Purchasing a BCS 850

smallfarmer7 · Nov 14, 2015

Hi everyone,

I've just started a small farm - 4 acres, though I'll only be planting one of them for this next year, I need to keep my regular job to stay afloat. I've been looking for walking tractors, and recently came across a BCS 850 with a 14hp diesel motor and a 30" tiller, 32" mower, hiller/furrower and quick hitch attachment. It's not currently working but the lady that's selling it (I think it was her husband's and he's recently passed) doesn't know much about it except that she's been told it's a good machine by the mechanic in town. The attachments have only been used twice. She wants $2350 for the lot. I don't know much about them, but am fine with spending the winter getting it cleaned up and learning about how to fix it. The question is - does that seem like a good deal? Are they reasonably easy to work on?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

NY 986 · Nov 14, 2015

If everything worked that would be a good price. I know for a much smaller engine and 24" tiller a few years ago was north of 1500 dollars brand new. You should be able to find a dealer to know what your package would cost new. I would bet over 3000 dollars.

RGMartin · Nov 14, 2015

The cheapest tractor with no tiller is $1500 now. An equivalent to that 850 diesel would be over 5 grand, plus attachments. The asking price isn't much more than the cost of the attachments.

BCS makes a darn fine walk behind tractor. I have the cheapest one they build, a 710(craigslist for $400, like new, needed an air cleaner housing and gas tank as it had launched itself into a hard surface) for places where a real tractor and tiller, or 140 and cultivators won't go.

Sounds like this one could be an even better deal. If I was doing 4 acres with one I'd be looking for a sulky.

ShadetreeRet · Nov 14, 2015

Several years ago, I sent for info on BCS equipment. They sent me a DVD, and although I realize the advertisements are calculated to make the product look good, when you see one actually working, it makes a difference. I will say that I was favorably impressed. The asking price for what you describe does not sound bad at all.

SparepartsTN · Nov 15, 2015

Perhaps you could talk to the mechanic in town for his assessment of its condition and why it doesn't presently run?

rockyridgefarm · Nov 15, 2015

I have an 850. It's a great machine. I dug my potatoes with it yesterday. They built them from 1995 to about 2000. That makes it 15-20 years old. BCS only offers the lifetime warranty to the first purchaser, so it will be off warranty the second you buy it. Also, the warranty only covers the components in the transmission casing that runs in oil.

Are you sure it's a diesel? They mounted Briggs V-twin 14 hp gasoline engines on 850s. If it is a diesel, it would be a transplant. Mine's a diesel, but only because I put the engine on it. When I bought it, it had the Briggs V-twin.

That kind of asking price is for a running machine. I wouldn't pay much more than $1500 for a non runner. Of course, you mentioned the machine was never used, so it may be worth what she's asking if it's really easy to get running.

Purchasing a BCS 850

smallfarmer7

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NY 986

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RGMartin

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ShadetreeRet

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SparepartsTN

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rockyridgefarm

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