BCS Prices

[TimberXX]

I am surprised that BCS had another 10 percent price increase this year. What's going on? Is demand increasing?

We run them at work, but if these prices continue to go up, we need to look at other options.

What do you guys think? Are the prices too high for you?

What did I gravely cost back in the day?

 

[skyborne98]

I compared the suggested retail pricing of several models from BCS America and it looks like it was for the most part a 5% increase, with a few attachments not following the 5% increase.

I agree that BCS is expensive, but its quality and not a throw away machine and needing replaced frequently.

 

[farmerboybill]

Actually, the BCS prices have gone up very, very little over that past 30 years. When Paul Sullivan was selling the 715 (basically a 722) in the late 70's, he was getting $2500. You can still get a 722 for around that price. With inflation, they're actually much cheaper now. Same as televisions before China figured out how to use their slave labor to make them.

You're spoiled on cheap Chinese manufacturing and Walmart. If you want a cheap price with no other consideration, I suggest you buy a MTD.

 

[samhudson3]

Talk to Joel at Earth Tools, nice as pie folks to deal with. I've bought sturdy hand tools from him, great products and great service.
About Us

 

[TimberXX]

Actually, the BCS prices have gone up very, very little over that past 30 years. When Paul Sullivan was selling the 715 (basically a 722) in the late 70's, he was getting $2500. You can still get a 722 for around that price. With inflation, they're actually much cheaper now. Same as televisions before China figured out how to use their slave labor to make them.

You're spoiled on cheap Chinese manufacturing and Walmart. If you want a cheap price with no other consideration, I suggest you buy a MTD.

Easy there farmerboy... I don't want to get in to a MTD, Walmart, China debate which obviously is a sore spot for ya.

2500 for a bcs in the 70s seems a little high, but none the less, $3800 for a 853 is reasonable. But when you start looking at mid 4000s, I can get a used CUT for that money.

Also, the 38 inch mowing deck was 1400 a couple years ago. Now its 2350. These are the price increases I am talking about.

They are quality machines, and will last nearly a lifetime if taken care of. I am willing to pay for quality, but I also want to be sure I am getting a fair deal.

 

[farmerboybill]

Now, you need to compare apples to apples. A used CUT is not comparable to a new Walk-behind. You'd need 5-10 more hp to lug you around, so you'd be looking for an 18-23 hp CUT. A quick search on tractorhouse showed 4688 tractors under 40 hp. 944 were $4500 or less. A quick scan through showed a 2000 Kubota 2410 24 hp as the newest one I saw. That machine has had 12 years of unknown use. It could be trashed. If you buy a new BCS or Grillo, you're getting a 3 year warranty and a NEW machine. If you buy a used BCS from 2000, you're gonna pay a fair amount less than that Kubota and probably get a few attachments with it.

The mower is an outlayer. They needed to re-engineer it to make the blades stop within 6 seconds or something like that recently to make it legal. This added significantly to the cost of the mower. I agree with you that it's a little overpriced. The other main units - $1000 for a 28 inch snow blower, $600 for a 30 inch tiller, 1100 for a rotary plow, et cetera are reasonable, especially if you compare them to the disposable purpose-built junk the AYP and MTD build.

If you buy a BCS or Grillo and stick with an 853 or 107d, you're gonna be happy with it. I think you'll be less happy with the usefulness of a 732, but very happy with the quality.

 

[TimberXX]

Good point on the CUT, years of unknown use are a concern.

I can handle a re engineered deck costing more money.

We run 8xx series due to the high speed, we only run the unit in the forward direction.

Does anyone have experience with the 6xx series? We only use front mount attachments, but I would be concerned with a "grey market" BCS. Are my concerns realistic?

 

[farmerboybill]

The 600 series are BCS built - nothing "grey market" has the BCS name on it. The current production 620 does not have differential lock and steering brakes. For steering brakes and differential, you will need to find a 604, which hasn't been sold new in the U.S. for about 20 years. Your other option is Free-wheel devices on a BCS 620 or Grillo GF4. I call them "poor man's differential". They have their own demons that I can get into if you'd like. I have explained them in previous posts that can be searched.

 

[TimberXX]

The 600 series are BCS built - nothing "grey market" has the BCS name on it. The current production 620 does not have differential lock and steering brakes. For steering brakes and differential, you will need to find a 604, which hasn't been sold new in the U.S. for about 20 years. Your other option is Free-wheel devices on a BCS 620 or Grillo GF4. I call them "poor man's differential". They have their own demons that I can get into if you'd like. I have explained them in previous posts that can be searched.

I thought grey market was a tractor sold in the states by a dealer, but not sold by the corporation. I don't see the 600 on the bcs usa website. Can BCS dealers get parts for the 600s?

I have read your review of the free wheel device, and have decided its not for us.

 

[farmerboybill]

I consider a grey market tractor something like a Nortrac from Northern Tool. They import a Chinese tractor, put their sticker on it and sell it. I could be wrong.

Joel at Earth Tools sells the 620. It's built by BCS with BCS stickers on it. You can see it on his website.

 

[small farmer]

You might look for a used 605. This has the modern BCS transmission w/o the pto engagement in oil like the grillo 107. It has the gearing for mowing like your looking for. The prize might be a lightly used 605 w/ the acme 12hp engine. Or put your favorite engine on your 605 transmission and mow away with the knowledge that the transmission is built like the factory will pay to replace anything that break in it. I don't think they will do that for second owners though. Like me.

Jim

 

[TimberXX]

Thanks for the suggestion.

We put too many hours on these units to consider going used more than a year or two old.

 

[skyborne98]

The 620 is primarily sold in Canada and by request to dealers in the US. The trick with the 620 is its a front mount machine only, which is fine for mowing and sweeping snow, not so good if you want to run a tiller or other rearmount attachment....

As for other models in the 600 series parts are available and the pdf's for the parts lists can be found on BCSAmerica's website.

BCS America Parts, Service and Operator Manuals

 

[BCSSHOP]

Just a comment on the BCS 620 two-wheel tractor. For all intents the 620 is the same tractor as the BCS 722 except it will not take rear mounted attachments like the tiller. The problem is the 620 costs the dealer about $300 more than the 722 making it sell for about $400 more. To make the price difference even greater BCS America is offering a $200 off the price for the 722 (and 718) from January to June (and sometimes longer). The $200 price reduction is made up by contribution from BCS America, the distributor and the selling dealer.

The 722 model with the 20" or 26" tiller is very popular with folks needing a smaller machine that can also run sickle bars, sweepers and snowthrowers. It has a light pressure clutch lever making it easier to use for folks without strong hands.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Just a comment on the BCS 620 two-wheel tractor. For all intents the 620 is the same tractor as the BCS 722 except it will not take rear mounted attachments like the tiller. The problem is the 620 costs the dealer about $300 more than the 722 making it sell for about $400 more. To make the price difference even greater BCS America is offering a $200 off the price for the 722 (and 718) from January to June (and sometimes longer). The $200 price reduction is made up by contribution from BCS America, the distributor and the selling dealer.

The 722 model with the 20" or 26" tiller is very popular with folks needing a smaller machine that can also run sickle bars, sweepers and snowthrowers. It has a light pressure clutch lever making it easier to use for folks without strong hands.

The two wheel class of tractor has all but disappeared in our area. Too much work based on our DR mower usage.