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Use, Repair, and Maintenance

About Engine Oil

Oil is the life-blood of your engine, and the more attention you pay it, the better off your engine will be.

The proper filling of oil on our walk-behind tractor engines is as follows:

CURRENTLY USED GAS ENGINES (Honda, Yamaha, Kohler): WITH ENGINE LEVEL, FILL TO OVERFLOWING, and check every 4 to 6 hours of use. (NOTE: The Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engines have a dipstick that is SEPARATE from the oil filler cap…for those engines, USE THE DIPSTICK with the engine level!) Regardless of what the owners’ manual may show, your Gas engine on your tractor does not have a “dipstick” on the oil fill cap… Why? Because we cut it off. Why did we do that? Because we like to save our customers money and trouble: The dipstick on the Honda, Yamaha & Kohler engines we use is only an inch or so long, and is designed to show the minimum “safe” amount of oil in the engine with the engine operating in a level plane. The thing is, we know human nature, which is that if the person sees oil at the bottom of the dipstick, they think “Oh, it’s OK…I don’t need to go to the shed and get the oil bottle…it’s on the dipstick, so it’s SAFE, right?” But this equipment often operates at angles much too steep for that “minimum” amount of oil (mowing on a hillside, tilling to maximum depth, etc.)..and you only need to do that for a few minutes with too little oil in it, and the engine seizes up. WHOOPS. We learned a long time ago that if the oil is kept to the MAXIMUM allowable level in the engine, there is simply no chance of a low-oil failure. Therefore, we don’t give our customers a choice; we cut off the dipstick and ask that you keep it full to the overflowing point. (If the engine is level, you can’t “overfill” these gas engines, it’ll just run back out the fill hole if it’s too much.) Don’t take any chances! But make sure the engine is LEVEL before checking and filling, or you’re going to get a bad reading…this may require putting a block under the implement or something. (The above also applies to the older ACME engines that were used on BCS machines 20+ years ago.)

IF YOU HAVE A MACHINE WITH AN ENGINE TYPE NOT LISTED ABOVE (Such as: Briggs twin-cylinder Vanguard, Kohler Magnum, Briggs I/P, I/C or Intek), these engines may be equipped with a LONG (6 inches or more) oil dipstick, and this dipstick SHOULD be used as a guide for oil filling, with engine LEVEL.

KOHLER / LOMBARDINI DIESEL ENGINES: Still a good idea to check oil level every 4 to 6 hours of use. However regarding the proper fill level on the diesel, it is almost the opposite: You DO NOT, absolutely DO NOT want to overfill a small diesel engine with oil!! Again, make sure the engine is LEVEL, and check the dipstick carefully. (yes, you DO want to use the dipstick on the Kohler/Lombardini diesel engines, it is the only way to check the oil level). It is hard to see the oil level on the stick when the oil is new, but you can see it if you’re persistent. Make sure the dipstick is fully pushed into the hole (they are TIGHT) before you pull it out to check, so you get a good reading. The oil level ONLY HAS TO BE ABOVE THE “LOW” MARK ON THE DIPSTICK TO BE “SAFE”, as the diesel engines have an oil pump that circulates the oil in the engine…so anywhere BETWEEN the lower and upper marks on the dipstick is OK, you do NOT have to try to hit the “upper” mark. OVERFILLING CAN CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE, AS THE ENGINE CAN START TO CONSUME ENGINE OIL AS IF IT WERE FUEL, AND THE ENGINE WILL OVERSPEED AND NOT SHUT OFF OR RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL! (The ONLY way to shut an overspeeding diesel off is to jam something in the AIR INTAKE (like your shirt or a plastic bag or something), to smother off the air going into the engine….this will choke it out.)

The diesels hold between 1.25 and 1.5 quarts of oil (depending on engine model). When changing oil, after putting in one quart, CHECK THE DIPSTICK CAREFULLY!!

YANMAR diesel engines have the oil fill and dipstick in the same cap. These engines can be filled to overflowing with engine level, just like the gas engines above.

Lombardini/ Kohler diesels are equipped with a CLEANABLE oil filter, see our General Diesel Instructions document for details.

All tractors are test-run by us prior to shipping, so they are properly filled with oil when you get your tractor. (EXCEPTION: if you live in a country outside the USA AND we have shipped your tractor by air-freight, there will be NO oil in the engine or transmission.)

Engine Oil should be changed after a running period of 5-8 hours for initial “break-in”. After that, change every 30-40 hours for Gas engines; 40-60 hours for diesel.

The engine owners’ manual supplied with your tractor gives manufacturers’ recommendations for oil type, but we can tell you from experience that a good quality 15W40 engine (such as Shell Rotella or equivalent) will work in virtually any engine, Gas or Diesel, and in most any weather conditions. For gas engines, 10W40 works fine also, and is a bit less expensive. We use an oil of this type for our “shop” engine oil, which we have in 55 gallon drums. However, in very cold temperatures (below 15 degrees F), a lighter weight oil may be required for easier starting, such as a 10W30 or 5W30. This light an oil should be drained out, however, when you get back into the warm season…the heavier weight oil gives much better high-temperature protection for an air-cooled engine.

Some folks may want to use a straight 30W oil, and that is fine, but you will find it takes more effort to start the engine in cooler weather. If straight 30W or 40W is used, make sure it is a detergent-type oil…NOT a “Non-detergent” oil!

Also, for anyone who wants to use it: all these engines are perfectly compatible with synthetic and synthetic blend oils. Our recommendation is that the engine should be run on “conventional” oil the initial 5-8 hours for break-in, then another oil change (30-60 hours, depending on engine) on conventional, THEN put synthetic in. This assures full break-in before switching to a synthetic. Synthetic oils are pretty much proven to reduce wear through increased heat resistance and less oil breakdown, and I run Schaeffer brand 15W40 synthetic blend oil in my own machine year-round.

(For transmission and implement oil recommendations, see the Tractor and Implements tabs.)

About Engine Fuel

(Recommendations by Joel Dufour, Earth Tools owner, sharing 30+ years of experience with small engines)

GASOLINE:

SPECIAL NOTE: On all Honda engines with Hi-rise fuel caps (where cap is approximately 1” tall, chrome steel), Honda recommeds filling fuel tanks NO MORE THAN ¾ FULL. Filling over ¾ full may cause the cap venting element to “seal” itself, resulting in “vacuum-locking” the tank after the engine has run 20-30 minutes.

Modern small 4-cycle gasoline engines do not technically require higher than a 87 octane fuel, but based on experience, I would typically recommend a higher octane; at least 89, for a bit better high-temperature protection for the engine. The more important thing to look for in fuel these days is a lower “additive” content…but that is virtually impossible to find. Between ethanol (a form of alcohol), cutting agents, solvents, and 4 different types of ether that are typically added to gasoline these days, you are almost bound to have fuel system problems eventually if you don’t take the necessary precautions.

Non-ethanol fuel is available in some areas, and this alleviates that potential part of the problem. But non-ethanol gasoline does NOT solve all the issues…there are still plenty of other additives in modern gasoline, and in a great enough percentage, some of them can be as bad or worse then ethanol (all reputable engine manufacturers now use fuel system components that can handle up to 10% ethanol with no problem).

The biggest problem with all these additives is that they either : A. Attract water (alcohols); or B. evaporate quickly (other additives I mentioned), taking the “lighter-end” agents of the gasoline with them and resulting in a varnishy, stale, unburnable fuel in a relatively short time. I recently read a chemical analysis of modern gasoline that stated that unleaded regular unleaded is now around 50% chemically “Gasoline” by volume. So the other 50% are made up of the stuff I mentioned above…a substance called Toluene is actually about 25% of the volume (toluene is used in carburetor cleaner & paint thinner). The oil companies can apparently still legally call the stuff “Gasoline”, because actual gasoline is technically the greatest percentage of this chemical medley.

Many small-engine manufacturers are learning to cope with this, simply by recommending that gasoline be not kept around for long periods of time (for example, STIHL brand chain saw owners manuals recommend that fuel kept longer than 30 DAYS be disposed of…this is a bit excessive, but they are just covering their tails).

My recommendations for gasoline storage & engine prep for storage:

  1. Gasoline in storage containers should be kept SEALED and out of direct sunlight to maximize storage life.

  2. Never keep gasoline in storage containers longer than 90 days. If the gas you have on hand in containers exceeds this age, pour it in your vehicle (not if the vehicle is a diesel, of course!)…your vehicle engine is MUCH less sensitive to fuel quality than your small engine. (however, if stored gasoline is much over 6 months old, I would hesitate to even pour it in a vehicle…)

  3. If your small engine has a METAL fuel tank, storage of the engine (for more than 30 days) should occur with the tank FULL (or, as full as recommended…see note at top) in order to keep the inside of the tank from rusting in moist environments. In this case, you will want to first turn the fuel shut-off valve OFF, then start the engine and let it burn all the fuel out of the carburetor. So, the engine is stored with a “full” tank of fuel, but an empty carb. For storage periods longer than 60 days, it is not a bad idea to first put some fuel stabilizer in the tank, then run the engine for a few minutes to make sure the “stabilized” fuel in in the carb, THEN shut off the fuel and let the engine burn the fuel out of the carb. This way, whatever drops of fuel are left in the carb are ‘stabilized’ fuel, and while in my experience, ‘stabilized’ fuel can still go stale (meaning it will not burn well), it at least doesn’t coagulate to a varnishy gook and plug up the carburetor.

  4. A Fuel stabilizer that we have heard good things about is Star Brite: http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-gasoline-additive

    If you have a PLASTIC fuel tank on the engine, for over 60-day storage, you can simply drain the fuel out of the tank and run the carb dry. Plastic fuel tanks cannot rust.

Now, all this said: I will share a bit more personal experience on gasoline with you: I personally NEVER drain fuel out of any of my small engines, I never add stabilizer, and I never burn the fuel out of carburetors, even if I am going to leave an engine idle for 6 months or more. I also haven’t had to repair any carburetor or fuel system on anything I own in the last 20 years. WHY? Because I go to the slightly more trouble and expense of buying Aviation grade, 100 octane gasoline for use in all my small engines. This is, simply put, the highest quality gasoline available on the market today. It has virtually no additives, has a low evaporation rate/low vapor pressure, boils at a much higher temperature (resulting in NO vapor locks, no matter how old the engine is you’re running it in), and has a “shelf life” of OVER 2 YEARS in a sealed fuel container. There’s a reason they use that stuff in light planes: People’s lives depend on the fuel quality. (If your light plane vapor-locks at 8,000 feet, what are you gonna do, pull over and let it cool off?) While regular unleaded fuel is around 50% “gasoline” by chemical analysis, 100LL AvGas is 90 to 95% “gasoline”.

The extra octane this fuel has is not necessary for these small engines, but it can’t hurt them. Anyone who claims that high-octane fuel can damage an engine needs to go back to high school and learn about octane: is is a measurement of how hot a fuel can get before it spontaneously combusts. This is why if you have a race-car engine, you go out of your way to buy high-octane fuel for the thing…a high-compression engine with more lead timing RUNS HOTTER, and if you put a low-octane fuel in it, you will kiss your investment in a hot-rodded engine goodbye, as it blows holes in the pistons from preignition and detonation. In a “low-performance” engine, like one of these small engines, extra octane in not NEEDED, but it cannot HURT the engine.

I don’t use the Aviation grade fuel for the octane, that’s just a side-effect. I use it for the inherent stability of the fuel. (BTW: 100 octane low-lead Aviation gasoline [100LL] is PERFECTLY LEGAL to use in any OFF-ROAD application…it is just not legal to run in your vehicle, because there is no “road tax” applied to the purchase price.)

Now, the 100LL fuel IS leaded fuel…this is the one down-side, as no one can argue against the fact that lead is toxic. It has half the amount of lead as leaded fuel did pre-lead-phaseout (2 grams per gallon in 100LL, vs. 4 grams per gallon in leaded regular in say, 1974). You personally will have to balance the pros & cons of using a leaded fuel vs. having potential fuel system reliability issues from using the “standard” gas from a filling station. For example, if you have an organic market farm, leaded fuel may be a bad idea…you don’t really want high concentrations of heavy metals accumulating in your soil over time. But, if you are a home gardener who uses your equipment less often, the up-sides of not having to bring your lawn & garden equipment to the service shop for fuel system repairs (which takes time & money…not to mention burning more fuel to get back & forth to the shop!) may outweigh the small amount of lead emitted in the relatively few gallons of fuel you will burn as a part-time user.

There is apparently a movement to take the lead OUT of aviation-grade gasoline, which I think would be great…it would be nice to have the advantages of a very pure, high-quality gasoline, without the byproduct of emitting lead. But this has not happened yet, to my knowledge…

So, there it all is…choose whatever fuel works best for you.

DIESEL:

All modern diesel manufacturers recommend the use of “ultra-low sulfur” diesel fuel. Regarding BioDiesel: Technically, engine warranties are void if Biodiesel levels of greater than 5% are used in them, but frankly we have seen NO problems with folks running up to B100 in these engines, other than some accelerated rubber-fuel-line deterioration…which can be circumvented by replacing the lines with Viton tubing (or any other acid-resistant tubing) when they do go bad. These acid-resistant tubing can be gotten at most auto-parts stores, on the internet from various suppliers, and we also stock it here at Earth Tools. Diesel fuel is very stable, and can be stored up to a year (possibly more) if kept in sealed containers, out of the sunlight.

Diesel Engine Info

Engine Service Procedures: Acme Engine

Engine Service Procedures: General

Tractors: Lubrication

PROPER LUBRICATION OF WALK-BEHIND TRACTORS

(FOR ENGINE LUBRICATION, SEE THE ENGINES TAB)
(FOR IMPLEMENT LUBRICATION, SEE THE IMPLEMENTS TAB)

All walk-behind tractors use some form of lubricant inside the transmission (gearbox) case, to lubricate the gears, bearings and shafts inside. This oil needs to be checked at least once per year to make sure it is full to the proper level. The transmission oil should be changed after an initial period of 20 to 30 hours for “break-in”, and then according to the following schedule:
For tractors with DRY clutches (NOT BCS “PowerSafe” machines): Change transmission gear oil every 2 to 3 years (or every 200 hours of use, whichever comes first…although, if you use synthetic gear oil, you could extend those changes to 8 to 10 years/1000 hours). Capacity of the transmission is anywhere from 1 to 2.5 quarts, depending on the tractor model (see the below chart).
For BCS “PowerSafe” tractors: Change transmission oil (AND FILTER, since the PowerSafe models are equipped with a transmission oil filter) once per year, OR every 100 hours of use, whichever comes first.

KEEP READING FOR PROPER TRANSMISSION OIL TYPES…WE COVER THIS A FEW PARAGRAPHS DOWN.

The filler plug/dipstick is located on top of the transmission, in between the handlebar mount and the engine, and slightly off-center from the center-line of the tractor. It is a black (or black with a red center on some Grillo machines) plastic cap, and it just pulls up out of the transmission (it is sealed by a rubber O-ring). NOTE: when checking the transmission oil level of an OLDER (pre-1995) BCS machine, a common problem is that the dipstick has been in place for so long, the O-ring is “stuck” and the dipstick does not want to pull out…so, when you put some force to it, what happens is that the vent-cap of the dipstick pops off, leaving you looking at the top stem of the dipstick, and you will find some plastic mesh stuff inside it (this is the vent element). YOUR DIPSTICK IS NOT BROKEN! Put the vent-cap back on (you may have to smack it pretty hard to get it to pop back on), and use a couple flat-blade screwdrivers to stick in at the BOTTOM of the dipstick (between the black plastic lower lip and the actual tranny housing)—one on each side— and twist the screwdrivers simultaneously to pry the dipstick up out of the tranny housing.

Check the transmission oil with the tractor LEVEL (NOTE: when a tiller implement is attached to the tractor, the transmission is NOT level…it leans “down” toward the tiller. LEVEL means that the plane of the tractor transmission should be level.); keep oil level between the upper & lower marks on the dipstick. (a little extra oil usually does not hurt)

To DRAIN the transmission oil in a BCS tractor with “dry” clutch (NOT “PowerSafe” clutch): The transmission drain plug is located on the bottom of the transmission, on the engine side of the “bulge” between the two wheels. It takes a 14mm wrench or socket to remove the plug. To drain ALL the oil oil out, remove the implement from the tractor so that the tractor engine leans down and contacts the ground. This position will get the MOST “old oil” out of it. IMPORTANT NOTE SOMETIMES, after you remove the drain plug, you will not see much oil coming out at all! This is generally because the factory installs the drain plug with too much silicone gasket sealant, and a glob of sealant actually gets pushed up into the hole and hardens there, almost sealing it off. All you have to do is reach up inside the hole with a screwdriver and shove the “plug” of silicone out of the way to allow the oil to drain. (If the silicone “plug” comes loose inside the housing, don’t worry too much about trying to get it out…it will not harm the gears or bearings at all.) Make sure to level the machine back up before you re-fill it with oil.

To drain the transmission oil on a GRILLO tractor: This drain plug is located on the same side of the transmission as the wheel-speed selector lever, almost at the bottom, and pretty close to the PTO mounting. It takes a 19mm (¾” wrench or socket to remove the plug. In the case of the Grillo, you want to lean the tractor back toward the PTO and put a block of wood or something under the tire on the opposite side of the machine to lean the tranny toward the drain hole. Again, make sure to level the machine up before you re-fill it with oil.

To drain transmission oil on BCS models with PowerSafe “wet” clutches: See “PowerSafe” section a bit further down this page.

OIL TYPE: For ALL walk-behind tractors with dry clutches (that is, for all machines that do not have the BCS PowerSafe hydraulic clutch), the proper oil is a Gear Oil.

There are many different weights of Gear oil: 75w90, 80w90, 85w140, etc. etc. The weight is actually not so important (any of the weights mentioned will work)…what IS important is whether the oil is approved for use WITH BRONZE GEARS (also called Yellow Metal gears). This is because the final wheel drive gear (on the axle itself) in all walk-behind tractors is a bronze worm gear. Most gear oils these days are safe for bronze/yellow metal gears, but a few gear oils still contain sulfur, which can damage yellow metals such as bronze. As a rule of thumb, most synthetic gear oils are safe for yellow metals. If purchasing non-synthetic gear oil, check the oil specifications to make sure it is safe for yellow metal gears.

(this info dug up & compiled by one of our customers, Rick Kruger of Oregon).

BCS “PowerSafe” Tractor Models 739, 740, 749 AND 750: BCS “PowerSafe” models, introduced in the USA in 2012, utilize a hydro-mechanical clutching system (also called a “wet-clutch”), which requires a different type of oil in the tractor transmission: Universal Tractor/Transmission/Hydraulic oil (also called Uni-Hydro fluid). This is the type of oil that runs in any large equipment where a hydraulic system and a gearbox operate in the same oil reservoir (such as skid-steer loaders, bulldozers, many modern tractors, etc.). This oil can be obtained from any auto parts store or farm supply store. Change intervals on this type of transmission are: 25 to 30 hours for the initial “break-in” oil, and every 100 hours (or once yearly, whichever comes first) thereafter. On “PowerSafe” tractors, there is also an OIL FILTER located near the bottom/rear of the engine (this is NOT an engine oil filter; it is for the transmission oil!) which needs to be changed with every transmission oil change. Contact Earth Tools to obtain oil filters: 502-484-3988. The BCS PowerSafe tractors take 2.4 quarts for model 739, or 2.75 quarts for model 740, 749 & 750, of approved hydraulic/transmission oil.

BCS “PowerSafe” models with “Hydro” transmissions (models 660, 680, 770, 779, 689): Same procedure as above, but these models use 15w40 MOTOR OIL in the transmission.

CLICK HERE for a link to view our service bulletin regarding PowerSafe oil changes & approved oils)

CLICK HERE for our video showing the PowerSafe transmission oil & filter change on BCS models 739, 740, 749, 750 (the basic procedure also applies to 660, 770 & 779 Hydro models, although the oil type and filter are DIFFERENT)

If you have slow internet or can’t watch the video link above for whatever reason, here are “text” instructions for changing the tranny / clutch oil in BCS “PowerSafe” models: There is a drain plug for the transmission DIRECTLY OPPOSITE the oil filter mounting “block” (so, if the tractor were set up with a rear-PTO implement [such as a tiller] on it, and you’re standing behind the implement as if you were operating the tractor, the oil filter is on the RIGHT side, under/behind the engine…and the oil drain plug is on the LEFT side, directly across from the filter). The drain plug takes a 22mm wrench or socket. To get the most old oil out of the tranny, have the implement removed from the tractor so that the engine sits down on the ground, and also tilt the tractor toward the drain port with a block of wood under the wheel on the opposite side. There is also a magnet on the inside of this drain plug, to attract any metallic fragments out of the oil; be sure to clean any deposits off the magnet when you have the plug out (wiping it with a rag is sufficient). Make sure to level the machine back up before you re-fill it with oil.

OTHER TRACTOR LUBRICATION POINTS:The rule of thumb for any equipment is: “If it moves, lubricate it!!”…meaning that anywhere that two metal parts rub together, there is friction and the potential for wear, and friction / wear is reduced when lubrication is present. This applies to control levers, handlebar pivot / rotation points, cables, etc. So if you want your investment in a walk-behind tractor to last as long as possible, KEEP IT LUBED UP! (Obviously, there are practical limits…you don’t want so much lube slopped on there that the tractor becomes a dust magnet!!) Most of the external pivot points can be just lubed once or twice per year with a product like Fluid Film, Tri-Flow, or some other high-quality lubricant that contains a long-lasting dry lubricating compound such as Lanolin, Teflon, Silicone or Graphite.

Here is a link to a video we made regarding control cable lubrication: Cable Lube Video

Questions? Call Earth Tools at 502-484-3988 or e-mail [email protected]

Tractors: Use and Maintenance

Grillo-Tractor-Specific Service Procedures

BCS-Tractor-Specific Service Procedures

Video: Clutch Cable adjustment on walk-behind tractors equipped with Standard (dry) clutch (NOT for BCS models with PowerSafe clutch)

Video: BCS PowerSafe Clutch cable/linkage adjustment

Video: BCS PowerSafe Safety Cable adjustment - techniques & tricks

Video: General cable adjustment

Video: Control Cable Replacement on walk-behind tractors

Video: Reverser linkage / Cable on BCS walk-behind tractor models 605, 737, 740, 749, 750, 830, 850, 852, 853, 946, 948 – operation and adjustment

PDF: Reverser Cable / linkage adjustment on model 716, 718, 720, 722, 730, 732, 739 and later model 710 tractors

PDF: Broken Cable Adjustment Fittings

Video: Throttle Lever Tension Adjustment

VIDEO: Walk-behind tractor throttle cable system–Gas engines

VIDEO: BCS 770 & 779 “Hydro” Forward /Reverse cable “direction swap” (also works for cable adjustment after cable replacement)

PDF: Engine & clutch removal - BCS HD cone clutch (¾” or 1” cylindrical crankshaft type engines–this covers all Honda, Kohler & Briggs engines, and SOME diesel engines)

PDF: Engine & clutch removal - BCS HD cone clutch (Tapered crankshaft type–covers later model diesel engines and the older ACME gas engines that were equipped with this type of clutch)

PDF: Engine & clutch removal - BCS older (pre-1990) “serviceable” type cone clutch (Tapered crankshaft type–covers older ACME & Lombardini engines that were equipped with this type of clutch)

PDF: Freeing a stuck cone clutch on BCS tractor - “quick” method (works 80% of the time)

PDF: Freeing a stuck cone clutch on BCS tractor - engine removal method

Video: Freeing a stuck cone clutch on a BCS tractor - COMPLETE

PDF: Converting from earlier (pre-2007) BCS HD Cone Clutch to newer type

Video: Clutch service: Bolted-together Cone type

PDF: Proper engagement of PTO lever on post-1994 BCS tractors

Video: PTO Lever engagement methods on walk-behind tractors

Video: BCS PTO lockout system: How it works, and why it freezes up

PDF: Freeing stuck PTO rod swivel on BCS tractor

Video: BCS PTO Slider installation, post-1995 tractors

PDF: PTO coupling, ball & spring replacement on OLDER BCS models 715, 725, 735 (NOTE: This document actually shows this procedue on a current-model Grillo machine, but the procedure is virtually identical on these older BCS models)

Video: Replacing Plastic PTO “Joint” on BCS tractors

Video: BCS models 739, 749, 750 PowerSafe Transmission oil & filter change (technique applies to BCS 660, 770 and 779, although a different oil type is used on those models)

PDF: BCS PowerSafe Oil Specifications

PDF: BCS Transmission cover removal for taper-3-jaw PTO type

Video: Transmission input shaft oil seal replacement

Video: BCS PTO Slider installation, post-1995 tractors

Video: Handlebar height adjustment repair on BCS 605, 737, 830 & 850 (with portions of video applicable to other tractors)

Video: Making your older BCS shift gears easier

Video: Brake and Stub-Axle service on BCS

VIDEO: BCS Handlebar “Wear” Adjustments (Post-2004 models)

Video: Replacing Plastic PTO “Joint” on BCS tractors

Video: BCS Gearshift “quadrant” adjustment

BCS & Grillo Tractors: General Maintenance / Service Procedures

Implements: Quick Couplings

Implements: Lubrication

Most PTO-driven implements for walk-behind tractors have a gearbox for the rotating shafts/gears. The “rule of thumb” on implement gearboxes is to keep the oil level at ½ full. There are usually no dip-sticks on implements, but half-full can be determined by simply looking at the gearbox and judging roughly half the height…this will typically result in the gear oil level being about 2 inches below the top of the filler port. You can also stick a wire or thin screwdriver in to gauge the level. EXCEPTION: The Berta Rotary Plows have an oil fill/check port on the SIDE of their gearbox, oriented at the halfway point. So all you have to do is remove the plug with the plow sitting level on its plow rotor (OFF the tractor, so the top cover of the plow is parallel to the ground), and if oil oozes out, the oil level is correct. If none comes out, put oil in until it wants to come back out the hole.

TIPS ON CHECKING OIL LEVELS IN TILLER IMPLEMENTS: On the BCS brand tillers manufactured after 1987, the top cover of the tiller needs to be raised in order to get to the oil plug on top of the gearbox. To do this, remove the two nuts & bolts in the back, under the cover (one links the cover brace to the gearbox, the other links the depth-bar together…you need 2 – 13mm wrenches) and then use the large front bolt & nut as a “hinge”, and flip the cover up so you can check the oil. The oil fill/check plug takes a 14mm wrench or socket to remove it. The oil level should be maintained at ½ full (approx. 2 inches below the top of the gearcase). There is no dipstick, just insert a wire or small screwdriver into the hole to check the level.
On Grillo brand tillers, the oil plug is on the right side of the gearbox…there are 5 bolts around the “edge” of the gearbox cover that hold the cover onto the gearbox body, and then there is this “extra” bolt that is more toward the middle/rear, at the “halfway up” point. THAT one is the oil plug. With the tiller attached to the tractor, take the plug out and if oil oozes out, the level is correct. If no oil comes out, it is low and needs to be added. This is such a small hole, getting oil in can be a real bugger. We find that using a turkey baster with a thin needle works great; just stick it down in the hole and squeeze oil in a little at a time until it oozes back out.

The type of oil used in most implement gearboxes is SAE 90w, 80w90 or 85w140 gear oil or any similar-weight gear oil. Implements are not typically choosy about oil weight…it is more important that there is oil in it!! EXCEPTION: The R2 Rinaldi brand Power Harrows recommend an EP, NLGI “0” Grease (in mechanic or electrician lingo, “One Ot” Grease) …this is a very light-weight grease, which liquefies (when at operating temperature) to a thick gear oil. (EP stands for Extreme Pressure). The power harrows do not need to be half-full…one-third full is fine, or just enough oil/grease to cover the gears. Also, if it is below 75 degrees, it is best to run the harrow a few minutes before checking the oil to warm it up, as in cooler temps the lubricant is too thick to “flow” well and may not give a good reading. NOTE: A common grease that meets these specs is John Deere Corn Head Grease NOTE If it is too hard to find the “0” grease in your area, you can also use “00” (double-Ot) grease…this is available at most Tractor Supply stores as “cotton picker spindle grease”. It is a little thinner that the “single Ot” grease, but it will work fine.

Oil level in implements should be checked AT LEAST once per year, and MORE in implements where the output shaft is exposed to lots of material that could wrap around the shaft and damage the oil seals (such as a Brush Mower). Gear oil in implements does not need to be changed much, since implement gearboxes are typically “sealed” (non-vented), and therefore moisture cannot get in. Still, it is a good idea to change gear oil every two or three years….UNLESS you switch to Synthetic gear oil, in which case you can leave the stuff in there 10 years or more, as synthetic gear oil has amazing lifespan characteristics. (Most synthetic gear oil is something like 75w90 or 75w140, and these are fine.)

Only a few implements have grease fittings on them; these are lubricated with multi-purpose grease in a standard zerk-type grease gun. Typically you pump the grease gun until grease is visible oozing out nearby (unless otherwise noted below). These implements are:

  • Lawn mowers: On front caster wheels; grease every 30 hours of use
  • Haybalers: (various locations); grease every 50 hours of use
  • Hayrakes: (various locations); grease every 50 hours of use
  • Cutter bar mowers:
    • Oil bath type: on “float” joint near where mower attaches to tractor; grease once per year.
    • Newer Double-action cutter bars: same as above, plus on blade drive pins; grease every 20 hours of use.
    • Grease-gearbox type: grease all 3 fittings every 4 - 6 hours of use
  • Power Harrow: Mesh-roller axle and screw-crank for height adjustment; grease every 20 hours of use. On SOME harrow models, the PTO mount “swivel” also has a grease fitting–once a year on this.
  • Flail Mowers: Each end of mower blade shaft, and, depending on brand, also possibly on the end of “transfer” shaft (right of input gearbox): Grease every 40 hours of use (JUST 2 PUMPS). You have to remove the side covers on the Berta flail mowers to get to these fittings!! On Berta brand flail mowers, if equipped with a quick-coupling to attach to the tractor, also keep the male quick-coupling greased as needed (so it does not get “dry”)—you just have to smear some grease on, there is not fitting here. ALSO: if your flail mower is equipped with front “caster” wheels, there are probably grease fittings on those. Grease every 30 to 40 hours of use.
  • Brush Mowers: On “swivel” joint that allows mower to “float” with ground contours; grease every 20 hours of use.
  • Crimper/Roller: Axle shaft; grease once per year; just a couple pumps on each bearing.
  • Rescia Guiliano brand Snowblowers: Chain-drive enclosure: Grease every 20 hours of use (10 pumps max). AND the “shear bolt” sleeve: Grease once per year, pump until grease visible oozing out of the sleeve.
  • Grillo “Female” (tractor side) Quick-Coupling: This is not technically an “implement”, but it is used to attach the implements to the tractor! Grillo does have a grease fitting on their “female” quick-couplings (it would be nice if BCS did too, but they don’t!), so grease this a couple times a year, WHILE there is an implement attached. 4 or 5 pumps should be sufficient.

If you have an implement NOT listed here, and you see a grease fitting on it…by all means, grease it!! We are not infallible …

Implements: Service Procedures



EARTH TOOLS, Inc.
1525 Kays Branch Road
Owenton, KY 40359

(502) 484-3988 tel.
(502) 237-1026 fax.

NOTE REGARDING
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS:

Annual Winter vacation: in 2024, closed from Saturday Dec 21st until the first Business Day of New Year (in 2025, re-opening Thursday Jan 2nd).

Also closed Martin Luther King day (Jan 15th), Memorial Day (May 27th), USA Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day (Sept 2nd), and the Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving (Nov 28 & 29).

PHONE HOURS (EST)
March 15 - October 31
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST
November 1 - March 14
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Weekend hours by appointment. Note holiday hours at left.
VISITING OUR SHOP:  Please call ahead!

If you’d like to visit our shop, we have plenty of land to demonstrate our walk-behind tractors with any implement.  But if you’re coming to visit, CALL AHEAD at least one day in advance!  Retail business hours are by appointment (yes, weekends, too), so the more notice you give us the better we can set our schedule to fit your schedule.  We are occasionally out of the shop doing deliveries, demonstrations or displaying equipment at trade shows.


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Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.