Scooby074
Super Member
While at the JD dealer the other day, i noticed a nice new BCS 722 sitting in the corner, so blue being my favorite colour i had to investigate
Ive always been curious about BCS and reading online i understand that they are one of the best tillers out there. The BCS is appealing to me, due to the different attachments, which is why i began this thread.
Every year, i have to maintain 2-3 acres of brush. This is mostly saplings or alders varying in size from 1/2" to 2"+. These saplings are hardwood and grow in clusters of 5 or more stalks.
I usually rent a Billy Goat rough terrain mower for this, snd its a real workout. One if the problems is that the BG mower doesnt have the weight to push these clusters over, so i end up having to let the machine ride up the stalk till the blades dig in and cut it. Another MAJOR issue is that the back of the mower deck has a lip that constantly catches on the cut off stumps.
So some questions before i look more seriously at a BCS:
1.Is the BCS more comfortable to run then the Billy Goat? THe model i m considering is the 732. It has the steering breaks, are they helpful for brush mowing?
2. Does the mower deck clear the cut stalks easily?
3. Does it have the weight to push the clusters of stalks over? (of course the dealer says it will)
4.Would the flail be better to use for the type of cutting i do?
5. Can the flail handle "trees" or is it designed for grass? Will it catch on the cut stalks? I was hoping that the flail would let me "eat " my way through the clusters, kind of like a mulcher.
Now the prices in Canadian dollars:
722: 2900$
732: 3800
26" bush hog $1499
26 tiller $750
40 sickle 1500
Local dealer doesnt have a price for the flail.
I know form looking online that these prices are several hundred dollars per item over comparable items in the states.
Dealer says that there is no wiggle room on these prices. Also gave me some BS that if i could find it cheaper online in the states, that i should tell him. He said they'd drop the line if "Their supplier wasnt giving them the best prices" ya right.
Honestly the canadian prices could prevent me from buying. My honda tiller is still running strong after 20 years!!! Id hate to part with it as much as id like a rear time. Also i dont want to spend the money to upgrade if the brush mower isnt better than the billy goat that ive been using.
So what do the experts think. I know BCS is a great tiller, but the brush mowing thing is very important to me too. THeres another couple dealers in my province , so ill have to check their prices out,but i dont expect much difference.
Is it worth the money to upgrade to a larger machine considering my uses?
My garden is only 20x35.
Ive always been curious about BCS and reading online i understand that they are one of the best tillers out there. The BCS is appealing to me, due to the different attachments, which is why i began this thread.
Every year, i have to maintain 2-3 acres of brush. This is mostly saplings or alders varying in size from 1/2" to 2"+. These saplings are hardwood and grow in clusters of 5 or more stalks.
I usually rent a Billy Goat rough terrain mower for this, snd its a real workout. One if the problems is that the BG mower doesnt have the weight to push these clusters over, so i end up having to let the machine ride up the stalk till the blades dig in and cut it. Another MAJOR issue is that the back of the mower deck has a lip that constantly catches on the cut off stumps.
So some questions before i look more seriously at a BCS:
1.Is the BCS more comfortable to run then the Billy Goat? THe model i m considering is the 732. It has the steering breaks, are they helpful for brush mowing?
2. Does the mower deck clear the cut stalks easily?
3. Does it have the weight to push the clusters of stalks over? (of course the dealer says it will)
4.Would the flail be better to use for the type of cutting i do?
5. Can the flail handle "trees" or is it designed for grass? Will it catch on the cut stalks? I was hoping that the flail would let me "eat " my way through the clusters, kind of like a mulcher.
Now the prices in Canadian dollars:
722: 2900$
732: 3800
26" bush hog $1499
26 tiller $750
40 sickle 1500
Local dealer doesnt have a price for the flail.
I know form looking online that these prices are several hundred dollars per item over comparable items in the states.
Dealer says that there is no wiggle room on these prices. Also gave me some BS that if i could find it cheaper online in the states, that i should tell him. He said they'd drop the line if "Their supplier wasnt giving them the best prices" ya right.
Honestly the canadian prices could prevent me from buying. My honda tiller is still running strong after 20 years!!! Id hate to part with it as much as id like a rear time. Also i dont want to spend the money to upgrade if the brush mower isnt better than the billy goat that ive been using.
So what do the experts think. I know BCS is a great tiller, but the brush mowing thing is very important to me too. THeres another couple dealers in my province , so ill have to check their prices out,but i dont expect much difference.
Is it worth the money to upgrade to a larger machine considering my uses?
My garden is only 20x35.