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.