BCS 853 Differential Question

DLVinCT · Mar 10, 2013

I am about to purchase a BCS 853 diesel. The description states it has a "standard differential with differential lock". What does this mean? How is this different than the smaller models that have "none"? The two implements that I will be using most are a lawn mower and snow thrower.

On a similar note: What are the "steering brakes"? Are these just independent brake levers? One for each wheel?

Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks

BTW - great forum!

farmerboybill · Mar 10, 2013

Welcome to the group and congrats on looking at buying a very good machine.

The 853 has a lever that locks and unlocks the wheels. With them unlocked, the machine only drives one wheel, making for very easy turning and maneuvering. With them locked, both are providing pulling power (or hold-back in the case of running a tiller), giving better traction. This is a very useful feature for both your requirements - mowing and blowing snow.

The "smaller" models have a solid axle. Both wheels spin full-time, making for good traction, but making it harder to maneuver. BTW, the smaller models are just as durable. They just have fewer features.

Steering brakes are just as you described - one lever for each wheel. They are most used for "holding" a hillside while mowing. As you mow along a hillside, the machine is inclined to want to turn downhill. Trying to keep it going in a straight path by manipulating the handlebars can be very tiring. To keep it going along the hillside, you "ride" the uphill brake. This creates drag on the uphill wheel and makes the differential put the power to the downhill wheel, allowing you to "hold" the hill with less effort. They also help you to make sharp corners while mowing on flat ground. As you come to a corner , you squeeze the inside brake and the machine will turn sharper, faster. Other than those uses, the steering brakes usually go unused.

Let us know how your purchase goes.

DLVinCT · Mar 10, 2013

Thanks for the response. These features make sense to me. I don't think my applications would work without them. I'll let you know how it goes. Just waiting to hear from the accountant.

leonz · Mar 10, 2013

DLVinCT said:
Thanks for the response. These features make sense to me. I don't think my applications would work without them. I'll let you know how it goes. Just waiting to hear from the accountant.

About your mower purchase; you should invest in the flailmower rather than the rotary mower as it will mow much more effectively for you and it will also be a safer way to mow as it will not throw anything if it impacts it making it a missle.

The other issue is the flail mower will not leave clippings as it will shred the clippings very finely and they will decompose very quickly. The flail mower will also stripe your lawn at no extra charge.

You will also be able to mow when the grass is wetor damp if desired which you cannot do very well with a rotary mower.

DLVinCT · Mar 10, 2013

leonz said:
About your mower purchase; you should invest in the flailmower rather than the rotary mower as it will mow much more effectively for you and it will also be a safer way to mow as it will not throw anything if it impacts it making it a missle.

The other issue is the flail mower will not leave clippings as it will shred the clippings very finely and they will decompose very quickly. The flail mower will also stripe your lawn at no extra charge.

You will also be able to mow when the grass is wetor damp if desired which you cannot do very well with a rotary mower.

Really!? I just need a lawn mower for now. No brush or anything just normal grass. Does a flail give a good finish cut?

farmerboybill · Mar 10, 2013

The flail mower is a more versatile tool versus a finish mower, and it does a fairly good job mowing lawn. However, it isn't gonna do quite as good as a purpose built lawn mower. The flail mower really shines in garden cleanup (mowing your spent sweet corn patch, frost killed tomatoes, exhausted squash on site), cleaning up patches of ground that have brush up to 3/4 inch, and making paths through woody areas. If you aren't concerned about a perfectly mowed lawn and think you have use for it for the other reasons in the future, the Berta Franco 26 inch flail mower is very hard to beat.

leonz · Mar 10, 2013

DLVinCT said:
Really!? I just need a lawn mower for now. No brush or anything just normal grass. Does a flail give a good finish cut?

If you purchase a finish flailmower attachment with a high knive count flail mower rotor you will have great lawn.

DLVinCT · Mar 10, 2013

leonz said:
If you purchase a finish flailmower attachment with a high knive count flail mower rotor you will have great lawn.

Who makes one?

mpapiary · Mar 10, 2013

I have both a Berta Flail mower & the 38" BCS finish mower. The Berta is heavier and more versatile, but doesn't leave nearly as nice of a cut as the 38" BCS finish mower. To be honest I have never had a mower (and there have been a bunch!) that does as nice a job on my lawn as the BCS. I would highly recommend either implement, but if your just cutting the lawn go for the finsh mower.

BCSSHOP · Mar 18, 2013

To DLVinCT:

It has been a recent suggestion from BCS that the 38" finish mower, the 30" HD mower be run with the tractors with the hydraulic clutches. These mowers have brakes to stop the blades which have to be overcome every time the mower is started. This would suggest the 740 or 749 tractor to get the steering brakes if you are going to need to start the mower running frequently. When the mowing season starts I'm going to use the 739 as I personally don't use steering brakes. Where I have slopes I find it is better to just lock the differential. The uphill steering brake is pretty useless. I regularly mow across slopes near streams up to 30 degree slope.

The 749 comes standard with 6.5x12 wheels and tires but the new mowers specify 5x10 wheels and tires. The taller diesel engine on the 749 really needs the larger tires but it upsets the cutting angle on both mowers. My suggest following the BCS recommendation is to get the BCS 740 over the 853 for heavy usage with both mowers.

While there are some on this forum that say the hydraulic clutch is unproven (in the US) but the standard friction clutch has proven unreliable in heavy usage of these mowers. I trust the BCS 20,000 cycle testing on the new hydraulic system.

I agree with mpapiary that the cutting quality of the 38" mower is excellent. I just wish my lawn was smooth enough to show off the cut quality.

Jens767 · Mar 19, 2013

Hi John

Perhaps I got it wrong, but if the BCS 749 is basically an "Americanized" BCS 740 with a few changes to for instance the handlebars, I would expect it to come with 5"x10" wheels as standard?

I have no experience with the BCS 38" mower, but on the somewhat similar Zanon 33" mower, there is a feature on the PTO flange, allowing you to adjust the deck - within limits - to run parallel to the ground with different cutting heights and wheel sizes.

Best regards

Jens

BCSSHOP · Mar 19, 2013

Hello Jens,

The BCS 749 is sold in the US only with the 10.3 Kohler diesel engine and comes with 6.5x12 wheels and tires. I have one in my shop. The smaller wheels are ok for running a fixed deck mower like the 38" mower but the diesel engine is taller and mounted farther forward than on the 853. This makes the engine want to plow in the dirt when turning the tiller or rotary plow so the diesels is sold in the US are now fitted with 6.5x12 wheels and tires. BCS built different models of the 38" and 30" mowers for 10" or 12" wheels. The 749 will run without the wheel extensions but there is very little clearance between the tire and engine and batter box. The 853 diesel require the fixed wheel extension for the tire to clear the diesel engine.

Thanks Jens, I appreciate your positive contributions to this forum. It's been 18 years since I visited your country. Time to revisit.

PGC · Apr 5, 2013

I have that same set up. Make sure that they mount the steering brakes in mowing configuration otherwise your left brake will actually turn the machine to the right.

PGC · Apr 5, 2013

By the way if you are comparing this set up to a commercial mower (Toro, John Deere, etc) you are going to be disappointed. They simply do not compare to a dedicated commercial mower.

DLVinCT · Apr 5, 2013

I did receive my 853 last week. In "mowing mode" the brake levers are correct for left and right. I am not a commercial mower. Just a home owner with a decent sized lot and likes nice toys.

farmerboybill · Apr 5, 2013

Hey DLV,

Have you had much time behind it yet? How do you like it?

DLVinCT · Apr 5, 2013

I have not been able to really put any time behind it yet. I got everything hooked up and played in the yard a little but it won't be grass cutting season here for 2 to 3 weeks. It is an absolutely beautiful piece of machinery. The 853, the zanon mower, and the berta snow thrower. Each one is nicer than the next. Great quality.

You know it's a sad statement when people here in the US have to by foreign equipment if they really want quality and are willing to pay. The residential grade stuff in the US is just crap. We seem to make excellent equipment for large scale farming but if you are a small scale or even a home owner your choices for quality are very limited. This 853 and the implements are built like the US should be building stuff. Good engineering, heavy duty, diesel, and high quality. There is a market for this stuff even though it comes at a cost.

wstr75 · Apr 6, 2013

DLV, congrats on your 853. I have an 853 with Zanon mower, too. I also used to live in Sandy Hook just off Toddy Hill Road. Sure wish I had the dark, loamy soil we had in our Sandy Hook yard. We have red clay here in central NC and probably as many rocks per cubic yard as we did in our Sandy Hook yard, just not rounded by glaciers like yours. We are so sorry for the tragedy that befell your community. We have many fond memories of our time there in the Newtown, Southbury, Brookfield area in the early 1980s.

DLVinCT · Apr 6, 2013

Toddy Hill. Wow that's close. I'm on New Lebbon. Used to live on Baldwin. I've live here in Newtown for just about 20 years (this is my second house in Newtown).

My kids were in the HS at the time - thank god. Terrible tragedy.

We'll see how she mows. Honestly I'm more excited to see how she throws snow. It seems that 6-8" of snow used to be a lot. Now the new "dumper" is 2'!!! We've gotten quite a few 6"+ snows in the last 5 years. Maybe the warming effect???

I'll keep you posted. Thanks for reaching out.

wstr75 · Apr 6, 2013

I flew into Hartford the Tuesday after your big storm in February and the GPS took me down Toddy Hill to the company I was visiting in Monroe. The snow was deeper than any storms when we were there. We drove on down to New Haven to meet another company and the snow was 40" deep there. Got to hand it to the CT DOT as the roads were passable and we never had a problem during our trip. Lot of front end loaders working those days.

We lived on Clearview Drive. The soil was awesome. The summer and fall time was great in CT, but I don't envy you the mud season you are undoubtedly experiencing at this time. It is 64 degrees here and I will be cutting the grass here in a few minutes.