Any experience using a BCS walk behind on 7 acres?

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Would like real life experience using BCS walk behind machinery to farm a 7 acre farmstead. What are pluses and minuses for using BCS models 830 or 850 (may be 8 or 9 HP), or 946 or 946 (may be 13 HP)? Can it be successfully done. What are the challengers. What attachments do you recommend for farming this size effort? What attachments are most useful. What attachments are not worth the cost. Have you used the sulkey to ride during mowing? Is the snowblower useful? Do you use the trailer attachment? Are you happy with the BCS?

-- Daniel E. Brannen (Dan.Brannen@raytheon.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

I don't have a BCS but it might help if you list what you'll be doing besides mowing. I've got a similar tractor.

The BCS is probably the most capable walking tractor with the largest dealer network for that type of walking tractor in the US. Since it comes from Italy there are many more attachments available for the machine than BCS normally catalogs.

A 13hp European walking tractor makes a Troy-bilt look like a toy. They're designed for farmers with small acreages that make a living off that land.

There are earlier posts here that discuss walking tractors including links to a company in California that imports other brands including ones that are powered by a diesel engine. That would also be a source for the attachments that BCS doesn't import.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), February 15, 2002.


I would like to till, move snow (possibly with a blade and maybe a snowblower), mow (weeds, green manure, vegetation, etc.), move things around the land with the trailer (possibly), possibly till between planted rows, etc. I'm on a learning curve as you can see.

-- Daniel E. Brannen (dan.brannen@raytheon.com), February 15, 2002.

Actually, the maximum tillable area of out land is more like 5 acres than 7 acres

-- Daniel E. Brannen (Dan.Brannen@raytheon.com), February 15, 2002.

I posted about the BCS vs. Troy-bilt. Several years ago I spoke to a dealer for BCS that I did business with. I already had the Troy-bilt but, was thinking after reading about BCS I would like that instead. Dealer told me "Don't do it! They have a lot of mechanical problems! Keep your Troy-bilt.". I used 13 hp Troy-bilt Horse model on 2 acres easily. I do hope owners of BCS will come forward and posted about their experiences with the BCS! I would be interested in hearing about them.

-- Katie S (cashcrop90@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

I am a small farmer (13 acres). I had a Small Farm Day at my farm. I invited the University of Kentucky to make the presentations for small farm technology. At the show they had BCS equipment. All those that attended were welcome to try the equipment. I was so impressed by the equipment that I became a dealer.

I bought a model 850 with a Briggs & Stratton engine (a tiller comes with that), a bush hog, cultivator, dozer blade, sickle bar, hay rake and round baler. I grow row crops and hay.

I love my BCS and use it daily. I have never had any mechanical problems with any of the equipment.

There are many more attachments available. Contact me if you would like further information or brochures.

-- Shannon Kington (kington@duo-county.com), February 15, 2002.



My husband sent an answer but, in my opinion, he left out the most important part. I am an older lady of slight stature. I can operate this equipment with ease, and unlike the big tractor, I don't need his help to hook up the implements.

I especially like the round baler. When I first saw the bales I thought they were SOOOO cute! And they are cute but they are also convenient. They measure 2'x2' and weigh about 45 lbs. (same volume as a square bale. I can lift them and carry them anywhere. Makes feeding a breeze.

My husband baled 1 1/2 acres for a fellow this fall (all weeds, absolutely no food value). The fellow was going to take these to Lexington to sell for Halloween decorations. He got about 10 miles from his house to stop for gas. While at the gas station people were wanting to buy the bales. He sold 135 bales at $6.00 each. Can you imagine, sold all the bales right there. We can only get $2.50 for good hay.

We live in southcentral Kentucky, the terrain is quite varied on our farm, but the tractor takes it all in stride.

-- Carole Kington (Kington@duo-county.com), February 15, 2002.


OK wait a sec who said weeds had no feed value!!! They certainly do the only problem with "weeds" is palatability, goats and sheep love them and they can be as good as alfalfa. Now Daniel didn't I tell you this board would know about walk behind tractors? I'm going to get a walk behind (??) going by replacing the engine, guess I should take a picture of it to see if anyone recognises it, I have no idea who made it.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), February 15, 2002.

I found the BCS home page ( http://www.bcs-america.com/ ) but do not see anything about the round baler. (There web site is kinda sparse, actually.) I'm used to the 4x6' & 6x6' round balers on a 100 hp tractor. I would just _love_ to see a pic of the baler or how it works!

(PS: I'm not in the market, so don't waste valuble sales dollars on me....)

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.


I don't know anything about BCS but Gravely makes a walk behind too with alot of attachments. What I like about Gravely is you can find old, used attachments for pretty cheap but if you go the Gravely route I would recommend you get a later model with a Kohler engine.

Ross: Could you walk behind be a Gravely? VERY heavy, cast iron everything? or maybe a David Bradley?

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), February 16, 2002.


I've owned a couple of BCS tractors and loved em. I used them for tilling and hauling out firewood. Never had a bit of trouble with either of them. Knew someone who had the snowthrower attachment and he saie it worked well. It was a single stage thrower I believe. In between the time I owned the BCS tillers I bought a Troybilt. Used it for two days and sold it. It was much harder to handle than the BCS, its' time speed much slower and the fact the tines turned when transporting it was to cure me of Troybilts. Of course thats just my opinion. Have fun Daniel

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.


You will not find any of the attachments on the web, they cater mostly to the home gardener. Myself and my partner are the only dealers in the US that import implements. They have just come out with a rotary plow, which is designer to disturb the soil less.

We will put any engine on the machine when you buy it.

The round baler looks just like a large round baler just minature in size. Instead of tying with twine it wraps with mesh.

The weeds here in Kentucky are fierce. Most of the weeds our goats won't even eat. Now you know goats are not particular, BUT.

-- Shannon Kington (kington@duo-county.com), February 16, 2002.


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