BCS plastic bushings

[Big wheels are better]

I have a BCS 735 with a 8hp Honda GX240 replacement engine. I bought it with attachments from a small engine shop in western Washington state. They got it in trade for repairs. It had been sitting in the weather and I have no idea how long, or if it was near saltwater.

I’m in the process of reviving it and have some questions/observations.

1. The sulky wheel hubs don’t have bearings. They have bushings that it think are plastic.
2. The rotary mower deck (40 inch? 38 inch?) steering spindles have plastic bushings.
3. The rotary mower deck wheels don’t have bearings or bushings (aside from DIY aluminum).

Is all of that plastic normal? It seems out of place on such an otherwise stout machine. Any known sources for direct replacement upgrades to bearings?

 

[NibbanaFarm]

If they're OE BCS, then they're probably good.

 

[kx137]

I have a BCS 735 with a 8hp Honda GX240 replacement engine. I bought it with attachments from a small engine shop in western Washington state. They got it in trade for repairs. It had been sitting in the weather and I have no idea how long, or if it was near saltwater.

I’m in the process of reviving it and have some questions/observations.

1. The sulky wheel hubs don’t have bearings. They have bushings that it think are plastic.
2. The rotary mower deck (40 inch? 38 inch?) steering spindles have plastic bushings.
3. The rotary mower deck wheels don’t have bearings or bushings (aside from DIY aluminum).

Is all of that plastic normal? It seems out of place on such an otherwise stout machine. Any known sources for direct replacement upgrades to bearings?

Any update on what direction you decided to go? I have been researching buying a BCS machine b/c having an issue with the bushing on our husky tr317d tiller and the tine shaft bushing. Having to tear down the entire transmission for just a couple of bushings is ridiculous. Starting to look for a replacement tiller for my wife and want something serviceable with decent parts so we have been eying the BCS line. Your comment regarding the plastic bushings concerns me so I might just go for the Barreto. Hoping you were able to source and install some actual bearings in your wheel hub that seems cheap to use plastic bushings there but I know very little about these machines just doing the research rounds to determine which direction to go. Other than that would you recommend your BCS 735 if you were to do it all over again? Thanks!