BCS 40″ Sickle Bar Mower

Description

BCS 40″ Sickle Bar Mower, Complete With Transmission

For owners of the compact 710 and 718, the 40 inch sickle bar is the widest cutter available and the practical choice for small hay plots, meadows and roadside banks. It is sold as a complete mower, bar and oil-bath transmission together, and BCS points out that sickle bars need so little power that even the 710 runs one well.

Efficient Mowing on Small Engines

A reciprocating knife takes far less power than a spinning blade, so the mower uses less fuel and lets a small engine cut a wide swath. That efficiency is why BCS describes sickle bars as ideal for commercial operations that value cost-effective performance. The 40 inch bar cuts grass and weeds and handles saplings up to 1.5 inches thick.

Making Hay With a Walk-Behind

Because a sickle bar cuts stems once at the base and lays them down intact, the material is ready for forage harvesting. On a few acres, the 40 inch bar paired with BCS’s 50 inch single belt hay rake makes hay without a four-wheel tractor. A swivel joint in the input shaft lets the bar tilt to follow the ground, so the cut stays even across uneven fields.

40 Inch Specifications and Fit

• Sold complete with oil-bath transmission (short on 710/718, long on 722 and up)
• Saplings: up to 1.5″ thick
• Cutting height: skids adjust up to 3″
• 749, 779, 852, 853: quick hitch or PTO extension
• 750, 889: quick hitch or PTO extension plus HD 2-bolt bushing

Knife Care

The mower comes with a complete spare knife assembly, which makes the swap quick when the working knife dulls or breaks a section. Clean grass gum off the bar after each use, oil the knife lightly before storage, and keep the old knife for sharpening rather than throwing it away. Coverage is three years residential and one year commercial.

Wider Bars and Dual Action

The 45 inch bar is the next step and needs a 722 or larger. Owners mowing large grassy areas regularly should compare the dual action bars, whose two opposing knives cut faster with less vibration, starting at 47 inches on the 722.