Non differential walk behinds?

[freedomlives]

How do they turn? Are both wheels connected solidly through the axle, or is there a half-locking / free-wheeling device like on the rear hub of a bicycle?

My Czech mower is just too slow, so, I need another walk-behind, because my Goldoni doesn't have reversible handle-bars, so it can't be used for mowing or raking hay. A lot of the walk behinds with mower bars I see in Italy are like the BCS 720 without a differential, so I wonder how turning works on them.

 

[cmyoung2]

My BCS725 had a solid axle, turning is muscle and leverage. Turning was not real hard, maybe harder with the tiller, mowers not so much. But having a differential does make a big difference the older I get. One reason I ended up with a 850

 

[jrpeterson05]

I agree with cmyoung2, I have a 720 with a tiller. It took a bit of effort to turn it around to make another pass. On concrete the one wheel will skid a little and might live a little black mark from the tires. I also have a 739 which does have a differential and you can really tell the difference. There are several other features I like on the 739 over the 720 but the differential is definitely the feature that makes the most difference to me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Might not be the worst thing. My Gravely would turn too easily if the mower hit something off to one side, smashing you with the handle bars and steering lever.

Should've kept it though. I am gaining too much weight not running after that thing. I guess it wasn't possible to drink beer and cut the grass either!

 

[GLyford]

Planet Jr. tractors have a pair of ratchet pawls on either side, like you are proposing.

A small flaw here is that when going around corners, the inside wheel is the one still being driven at the same speed as straight,, and the outside wheel is now freewheeling faster. Combined with the swing of the handlebars forcing you to walk a larger radius (as opposed to same speed when walking in a straight line) means you have to almost run to make a sharp turn. Will pull like a dickens though for as long as you have traction. Also means it is easy to make straight rows as you have to put some effort into turning (easy way is to pop the belt clutch and walk it around a corner, then latch it back into drive once you are pointed where you want to go.)

When hitched to a wagon and riding instead of walking the effect is also much less noticeable.

Other side effect is that when pointed downhill both sides freewheel and you either have to slow down with your feet or hang on for the ride. No brakes unless you want to just drop the nose (or perhaps, a plow) into the dirt.

 

[Maine Hills]

Might not be the worst thing. My Gravely would turn too easily if the mower hit something off to one side, smashing you with the handle bars and steering lever.

Should've kept it though. I am gaining too much weight not running after that thing. I guess it wasn't possible to drink beer and cut the grass either!

Our BCS 749 has a differential lock. Easy and quick to switch using a lever on the handlebars from an open differential to a solid axle and back to an open differential.

 

[Industrial Toys]

At times like this, I would have loved a solid axle, better yet, def lock!

 

[leonz]

Hello freedomlives,

My old Troybilt is like that too, you have to pull them around
unless you have room to make circle to the next row.

I though the BCS and the Grillo both had individual differential locks mounted on the
handlebars for each wheel???

 

[CADplans]

My only solid axle machine is resting in its above ground grave,,,

it has been replaced.

Replaced by machines that have a differential.

I now have zero use for the TB!!:dance1:

I guess I kinda got caught by the Gravely "bug",,,, :confused2:

 

[oldmech]

Hi! They are Walk Behind with solid axle as Troy-Bilt Horse. Gravely have differential but no locking device. BCS and Grillo can have differential and locking .
But they are one other kind of Walk Behind tractor. Agria makes one, Kubota and Yanmar and other Asian Big Walk Behind, These tractor does not have differential but two steering clutchs one for each wheel. As buldozer, A very good system. Tractor act as a solid axle. You press one wheel lever free this wheel and if you press more brake this one. You can turn very short. Better than a differential
Because with differential when you brake (You lost energy) one wheel you transfer power and speed at other wheel this one turn 2x more fast. Not very good. I would like try this kind of walk Behind. Good Luck! Oldmech

 

[TomSeller]

My only solid axle machine is resting in its above ground grave,,,

it has been replaced.

Replaced by machines that have a differential.

I now have zero use for the TB!!:dance1:

I guess I kinda got caught by the Gravely "bug",,,, :confused2:

I had never seen a black Troybilt before. Nice Gravelys !

 

[Maine Hills]

Some BCS tractors with differentials, such as 749 and 852/853 sold in the US, have individual wheel brakes, with one brake lever in the outboard position on each handlebar.

Some BCS mowers, such as the 660WS, do not have a differential but have individual wheel clutch/brake units similar to those described above by oldmech. The 660WS only uses front mounted implements such as mowers. BCS America said several months ago that they expected the 660WS to be available in the US within the next year. 66 HY WS PowerSafe

 

[CADplans]

I had never seen a black Troybilt before. Nice Gravelys !

The black Troy Bilt was a 25th Anniversary Special Dean Leath Edition,,, it came with EVERY option,, plus about 5 special things.

Some BCS tractors with differentials, such as 749 and 852/853 sold in the US, have individual wheel brakes, with one brake lever in the outboard position on each handlebar.

The two Gravely's towards the left have a third handlebar,,, that extra bar is steering brakes,,,

 

[freedomlives]

So I'm going to avoid any that are definitely with a solid axle then. It seems one of the Goldoni's I'm looking at has some sort of unlocking device which I guess is to be used when turning. Probably best for me to just get another Goldoni, so I can easily swap rear implements. I have a bigger one with a powered trailer, and aside from not having the reversible handlebars, it is a nuisance to have to swap off handlebars and mount the steering wheel and trailer and all different bowden cables...

I need to call the seller of one to verify what system it has, because the Goldoni Mondial can have two different axles:
"AXLE WITH DIFFERENTIAL RELEASE "


"DEAD AXLE"


But this "dead axle" looks like it has a mechanism to disengage one wheel from the axle for turning...

 

[TimberXX]

Some BCS tractors with differentials, such as 749 and 852/853 sold in the US, have individual wheel brakes, with one brake lever in the outboard position on each handlebar. Some BCS mowers, such as the 660WS, do not have a differential but have individual wheel clutch/brake units similar to those described above by oldmech. The 660WS only uses front mounted implements such as mowers. BCS America said several months ago that they expected the 660WS to be available in the US within the next year. 66 HY WS PowerSafe

That 660ws looks like an amazing machine. However it must cost over $10k. I have to admit I would pay $6000 for a gas version. The hydro would make a huge difference.