BCS 718 or 850

[Hiptfarms]

Just wanted y'all's opinions. I'm considering two different machines. One is a 718 that is 5 years old. Comes with a tiller attachment. The other is a 16 year old 850 that has a tiller and a lawn mower deck which is something I don't want. It is twice as much as the other and 3 times the age. I'm looking to use a tiller in my garden and a sickle mower round my orchard and vineyard and under the edge of some high tensile pasture wire once or twice a year. I have a kubota m6800 that i will use to break ground (heavy clay soil) in the spring so I don't see me wanting a rotary plow in the future.

So my question is should I go cheaper and younger with less power or more expensive and older with more power? Also, how much do you guys think these machines should cost?

 

[farmerboybill]

Hands down, the 850. Two words - Locking differential. You're welcome.

Expect to pay around $1500 for the tractor, $350 for the tiller, and $800 for the mower. This of course assumes all items are in very good condition. This also assumes the mower is the 38 inch twin blade mower, not the side discharge 3 blade mower The 3 blade unit is worth closer to $300. If you decide to sell the mower, you should be able to get that back out of it. Take a little more off the tractor if it's the V-twin Briggs. It's a powerful, smooth running engine, but heavy and the carb likes to give trouble.

Make sure the handlebars swing around. I've come across many units that the steering column is frozen up. They can be knocked loose, but it usually requires disassembly of the column and a shop press.

 

[Hiptfarms]

Okay, Farmerboybill. Thanks for the advice. I have come to a price agreement with the owner of the 850. I'll be picking it up next week. I'll let y'all know how it goes.