BCS 830 Tiller Handle bar problem.

oldtelephone · Dec 29, 2008

I have found with the rich soil I have here that when tilling the handle bars are too low. This is when the adjustment is all the way up. Has anyone else ever had this problem? After a good close look and a bit of studing I can drill a new set of holes in the base of the handle bar frame (Factory there is a slotted hole for some adjustment) to raise the whole handle bar unit or I can cut off the gear (this is at the base of the handle bars)that allows the handle bars to adjust and reweld them back at a better angle for my use. Anyone have a better or another idea? Also has anyone added a battery bracket? would anyone have a used one of be able to send me some picture of theirs? Paul@BackYardProduce.com or post them here!

farmerboybill · Dec 29, 2008

Hey Paul,

I'm gonna ask an obvious question - you know there's an adjustment lever on the steering column between the handlebars, right? I haven't tilled with my new-to-me 850 yet because I got it at the beginning of December and have only used it on the dozer blade and snow blower. The adjustment I mentioned goes quite a ways up and down. I can't believe the 850 wasn't designed for tall people while in the ground. Seems torching and welding is a bit extreme.

I'll post pics tonight or tomorrow of the adjustment and pics of the battery box on mine. You can see pics of it set up to move snow under my posting titled "My new-to-me 850"

Bill in WI

farmerboybill · Dec 29, 2008

oldtelephone · Dec 30, 2008

Some good pictures of the battery box be great! The BCS 830 has been adjusted to the limit and is still too low for me. I till preseason with a Howard rotatavator on my New Holland tractor and I can bury it to about 12"-16". I till between the rows with the BCS and it will easy go 6-8" deep. I spend most of my time and effort lifting the tiller so it will gain traction with the tires and move forward. Please do not suggest wheel weights as it is the tine guard that is plowing the dirt and slowing up the tiller. The best fix will be to rework a tiller attachment and enlarge the diameter of the tiller but that is better saved for another winter project.

Above are the points I would like to re-weld or drill to lift the handle bars. Any thoughts?
I am also looking for a 830 for parts. I need a battery box, Tiller Attachment.
Let me know Paul@BackYardProduce.com
Also looking to by a 850 or 852 or 853
Stop by and see the projects I am working on for this winter

farmerboybill · Dec 30, 2008

Another hole wouldn't hurt anything. I'd drill the hole and see if you're happy with it. That'd be a little less permanent than cutting off the handlebars and welding them on different.

Here are the pics of the battery box. It mounts on four bolts at the transmission housing and the bracket that holds the clutch cable. It'll make it a bear to adjust the clutch, but that's stock.

I went on needlawnmowerparts.com and put in the part numbers off my parts list. They're around 60 bucks depending which one you need.

Let me know if you need more pics.

terraced gardens · Jan 2, 2009

The easiest thing for you to do would be to just drill another set of holes below the adjusting slot.

It seems to me that tilling 6 inches deep between the rows is a bit much? You are cutting off a lot of roots and putting your crops under stress.

I have found that tilling in a higher gear helps keep the tiller from going so deep.

Udder · Jan 2, 2009

I second "terraced gardens'" opinion. I question why you're burying the tiller so deep in the first place. As you say, it's already been rotovated in the spring, so all you should need is a quick, shallow 'till to "skim" off the weeds between the crops, right?

Doesn't the depth guide on the 'tiller work for you? (it might not if you're soil is very soft). If that's the case and the depth guide doesn't work, maybe you should experiment with front-mounted weight to help balance the machine and help you lift the rear end up when it gets in too deep.

oldtelephone · Feb 24, 2009

I use the tiller to till under crops that I need to return to the earth. I usually takes a couple of passes and this makes the ground nice and fluffy. Plus I am a little taller than the average and I hate bending over! I had the tiller out today just trying the soil. A little damp here yet but it will not be long! I can't Wait!