for a 2-wheel tractor 15 years ago, I quickly learned, that the German brands are probably better quality than most, but they are way to expensive to most of us. - Especially if you have to pay full price and sales tax, and can’t deduct a cent

If I understand you right, you have learned about some advantages that the Grillo G85D has over the BCS 732? I have no experience with either model, but would be curious to hear your thoughts.

I’m not trying to sell you either one, but if your main jobs are with a sickle bar mower and a snowblower, you should perhaps read Joels information once again before deciding:

Grillo G85D - 9 or 10HP - Earth Tools

As I read Joels information on the Grillo G85D, it is excellent for soil working applications, and for some front-PTO applications, that do not require a hight ground speed.

Depending on the kind of mowing that you are doing with your sickle bar mower, both the Grillo G85D and the BCS 732 will give you a speed of way less than 1 mph at less than half throttle in 2nd gear.


Best regards

Jens

 

[ecolbeck]

Hi again ecolbeck

As in so many other situations, one also has a number of different brands to choose from when it comes to 2-wheel tractors. Especially if you don’t have one already, or have implements, that has to fit both the old and the new tractor.

You have a BCS 730 already, so adding a second brand won’t make your life easier I think

I have seen more than a dozen of different brands living and traveling in Europe, but in this forum, it seems that BCS and Grillo are by far the most popular brands. As I was looking for a 2-wheel tractor 15 years ago, I quickly learned, that the German brands are probably better quality than most, but they are way to expensive to most of us. - Especially if you have to pay full price and sales tax, and can’t deduct a cent

If I understand you right, you have learned about some advantages that the Grillo G85D has over the BCS 732? I have no experience with either model, but would be curious to hear your thoughts.

I’m not trying to sell you either one, but if your main jobs are with a sickle bar mower and a snowblower, you should perhaps read Joels information once again before deciding:

Grillo G85D - 9 or 10HP - Earth Tools

As I read Joels information on the Grillo G85D, it is excellent for soil working applications, and for some front-PTO applications, that do not require a hight ground speed.

Depending on the kind of mowing that you are doing with your sickle bar mower, both the Grillo G85D and the BCS 732 will give you a speed of way less than 1 mph at less than half throttle in 2nd gear.


Best regards

Jens

I learned of the advantages of Grillo by reading the BCS/Grillo comparison page on EarthTools.

I only mow 1/2 an acre once per year so upgrading to a 3 speed tractor is not worth it.