BCS 749 and mowers

[Maine Hills]

Since this is the time of year many folks are considering purchasing two wheel tractors and implements I thought I'd start a thread with our experiences. I'll make several posts to keep the individual posts from becoming too long.

Two years ago we purchased a BCS 749 tractor, a BCS duplex 59" sickle bar mower, and a Berta 34" flail mower. Last year we added a BCS 32" rotary cutter. This year we added a BCS 30" tiller The tractor has am electric start Honda 13HP engine, optional 6.5x12 tires, and two pairs of wheel extensions. The BCS tractor and mowers were purchased to mow the portions of a former pasture which are too steep or rough for me to mow with a four wheel tractor, and also mow every other year an acre of wild blueberry "barrens" which is currently inaccessible to a four wheel tractor. The former pasture is are on a hillside in Maine with grades up to twenty five percent, along smaller, steeper embankments, bumps and holes. The soil is full of rocks, and has numerous wet areas. The area mowed about five acres. The sickle bar mower was used for the most of the mowing which was grasses and similar vegetation from three to six feet tall in open spaces. The flail mower was used for clearing brush and mowing in more confined spaces, including the bottom of a drainage ditch. The tiller will be used to prepare plots and beds for planting, and also to loosen soil prior to smoothing in areas which are rutted or have large humps.

We decided on the 749 because we wanted a differential, individual wheel brakes, and an engine powerful enough for the 34" flail mower and the 59" sickle bar mower. A fourth "transport" speed was not a consideration for us as the land is steeper than I'd want to ride behind the tractor on a cart or sulky. That narrowed the choice to the BCS 852/853 with dry clutch, and the BCS 749 with the "Powersafe" hydraulic clutch. At the time of purchase Diesel engines were still available but we quickly decided on the Honda gasoline engine due to lower initial cost, much lower replacement cost if needed, and less weight on the back when the tractor is used for mowing. The tractor decision for use came down to the BCS 853 with the dry clutch, or the BCS 749 with the Powersafe wet clutch, both with the 13 HP Honda gasoline engine . We decided to go with the 749 with the Powersafe though I expect either would have been fine for us.

 

[Maine Hills]

We've been very satisfied with the Powersafe clutch. The clutch engages smoothly by just releasing the clutch lever. It's nice to be able to let go of the left handlebar and have the engine continue to run. The brake which is applied when the clutch is disengaged and stops the tractor has been useful, particularly when the tractor is pointed up or down a slope. Since we don't ride behind the tractor the inability to coast in not a issue. The sequence of squeezing the clutch lever, pushing down on the red safety lever, then releasing the clutch handle to engage the clutch after the red safety lever has been released to a little while to internalize, but is now done without thinking about it. "Feathering" the clutch to facilitate shifting into a gear or engaging the PTO when the teeth don't line up initially takes a bit of practice but I've gotten used to it. The only problem we've had was with the factory fill oil in the Powersafe there would be a high pitched whine after starting in very cold weather until the unit began to warm up. A switch to Kubota Super UDT which is a synthetic blend eliminated the whine.

 

[Maine Hills]

The differential makes turning and maneuvering much easier. Locking the differential assists with keeping the mower headed straight across the hills.

The larger, optional 6.5x12 wheels and tires rather than the standard 5x10 have proven to be the absolutely right choice for mowing on our property given the many ruts, lumps and bumps and rocks. The increased ground clearance under the tractor transmission keeps it from grounding out, and the larger diameter tires provide a smoother "ride" and less resistance over bumps and rocks. One area has some deep ruts caused by a 4 wheel tractor previously mowing when the area was very wet, which The 6.5x12 tires are barely adequate to traverse over. We had initially thought we might need dual tires due to the wet areas, but so far the single tires have not caused any noticeable ruts.

Two pairs of wheel extensions were installed for a 10" increase in track. The distance across the outside of the 6.5x12 tires is approximately 31", which fits inside the cut area of both mowers. The stability on side slopes is significantly increased, and the wider track also has helps keep the tractor upright when a tire drops over the edge of an embankments hidden by tall grass and dense vegetation. The two wheel extensions on each side increase the space between the inside of the tires and the transmission. Several times when I first mowed tall grass (up to six feet) with the sickle bar mower, grass wrapped tightly around the wheel extensions. I learned to keep an eye on the wheel extensions, and as soon as grass starts to wrap to take action to stop it from wrapping. Frequently some I can simply step forward on the grass and the grass pulls free. Occasionally I need to back up a couple of feet and the grass unwraps . Since I started watching for the grass to wrap I've only needed stop and unwrap it by hand a couple of times. I consider the wheel extensions essential for mowing on our hills and embankments.

 

[Ford850]

This is a very nice review. Thanks!

 

[Maine Hills]

Sickle bar, flail mower and brush cutter review posted at http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/2-wheeled-tractors/394833-mower-comparison-sickle-bar-flail.html

 

[Maine Hills]

Bumped thread since it's prime equipment buying season. No changes to the review.

 

[Jens767]

Hi Maine Hills

I have a BCS 740 which I mainly uses for mowing, so I have read your posts with great interest. I got my tractor in the summer of 2011, and after more than 200 hours on the clock now, I fully agree with your comments on the PowerSafe clutch. From an operators point of view, I am very pleased with the way it works.

Like you, I have also put the larger 6.5x12x23'' wheels on my tractor. Perhaps you were wiser than I when you ordered your tractor, and got it with the larger wheels from the beginning? If not, you probably have a pair of 5x10x20'' wheels lying around doing nothing, like I did? If you have the smaller wheels too, you might consider using them as duals, like I have done for more than 4 years now. If you are interested, you can find more details in the thread "Zanon ZCR 800 lawn mower", post #16.


Best regards

Jens

 

[Maine Hills]

We purchased the larger 6.5x12x23 tires with the tractor, and those are the only wheels and tires we have for the BCS. Two sets of spacers are installed for about 30" width across the outside of the tires. No problems with overturning on hill side.