BCS with 2-stage Berta snowblower in Alaska

Showing how the 2-stage Berta snowblower on a BCS 948 'eats' snow piles.
The narration says its a 30" blower but the tape measure says its a 28" blower. Sorry for not measuring before speaking...

[@zinknot]

I'm saving to buy one. I will be so excited to get it. I will finally be able to work through the winter. As I only get seasonal farm work and lawn maintenance jobs right now.

[@alaskaspecialtycrops9521]

I think you'll like it! Mine has made me a lot of money over the years.

[@Navigator777777]

Your video is one of the strongest from a sales perspective. Turned me from a shopper into a buyer. Trying to select the model and implements. You mentioned the BCS 948. Is that a typo? I can't find the machine in the literature. Regardless, we've got just a little less than a ¼ mile of steep driveway, two parking lots, a 2000 sf" shop to plow 10' wide around and a 250' of path from house to shop across our yard. That path becomes career ending, bone breaking, treacherous nightmare after a wee bit of winter. Tractors or snowplows can't touch it. A neighbor has a John Deere with a loader and a rear blade. I plow his driveway then ours. Without trying to insult him or being an ungrateful ass, the tractor doesn't do anything well. It polishes our driveway into a beautiful ice rink. It's a gear driven and after plowing, I'm physically beat from turning around to look behind. Had my eyes set on the track Honda but when the snow goes away our investment sits. Had my eyes set on the new Summit Tractor but when all is said and done, $30,000+ is not a wife pleaser and I still can't touch the path. I'm physically fit, cold isn't an issue.... I'm really liking the hydrostatic BCS 779. 2022 kicked our butts with nearly 5' of snowfall before winter started. Questions: What is the blade clearance to the blower housing? I don't see lights? Electric start or pull? Does adding Beat Juice to the tires help or hurt? Can a fella snowblow uphill with chains? Are there any road grading implements? Have you used the roller flail? How else do you use your machine when the snow is gone? Do's and Don'ts? Sorry for the long winded reply, but it's as deep as our snow.

[@trevorhannon900]

these machines are a lot better than any conventional walk behind snowblower, even hondas

[@alaskaspecialtycrops9521]

If this thing had tire chains it would be even more impressive. Right now the wheels will start slipping before the engine 'bogs' down.

[@trevorhannon900]

@@alaskaspecialtycrops9521 BCS hasnt changed the basic design since they first came out on the market

[@paulnorman8274]

They definitely process more snow per minute than any 13hp GX390 Honda. Their snow chute is much less sophisticated, though. For one, it fogs more in dry, fluffy conditions. And I don't believe it throws as far. Which, honestly, for most people in places where single axle tractors are used, is better use of power than wasting limited energy on blasting snow into orbit. Also, the ergonomics is very different. In tight spaces, the hydrostatic transmission on the Honda, not to mention the Honda being only half as long, is much easier and safer to use. While, OTOH, across any sideways slope, the BCS having the engine behind, rather than on top as on the Honda, makes the tractor much less tippy (In Japan Honda and others do sell models with very wide tracks which are not tippy at all. I'm talking about the US made ones.) BCS does sell hydrostatic models as well, now. But they're costly. And less proven (at least in the US) than the Hondas'. As for traction, anywhere a two stage is needed, belts are arguably "better." You can get belts for the BCS tractors. Multiple kinds, even, so I suppose at least one would be similar to the Honda's. You have to install them, though. Which works both ways, as belts do fall off at times, and the fact that the BCS ones are designed from scratch to be owner installed, probably makes fixing things easier. I wouldn't buy a BCS and a snowblower atachment if blowing snow was all I wanted out of it. It's a tool which requires more skill, hence practice, to use properly, that what can reasonably be picked up clearing snow a few times a year.. But the ability to also use plow blades and sweepers on the same power unit, as well as brush, flail and lawn mowers (and other stuff. You can even get a Harley rake to more easily fix up snowmelt damage to dirt roads, which sounded perfect until I saw the price, but at least the option is there...) when winter is over, makes is a great package for those willing to learn to use the somewhat less city-slicker-friendly machine. And the quality is as far from throwaway big-box-store as it is possible to get (Full size John Deere tractors feel more plasticky than the BCS' these days...). The suckers are thick, solid metal everywhere, and designed and built to fully commercial/ag standards. Also, as opposed to most modern equipment (even Honda,) it is made to be largely user serviceable, hence are effectively much longer lasting in competent hands,.

[@alaskaspecialtycrops9521]

@@paulnorman8274 Yes, I agree that the BCS is pretty user serviceable. I use this machine pretty hard and all I've had to replace was a clutch and all the control cables. The machine lives outside and water gets into the various cables. I need to shout out my appreciation to EarthTools BCS. They've supplied parts and talked me through several repairs. I have a set of adjustable axles for the wheel spacing but I usually take them off when working with the snowblower. I prefer the narrowest spacing so the wheels are completely behind the blower. With some of the soil tools (or when mowing on a hillside) I'll increase the wheel spacing to increase stability but for moving snow on our flat parking area it easiest to keep the wheel spacing very narrow. I've been looking into the track kits available for this model of BCS but I really don't get into muddy-enough conditions to justify their cost. Snow chains would solve my slipping problems on snow and the machine really doesn't slip much on soil. If I was pulling a cart on muddy trails that would be a very different situation. I agree that the BCS is a pretty expensive machine to buy for just the snowblower (and I'd hesitate to move anywhere that snowed enough to tax that blower). Over the years I've picked up quite a complement of attachments and actually, we rarely get enough snow to warrant hooking up the snowblower. I initially purchased the 853 to power a rototiller and the rotary plow. These tools are very well matched to that 13 hp Honda. Since then I've also purchased the flail and sickle mowers. The sickle mower is fast and very effective in grass and small weeds. The flail mower is slower but I've used it to mow 1" diameter saplings other woody brush in the field. Hitting unseen debris with the flail mower is much less violent than hitting it with a rotary mower. I've also fabricated some specialized equipment to attach via the Quick Attach System. The 26 gal herbicide sprayer that I've mounted on a quick attach fitting has made me the most money. Its so maneuverable that I can get in places with the BCS where tractors (or ATVs) could never get in. The BSC is not for everyone but it does certain tasks better than anything else.

[@Navigator777777]

@@paulnorman8274 Thanks for that. A good read!

[@poorfatman5317]

Wow

[@locomoco5555]

What distributor did you go through to pick it up, in Alaska?

[@LoveNIsrael]

Wonder why mine leave 2" of snow all the time no matter how hard I lifted the handles upward. It's arm breaking and I regret getting this implement. Mine model is 739.

[@carlsapartments8931]

because you didn't set the height adjustment

[@alaskaspecialtycrops9521]

On the backside of my Berta snowblower there is a set of skids that keep the 'mouth' of the snowblower above the surface I'm trying to clear from snow. In the early season , before the gravel lot has completely frozen solid, I have these skids lowered down a bit. This effectively raises the 'mouth' of the blower above the gravel lot and keeps the loose stones out of the blower. Unfortunately, this also leaves a layer of snow on the lot, just like you're describing. So, the first place I'd check is to see if the skids on the backside of the blower are set to a position that keeps the cutting edge of the blower too high above the surface you're trying to clear. Good Luck! Jeff

[@raymondreiff8170]

Right, Try that with Your cheap snowblower 😅

[@jimshewokis6778]

Better than a old Gravely.

[@alaskaspecialtycrops9521]

Its a very different beast. I used to use a Gravely walking tractor with a rotary mower. It was almost unstoppable because it was so heavy. With the belt drive the Gravely had a little forgiveness because the belts would slip a bit before the machine stalled out. The BCS is not as heavy so its wheels will slip. This works out well since with all gear drive there is not much slippage in the unit. I don't think a day working with the BCS is as tiring as that big old Gravely was.