Grillo vs BCS

[farmerboybill]

Hey Brian,

The Grillo is better suited to mowing applications due to better speed ranges in the gears. You get a higher ground speed in third gear (a gear you very seldom, if ever, use during tillage). First and second gear are negligibly higher speeds and well-suited for tillage applications.

8.5 hp just is too much of a HP drop vs. an 11 hp Honda. The 8.5 hp is a adequate match for the 107d, but the cost/benefit ratio is terrible on it. In fact, the torque ratings are better on the Honda simply because it's SO MUCH bigger than the Lombardini (Kohler). If they had a 9.5 HP diesel, it'd run circles around the Honda. As it is, the clutch is a little bit weaker than the BCS clutch. You could put the 10 HP diesel on it and never have a problem if you didn't push it, but once you asked just a little too much out of it, you'd fry your clutch.It's a good clutch, it's just not rated to take the torque a 10 hp would give it. This is why Joel places the 107d as a slightly smaller machine vs. a BCS 853.

Don't get me wrong, there are good dealers out there. It's only that I have found that a dealer who sells one or two units a year just don't have the interest to learn about the BCS machines. They sell the garbage MTD and AYP makes at a 10 or 20 to 1 ratio.

You could also put a little bit of blame on their customers. We have such a throw-away mentality in this country (courtesy of BBS's like Walmart) that a buyer will look at a $3K BCS and say to him/herself "Why would I pay that much when I can get this one for $800? If the $800 one breaks, I'll just throw it away and buy another and still be money ahead." They never get past this thought to - "I'll bet that BCS or Grillo does a much better job at the task required and is so much nicer to use" or "My grandkids might have a garden and they'd sure appreciate a nice, durable machine 50 years from now"

 

[westva]

I have my doubts that it will be cost effective to burn petroleum in 50 (or 10) years. Which always leads me back to the diesel.

 

[farmerboybill]

Hi Brian,

You do have a point on which fuel would be easier to make at home. If the Diesel had adequate power, I'd say the decision would be easier. Perhaps there will be a bigger Grillo with a heavier clutch to take on the 10 hp Lombardini coming out soon. Or maybe Joel will discover a 9.5 hp diesel engine to mount on the 107d. Best way to guarantee this is to buy a 107d! Next day the bigger machine will come out!

 

[westva]

Bill,
I went over and checked out the italian Grillo site today. And well, it was in Italian, but I was able parse a few details. It seems they they stock their 107d's with a choice of either a 10 HP Lombardini the 15 LD 400 or the 8.3 HP Subaru EX27.

Any thoughts?

-brian

 

[farmerboybill]

Hey Brian,

If you click on the little britich flag at the top of the Grillospa.it website, it'll send you to the Grilloagrigarden.co.uk website - English! I see where they say you can get it with the LD400 in the 2011 catalog, but they don't say that on the main website.

As I said, you can put a 10 HP diesel on it and never have trouble. But, the first time you push it a little too hard through a little too tough a job, you're gonna fry the clutch. Now that's not to say that you can't fry a clutch in an 853. My friend up in Boscobel has an 853 he uses for everything - he bales with it, too. He's fried a BCS clutch.

Didn't you say you had talked yourself out of a diesel? If worse comes to worst, you can make homemade alcohol to run through the Honda

 

[westva]

yeah, unfortunately i can talk myself in and out of purchases a few times a day.

that said, I am aware of my tendency to go overkill. How do you feel about the G85d? The rotary plow and the power harrow are my primary reasons for investing in this tractor. This tractor will probably run them as well as the 107d. As I understand it I am basically losing running speed for mowing operations by going down in models.

So, I don't know, I will crunch some numbers and make a decision this afternoon. Thanks for your help.

 

[js5020]

One thing I would give thought to, and that would be resale demand/value. Personally I would be way more interested in a 107D or an 853 than any of the other models, they are just more versatile, would sell faster and recoup more of your purchase price if you ever wanted to sell,, in my opinion.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! I think a 8.5 hp Diesel can run a rotary plow or a power harrow in first gear with no problem. If you buy a 85D take it with 5x10 tires. BCS and Grillo are too light and need weight in wheels 60-80 lbs min. I have a Grillo 107d I like it. But I think a 85d could make the same work. Good luck! Oldmech

 

[farmerboybill]

The 85d has no brakes and is missing the third working speed. It also comes with a slightly smaller engine, but doesn't need to. It will do just about everything a 107d will regarding tillage, but you will suffer from a lack of speed in mowing operations. Unless you're REALLY looking to pinch pennies, I'd go for the 107d. It's a lot cheaper to spend the extra 400 bucks upfront than to regret buying an 85d and upgrade it later.

 

[wstr75]

I have BCS tractors with and without brakes and with and without differentials. There is a big difference in being behind them. Brakes and differential makes a big difference both while in motion and at rest. The fast hitch couplings still often require me to go around to the implement and jiggle it onto the hitch so as to get the locking pin to drop into place. Without brakes the tractor moves around during this process. The brakes are the ticket when using my flail and rotary mowers. I use the brake to turn the tractor and it makes the job so much easier on this old man's body.

Investing in brakes and differential trumps power investment (diesel vs. gas) in my humble opinion.
Bill in NC