oughtsix
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2009
- Messages
- 94
- Location
- Redmond, Oregon
- Tractor
- '58 Fordson New major, BCS 735 & 715
Next Sunday I will be picking up a BCS 948 with a bad Honda GX390, tiller attachment (33" I believe) and a brush cutter for $1000. I have been investigating options for a replacement engine:
1) Rebuild the Honda GX390 - 69lb
2) Harbor freight 420cc 13hp Predator engine - 76lb - $389
3) Harbor Freight 450cc 15hp Predator engine - 80lb - $499
4) Harbor Freight 670cc 22hp V-Twin - 110lb - $999
5) Chinese Diesel engine - 406cc 10hp - 96lb (shipping weight others are actual weight.) - $630
My first thought was the Chinese 406cc Diesel but it is quite a bit more of an unknown quantity and I also am very nervous about all the extra vibration from a single cylinder diesel. I am sure the torque would be fabulous to have though.
The HF 420cc I am currently running is really nice and the extra power over the Honda GX390 is very noticeable with the snow blower. It rarely bogs down like the Honda did (which is what probably killed my Honda GX390).
For $110 more I am really thinking the 450CC Predator is the way to go. A bit more power is always a good thing! One of the things I love about bigger engines is that I can run them at a slower RPM while tilling and they don't bog down due to being at part throttle. The high tine speed is nice sometimes but it is also REALLY nice to have a lower tine speed sometimes, especially when breaking ground.
I fear that the 22hp V-Twin will be too much for the tractor and liable to to cause something to break. I really cherish the idea of the smoothness of a V-Twin though and being able to run it at a very low speed and still have enough torque to get the job done sounds VERY tempting. I also like the idea of running an engine at a fraction of its rated power rather than full out for stuff like snow removal.
I have 5 acres with 1 acre vegetable garden. I use the 28" snow blower a few times a year after a heavy storm as my main snow removal. I look forwards to finally having a brush mower to tame some overgrown spots on the property. I do not do any work for hire or do any commercial work with my BCS. Fuel usage isn't really a concern for me.
What do you guys think?
P.S. I have had a BCS tractor with locking diff and wheel brakes for about 30 years now. When I bought it is was already ancient and no BCS repair person has been able to identify it from the model number stamped on it (Very old Italian tractor). I replaced the 10hp ACME with a Honda GX390 decades ago (with the adapter and a new clutch) then again with a HF Predator 420cc 13hp, which is really nice, a few years ago. But the whole tractor is getting VERY old. The threaded lug for retaining the tiller blades to the tiller drive shaft on my tiller attachment broke many years ago and I replaced it with a tiller from a 715 with a dead acme (which I also have the rest of stashed in a shed). My 28" Snow blower attachment is quite a bit newer and I am currently using a spline to 3 dog adapter. The 948 should have the 3 dog adapter and it looks like it comes with a quick connect.
1) Rebuild the Honda GX390 - 69lb
2) Harbor freight 420cc 13hp Predator engine - 76lb - $389
3) Harbor Freight 450cc 15hp Predator engine - 80lb - $499
4) Harbor Freight 670cc 22hp V-Twin - 110lb - $999
5) Chinese Diesel engine - 406cc 10hp - 96lb (shipping weight others are actual weight.) - $630
My first thought was the Chinese 406cc Diesel but it is quite a bit more of an unknown quantity and I also am very nervous about all the extra vibration from a single cylinder diesel. I am sure the torque would be fabulous to have though.
The HF 420cc I am currently running is really nice and the extra power over the Honda GX390 is very noticeable with the snow blower. It rarely bogs down like the Honda did (which is what probably killed my Honda GX390).
For $110 more I am really thinking the 450CC Predator is the way to go. A bit more power is always a good thing! One of the things I love about bigger engines is that I can run them at a slower RPM while tilling and they don't bog down due to being at part throttle. The high tine speed is nice sometimes but it is also REALLY nice to have a lower tine speed sometimes, especially when breaking ground.
I fear that the 22hp V-Twin will be too much for the tractor and liable to to cause something to break. I really cherish the idea of the smoothness of a V-Twin though and being able to run it at a very low speed and still have enough torque to get the job done sounds VERY tempting. I also like the idea of running an engine at a fraction of its rated power rather than full out for stuff like snow removal.
I have 5 acres with 1 acre vegetable garden. I use the 28" snow blower a few times a year after a heavy storm as my main snow removal. I look forwards to finally having a brush mower to tame some overgrown spots on the property. I do not do any work for hire or do any commercial work with my BCS. Fuel usage isn't really a concern for me.
What do you guys think?
P.S. I have had a BCS tractor with locking diff and wheel brakes for about 30 years now. When I bought it is was already ancient and no BCS repair person has been able to identify it from the model number stamped on it (Very old Italian tractor). I replaced the 10hp ACME with a Honda GX390 decades ago (with the adapter and a new clutch) then again with a HF Predator 420cc 13hp, which is really nice, a few years ago. But the whole tractor is getting VERY old. The threaded lug for retaining the tiller blades to the tiller drive shaft on my tiller attachment broke many years ago and I replaced it with a tiller from a 715 with a dead acme (which I also have the rest of stashed in a shed). My 28" Snow blower attachment is quite a bit newer and I am currently using a spline to 3 dog adapter. The 948 should have the 3 dog adapter and it looks like it comes with a quick connect.
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