BCS Snowblower Review

NibbanaFarm · Jan 9, 2017

Got a 28 inch blower for my BCS 739. I've used it twice. Here's my take.

The Good: This thing really throws the snow a long way. Probably at least 3 times as far as my Troy-Bilt. The package is very powerful too. It will handle heavy roadside piles. It's also pretty cheap for a snowblower. And the tractor is very fast compared to my Troy-Bilt.

The Not So Good: As shown in the picture, I had to make some weigh racks and add some weights to hold the blower down. It was very much too light and would ride up on the snow and do wheelies. I added about 50 pounds and it works a lot better. I might add another 20 pounds.

The Ugly: The first time I moved snow with it the temperature was in the high 20's F and I didn't have any problems. But yesterday it was pretty cold, around. 20F. The nature of blowing snow is that the machine and operator are frequently in a blizzard of snow and everything gets soaked. The throttle and the governor on the engine were continually freezing up. I finally gave up and broke out the Troy-Bilt. The engine just is not waterproofed enough for snowblower use. Does anybody have a fix for this?

Ford850 · Jan 9, 2017

Is that with the Honda engine? That is disappointing to hear. I have that blower bought in 1995 on my 605, but it has the Vanguard engine. The Vanguard has the plastic gas tank wrapped around and covering the carburetor and linkages. That does protect things form the layer of snow/ice but it's also a pain to work on easily.
I try to work with the wind and blow up and away if possible. If not, then I keep the shoot deflector aimed very low and deposit the snow close by but with less blowing back on me.
Also, I treat my cables, rotator gears, and linkages with fluid film. It works well on the blower, and I retreat with a quick spray a few times throughout the season. I've had the shoot freeze up many times before I started using the FF.

Ford850 · Jan 9, 2017

Do you have the quick coupling on it? I do, and it's balanced pretty well with that. If I have the front edge raised much by the shoes it does tend to ride up on refrozen. Most snow it works really well.

devkrev · Jan 9, 2017

I noticed you also have the upper vertical adjustment on the chute all the way up, in really light snow pointing it more horizontal helps keep operator and machine from getting too glazed with a frosty coating.

NibbanaFarm · Jan 9, 2017

Yes, it is the Honda engine. I do lube the cables and controls up on the handlebars. It was freezing down on top of the engine. Both the governor and the throttle. When I finally gave up it was frozen in full throttle but no governor so it didn't have any power. Where I'm at, it seems like the wind blows in all directions at all times. And I don't have many options of where to put the snow. Plus, I have to send it about 30 feet in a couple places so I need it to go pretty high. It's just a difficult place to clear snow and a lot of it to clear.

I do have a quick coupling on there and I agree that's it's pretty well balanced. But for me, I need a lot more weight to cut into hard pack and heavy snow or it rides up too much. then I spend a lot of effort fighting the thing and lifting the handle bars.

tcreeley · Jan 9, 2017

This or a version might help with your end of it.

Amazon.com : Arnold Deluxe Universal Snow Thrower Cab : Snow Thrower Accessories : Patio, Lawn & Garden

mpapiary · Jan 9, 2017

My 735 and blower will really move some snow but it is very easy to create a blizzard if the wind catches the snow I'm moving. I try to be careful to make sure its blowing the same direction as the wind otherwise i wind up a snowman too. I am running a Subaru enigine and had to fabricate a sheet metal snow shield otherwise it was also prone to the govenor freezing up. Two nuts and it is removable for summer use.

jrpeterson05 · Jan 11, 2017

I have the same setup, 28" snowblower with a BCS 739. This is the second year I have had it and it does pretty good with Utah snow. The most I have ever used it is with about 6" to 8". I don't have a huge driveway so I am usually not out long enough for things to start freezing up. I also put adjust the chute so it is more horizontal. It is somewhere in the middle, it throws it far enough I don't have to throw it twice.

NibbanaFarm · Jan 12, 2017

Here's a snow guard I made up to cover the motor. Made out of an old aluminum road sign I found laying down in the woods. Hope it works. It's not at all unusual for us to get 20-30 inches in a storm here. And I have a 400 foot driveway to clear so I'm out for a few hours at least. Had to do some additional waterproofing of the Troy-Bilt also. It was pretty well covered but there were a few spots where water would leak in, steam things up, and kill the motor.

Ford850 · Jan 13, 2017

That's great. I'm looking forward to your follow up after using it.

NibbanaFarm · Feb 12, 2017

We got about 18 inches here a few days ago. It was pretty cold when I was blowing and I didn't have any problems with controls freezing up. So it looks like the cover I made worked. This rig is a heavy beast and takes some muscle to maneuver it around. Steering brakes might make things easier. Tracks would make it have much less tendency to ride up on the snow. Also, it would be nice if the auger kept spinning when the machine stops, like a regular snowblower. That said, being as heavy as it is gives it the weight to break through heavy consolidated snow. And it has the power to really launch the snow. The plow guys around here get really ornery about putting snow out in the road and will fine you for it and be generally disagreeable. The BCS throws the snow all the way across the road.

I will use the Troy-Bilt as my primary and the BCS as my secondary and for spots the Troy-Bilt can't handle. Why? The Troy-Bilt is very easy to maneuver. With the tracks and steering clutches it is super stable and pretty much effortless to use as long as it can push itself through the snow. It also has heated hand grips and lights. Looks like I get to use them again tomorrow. Looks pretty white out there.

-Nibbana

leonz · Feb 13, 2017

NibbanaFarm said:
We got about 18 inches here a few days ago. It was pretty cold when I was blowing and I didn't have any problems with controls freezing up. So it looks like the cover I made worked. This rig is a heavy beast and takes some muscle to maneuver it around. Steering brakes might make things easier. Tracks would make it have much less tendency to ride up on the snow. Also, it would be nice if the auger kept spinning when the machine stops, like a regular snowblower. That said, being as heavy as it is gives it the weight to break through heavy consolidated snow. And it has the power to really launch the snow. The plow guys around here get really ornery about putting snow out in the road and will fine you for it and be generally disagreeable. The BCS throws the snow all the way across the road.

I will use the Troy-Bilt as my primary and the BCS as my secondary and for spots the Troy-Bilt can't handle. Why? The Troy-Bilt is very easy to maneuver. With the tracks and steering clutches it is super stable and pretty much effortless to use as long as it can push itself through the snow. It also has heated hand grips and lights. Looks like I get to use them again tomorrow. Looks pretty white out there.

-Nibbana

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In a pinch several layers of duck tape will create a fake door that can be attached to the chute to prevent the snow fog you have to deal with.
read the bottom of he page please first
Was price the reason you went with the single stage unit rather than investing in the two stage unit??

As far making the 2 wheel mule run better a thick coat of fluid film on the auger and chute and spout will make your snow caster throw it much farther and reduce the fog as the snow will stay more closely packed as it exits the chute and spout.

One thing that will help end your personal snow storm is to close the chute up for at least half its height with sheet metal door that can be folded down to clear any blockage-essentially a narrow piece of thin channel iron with four bolt holes in it.

if you can buy a kiddee sled that rolls up that will also be a plus as you can line the chute with it and use whats left to create the removable door by using a bunch of heavy black plastic tie wraps-either or will solve your snow cloud problem.

you can do this to your troy buit as well with the same great results

OH and dont forget to buy one of clarences impeller kits for the troy built and you can do ther same thing with the BCS too

NibbanaFarm · Feb 13, 2017

Price is always at the top of things I have to consider. But, in this case, everything I had heard, read, and seen, was that the single stage BCS couldn't be improved upon as far as throwing snow for great distances. I've never read a comparison of the BCS to the Berta two stage. Although I know farmer Bill did say he sold his BCS and bought a two stage. I can't remember why. Anyway, the BCS does throw snow very far. That I can verify from direct experience.

leonz · Feb 14, 2017

If you purchase one of Clarences impeller kits and
then take 2 of the impeller paddle mounts and
place one set one side of the lift paddle and the other one
on the opposing side you should be able to clear a telephone
pole or send the snow your neighbors driveway with the snow
stream it will create.

mainerr · Mar 16, 2017

NibbanaFarm said:
I've never read a comparison of the BCS to the Berta two stage. Although I know farmer Bill did say he sold his BCS and bought a two stage. I can't remember why.

I am curious about the comparison as well. Maybe Bill can shed some light?

farmerboybill · Mar 16, 2017

There was a several year gap between selling the BCS snowblower and buying the Berta snowblower. I sold the BCS because someone wanted it, and I figured on clearing my 1500 foot driveway with my skid steer. I didn't like the gear noise from the 1200 RPMs the propellers spun when not under load. Otherwise it was a good machine. I bought the Berta because I wanted to see how the two stage performed, and I figured I could clear large snows faster with the blower on my BCS without leaving a berm like I do with the skid steer and 100 inch bucket. This year, I never used it. Just not enough snow. It is a monster, overkill for most people.

mainerr · Mar 17, 2017

farmerboybill said:
There was a several year gap between selling the BCS snowblower and buying the Berta snowblower. I sold the BCS because someone wanted it, and I figured on clearing my 1500 foot driveway with my skid steer. I didn't like the gear noise from the 1200 RPMs the propellers spun when not under load. Otherwise it was a good machine. I bought the Berta because I wanted to see how the two stage performed, and I figured I could clear large snows faster with the blower on my BCS without leaving a berm like I do with the skid steer and 100 inch bucket. This year, I never used it. Just not enough snow. It is a monster, overkill for most people.

Thanks for the update.