Since a BCS or Grillo walk-behind tractor will typically outlast the original engine, we offer selection of replacement engines to re-power your old machine. Our selection is based on the best deals we can find to offer our customers, and changes from time to time.
For folks who have an older 600/700 series BCS machine with an ACME engine on it, there are 2 options:
We can sell you an “adapter/clutch kit”, along with any of several “USA Standard” engine types, listed below. The adapter/clutch kit is REQUIRED to mount any North-American-standard engine, because all N.A. standard engines have American-measurement crankshafts & bolt-patterns, and will not directly fit a BCS Machine like the ACME engine did. (All NEW BCS or Grillo tractors with Honda, Yamaha, Briggs, etc. engines on them have this adapter & clutch mounted at the factory.)
MOST POPULAR: We stock a “European version” of the Kohler 9.5hp engine, which has a European tapered crankshaft and Euro 6-bolt mounting pattern, so it is a DIRECT REPLACEMENT for the older ACME engines used on earlier BCS and Mainline machines–WITHOUT having to use an adapter or new clutch!! (NOTE: this is a COMPLETE engine, including carburetor, air filter, muffler, fuel tank, etc.)
Since Kohler has actually purchased ACME and essentially discontinued the brand, they offer this new engine in Europe to replace the ACME 6hp through 10hp engines. We have special-ordered these engines in an EPA-compliant version, and we are offering them here in the USA!
We are also offering a special “package” price if you order a new engine AND a new engine guard/bumper at the same time (bumpers off the old ACME engines will NOT fit any other engines)…see “Engine Bumpers” section below for details.
If your BCS has a non-ACME engine on it already, then the USA standard engines below (with ¾” or 1” keyed crankshafts) will fit your tractor directly, because you already have the clutch & adapter for the USA standard engine. All engines configured for “remote throttle” hookup at no extra charge.
–NOTE: If you have an old Mainline machine that was built by S.E.P. (Ladybug, 2+2, 1300, 1500, 1700), the best option is the Kohler 9.5hp engine mentioned above. If for some reason you prefer a different engine, we can also offer “modified” engine adapter kits to fit some of these S.E.P. machines …call for details and pricing, and we MAY actually need to get your old clutch sent here first to make sure the new kit is compatible.
ALL ENGINE POWER RATINGS SHOWN IN “SAE MAX HP”, WHICH IS THE “OLD” HP RATING MOST OF US ARE USED TO… MOST ENGINE MANUFACTURERS ARE NOW SHOWING THE MORE CONSERVATIVE “NET” HP RATINGS ON THEIR WEBSITES, WHICH IS ABOUT 10% LESS THAN “MAX”…
ENGINE PRICES:
- 9.5 hp Kohler model CH395, recoil start: $650 (DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR ACME A220, AL/ALN215, AL/ALN290 or AL/ALN330 ENGINES on BCS 600/700 series tractors and SEP / Mainline tractors!! Does NOT require Adapter/clutch kit!)
- 9.5 hp Kohler Model CH395, Electric and recoil start (battery and battery support NOT included): $990 (DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR ACME A220, AL/ALN290 or AL/ALN330 ENGINES on BCS 600/700 series tractors and SEP / Mainline tractors!! Does NOT require adapter/clutch kit!)
- GX160 Honda, 5.5 SAE Max HP, 3/4” Keyed crankshaft, recoil start $450
- CH270 Kohler, 7 SAE Max HP, 3/4” Keyed crankshaft, recoil start, with heavy duty OIL-BATH type are filter system $400
- GX270 Honda, 9 SAE Max HP, 1” Keyed crankshaft, recoil start $700
- GX390 Honda, 13 SAE Max HP, 1” Keyed crankshaft, recoil start $800
- CH440 Kohler, 14 SAE Max HP, 1” Keyed crankshaft, recoil start $800
- GX390 Honda, 13 SAE Max HP, 1” Keyed crankshaft, recoil AND electric start $1000
- Briggs Vanguard 25V337, 14 SAE Max HP, 1” Keyed crankshaft, recoil AND electric start This engine is best for very steep slope operation…it will operate on up to a 45 degree angle! $1100
- **NOTE: if using Honda or Kohler engines at elevations over 4000 feet, be sure to request a different MAIN JET for the carburetor, so the engine will run properly!
ADAPTER/CLUTCH KITS:
- Item # ¾” Clutch Kit For engines with ¾” keyed crankshaft (7hp and smaller): $190
- Item # 1” Clutch Kit For engines with 1” keyed crankshaft, up to 11.5hp (some exceptions): $190
- For either of the above, but to fit an SEP-manufactured Mainline tractor: ADD $100
- Safety system update kit: If your tractor had an ACME engine and a red “safety lever” on the handlebar that you have to hold down to keep the engine running, this kit gives you the hardware to update/adapt that safety system to your new engine WHEN USING THE ABOVE ADAPTER KIT OPTIONS OR KOHLER CH395 ENGINE: $36
- Item # BCS 922.99007: For engines with 1” crankshaft, 12hp and up: MSRP:
$550$522 (includes hardware to update & adapt “safety” lever on tractor handlebar to new engine) - Item # BCS 922.90704: Adapts a current engine with ¾” keyed crankshafts (Honda GX160, Kohler CH270, etc.) to the older BCS model 205 machines. (Does NOT fit BCS models 201, 203 or 204!) This kit was actually discontinued by BCS a couple years ago because they no longer produce ONE of the components…so we bought all the OTHER components that they DID have, and we can make this kit work by getting the “old” version of that one “missing” component back from the customer and re-machining it to work with the conversion kit. Price: $290
- NOTE: The above adapter kits come with bolts to mount the adapter plate to the engine. These bolts are U.S./Standard threads (some come with 5/16”x24 bolts, some come with 3/8”x16 bolts), since U.S./Standard threads is the standard for the “American/SAE” bolt-patterns on Honda, Briggs & Kohler engines. HOWEVER, It HAS come to our attention that some of the cheap Chinese-made “Honda clone” engines DO NOT have U.S. threads, or have incorrect U.S. threads (for example: 5/16” coarse thread instead of fine). If you are buying one of these cheap engines, please be aware that any needed non-standard fasteners are your responsibility. We supply the kits only with the standard fasteners mentioned above.
ENGINE BUMPERS (with bolts & nuts to attach to engine)
Item G Grillo WTKT 18-pound weight bar for above
bumpers, with mounting bolts: $60
*(NOTE: Bumpers or skid-plates that were mounted on ACME engines will NOT fit anything but ACME…unless you make it fit another engine by modifying it yourself)*
Call Earth Tools at 502-484-3988 to order. All can ship UPS ground. (all engine prices subject to availability and may change without notice–call for current info)
WANTED: YOUR OLD “ACME” ENGINE PARTS!!
If you are replacing an old ACME brand engine on your BCS or Mainline machine (and you are located in the continental U.S.), we may be interested in some of the parts off that old ACME! We have a “graveyard” of old ACME engines here, and we have robbed parts off of them for years to keep other customers going with low-cost used parts. But we’re running low on the more popular items… While it’s not practical for us to get your entire engine back here (since the block, internal parts, and most of the housings would be just “scrap metal”), we can offer you a bit of money for some individual “external” parts. Here is a list of what has value to us:
From BCS 5hp engines (appeared on BCS models 201, 203, 204 & 205):
–Ignition coils / stator plates
–Fuel tanks
–Recoil starters
–Air filter assemblies that are GOOD (no broken housings)
–Throttle linkage rods (the short metal tie-rod that attaches the carb to the governor arm)
From ACME model A220 6hp engines:
–Ignition coils and flywheels
–Fuel tanks
–Recoil starters
–Electric starters
–Air filter assemblies that are GOOD (no broken housings)
From ACME model AL290 & 330 / ALN215, 290 & 330 engines:
–Ignition coils from SOLID-STATE (NOT points & condenser type) ALN engines
–On AL & ALN engines with Points & Condenser ignition: The “support block” that the points & condenser mount to, complete with inner “push-rod”
–Carburetors with METAL float bowls for AL / ALN engines (NOTE: Metal-bowl carbs will have a drain BOLT [may look like a wing-nut] on the bottom of the bowl)
–GOOD (not rusty on the inside) metal fuel tanks for AL / ALN engines
–Plastic fuel tanks
–Mufflers for AL / ALN series (if in good shape)
–Recoil starters
–Electric starters
–Air filter assemblies that are GOOD (no broken housings)
From ACME model AT330 engines:
–Ignition coils
–Carburetors
–Fuel tanks
–Mufflers (if in good shape)
–Recoil starters
–Electric starters
–Air filter assemblies that are GOOD (no broken / cracked housings)
Here’s the procedure:
1. Take the items off the engine.
2. In the case of carburetors and fuel tanks (and oil-bath air filters), make sure all fuel / oil is drained out of them.
3. Pack the items in a suitable-sized box, using some sort of packing material to keep parts from getting damaged in shipping (crumpled-up newspaper is fine, if you don’t have anything else…although, if you got a replacement engine from us, that box will have LOTS of packing material you can re-use!)
4. Close the box up with packing tape (duct tape will work in a pinch).
5. Contact us with the weight and dimensions of the box, and we will email you a prepaid shipping label (either UPS or US Postal Service)…print this out and tape it to the box. This means that the shipping charges are being billed to US–you do not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for shipping cost.
6. Give the box to the appropriate shipping company (if it’s a UPS label, you can give it to any UPS driver, or drop it off at a UPS pickup location….if it’s a US Postal Service label, you can give it a Postal carrier or drop it off at any Post Office)
7. When the items arrive here, we will check them out to make sure they are in usable condition, and we will issue you a credit for what we determine we can pay based on the overall condition (EXAMPLE: Recently, a customer sent in a used ignition coil, recoil starter, carb and muffler off an ALN330 Acme…we paid the shipping cost to get it here [about $35], and we credited the customer another $36 for the parts. So we “paid” a total of $71 for the parts, and over time, we’ll be able to sell them and make a few bucks.)
This gets you way more than you would get by bringing the old engine to a scrap-yard!! Plus, it keeps other old ACME engines running as long as they can… Repair, re-use, THEN recycle!
Call with any questions: 502-484-3988, ask for Joel.