Grillo 107d or BCS 739

[NibbanaFarm]

I ordered some BMX bike brake levers and cables over the internet. They were very cheap. They were made for 1 1/8 inch handlebars. The tractor handlebars are 1 1/16 inch as I recall. I just cut a piece of steel conduit to use as a shim around the bars which just happened to be the exact right size. The only thing is, the levers I got were short. I would recommend the longer ones so you don't have to squeeze them as hard.

You have to secure the cable down on the bracket at the wheel. Just like on a bicycle. So I got that part at the local bike shop just so I could measure it and make sure it would fit through the hole in the bracket.

Finally, you need to clamp and adjust the cable to the brake arm. Just use the BCS part for clamping the parking brake cable. I couldn't find a parts diagram for the 739 on partstree.com and don't know where else to get BCS parts so I made this part. But if you can find them just get the BCS part. It will be a lot easier. Then you don't have to fabricate anything.

That's it. That's steering brakes. Now that I went through the trouble, I don't even think I'd bother with it again. For me, I just don't really find them very useful. Not sure. The jury's still out. They might get more use if you do a lot of mowing and snow blowing. Good luck.

 

[jrpeterson05]

Thanks NibbanaFarm, I am going to add steering brakes when I get a chance. If you get a chance could you upload some photos of the brakes you installed? I'm a visual learner.

I emailed BCS America yesterday about getting a parts list and they sent me this link to download it. http://www.bcsamerica.com/uploads/2013/08/739.pdf

I also ask for the parts list for the tiller. http://www.bcsamerica.com/uploads/2014/06/att.tiller.3dog.pdf

I hope those links work for you, if not and you would like the I would be happen to email you the PDFs.

 

[NibbanaFarm]

I don't have a super great camera. So if you can't see what's going on, just go to Walmart or a bicycle shop and look at a bicycle brake. Or a motorcycle brake for that matter. It's very simple. It's just a cable pulling on the brake arm. If you just look at one, it will become transparent. Then it's just a matter of finding the parts to fit. The whole system is ready to accept steering brakes. I think the bracket at the wheel has a 1/4 inch hole. So whatever you get to hold the cable down there has to fit a 1/4 inch hole. I think the hole in the brake arm is 3/8 inch. But the existing clamps will fit in the hole for the steering brakes. So just order 2 of the clamps that hold the parking brake cables on the brake arms. It will be much easier than making them. Then, whatever levers you use have to fit the handlebars. I had to shim the ones I got because they were too big. If you have a good, helpful bike shop locally, you will probably be able to get everything you need there.

 

[Ford850]

I use my steering brakes quite a bit while tilling between rows of plants. It seems like I can tweak the direction to correct things when the tiller pulls a little too close to the plants. The brakes make it easier to lightly steer it back on track, and away from the plants.

 

[ferrari99]

I don't know if it's technically the right way to do it but with your pto engagement problem I just start letting the clutch out slowing while gently pushing on the pto lever and it slips into gear without grinding. To satisfy my curiosity, with the brakes on the 739 do they have brakes on both sides because of the diff?

 

[jrpeterson05]

Thanks for the photos NibbanaFarm, it helped out. I am in the process of tracking down all the parts. I am finding it very difficult to find brake levers that size. Most bikes handlebars are around 22mm but these are 27mm (1 1/16"). I called half a dozen bike shops around me and couldn't find the right size. I finally had to order it online, it looks very similar to the levers you installed, I couldn't find anything longer either.

I have a had a chance to use the tiller a couple times and I can see where brakes would come in handy. My 720 is small and light enough that it was pretty easy to maneuver but the 739 is a bit more difficult, I think having brakes on it will help out.

Thanks Ford850, I tried that and if I let the clutch out very slow it will work, if I let it out to fast it still grinds. Hopefully with time and more use it wont be as bad.

I really don't know why the 739 has parking brakes. I don't believe the 732 has parking brakes even though it has a differential. I'm glad it does have brakes though, it does make it nice when I put it in the trailer to transport it (I do tie it down as well).