Berta Rotary Plows

This amazing primary tillage implement was pioneered on a walk-behind tractor by the Gravely® Company many years ago, but the front–PTO design of the Gravely tractors made operation of this tool dangerous.  The Berta Franco Company of Italy has refined the design and made the plow applicable as a rear-PTO implement for all European walk-behind tractors.  Putting the rotary plow in the rear of the tractor improved the handling so much that, as the promotional video from the Italian manufacturer shows, it can actually be run with “NO HANDS!”  (Don’t try this at home, kids. It only works in Italy, where there are fewer lawyers... We absolutely do not recommend this procedure!  But it’s impressive for a sales video.)   

        U-tube Video link 1        U-tube Video link 2

Essentially the rotary plow has a vertical shaft with 4 spiral blades (plowshares) turning at approximately 300 rpm.  Soil in front of the plow is cut into and then immediately centrifugally discharged to the side as it is inverted.  Basically, in a single pass through sod, the plow will leave 10-12 inches of worked soil.  And because the soil is not trapped under a hood and repeatedly pulverized (like with a tiller), the soil structure is not beat to death. Tilth of soil is similar to that which has been plowed and disked with a conventional tractor:  good enough for large seeds and vegetable starts; may need secondary tillage on the top 2-3” for small seeds.  Plow works 8-10” wide per pass, but unlike a tiller, there is no such thing as a ‘second pass’ with a Rotary Plow, so it more than makes up for it’s narrow working width in the fact that it only has to go over the ground once.
  The horizontal movement of the blades through the soil causes little or no hardpan and is actually less violent than a rototiller when hitting rocks, tree roots, etc. Customers have reported to us that basketball-sized rocks are turned out by the plow “and you hardly feel them!”
Absolutely unbeatable for breaking new ground, and we have also found it excellent for turning in standing cover crop up to 4 feet tall.  (A shear blade at the top of the rotor keeps material from “winding” around the shaft).  Exploiting the side discharge nature of this tool (which will throw soil up to 24 inches past the edge of the hood) awesome (and amazingly flat-toped) raised beds, power ridging and hilling can be achieved.  Makes a pretty darn good trencher, too.  Depth can be regulated by a gauge wheel (included) and discharge can be controlled by a removable side flap (included) and by adjusting the top cover height.

40” wide raised beds made in one afternoon with a Berta Rotary Plow

Rotary plows will work on BCS and Grillo walk-behind tractors that have at least 8.5 hp (gas) or 7 hp (diesel) and 4x10x18” wheels or larger. Distance between wheels needs to be 14” to 18”(measured from the inside of one wheel to the inside of the other), and the closer you get to 18”, the better the plow will perform because it takes a bigger bite. Axle extensions may be required to achieve optimal working width on wheels.

Single Swivel (reversible) Discharges soil to right side.  Most popular due to cost and weight.  Weighs 95 lbs.  Weight kit available if needed to counter-balance heavier engines. Has two plowshare rotors which turn opposite directions; gearbox mounted on perfectly-balanced swivel, so it can be instantly “flipped” and right or left discharge can be achieved.  Good for odd-shaped plots and especially for hillside work and terracing when soil needs to be thrown uphill or downhill only. VERY HEAVY (150 lbs.)—requires front weight for tractor to counter-balance plow.     Left Discharge Right Discharge (Unused rotor up under domed cover for safety)

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BCS and Grillo Rear-tine Tillers

The Grillo Company has been building rear-tine tillage equipment since the early 1950’s.  Through a technology-sharing venture with BCS which lasted from roughly the late 1960’s to the early 1980’s, BCS acquired rear-tine tiller technology (the first BCS-branded tillers were produced around 1970).  Both companies’ tiller implements currently feature 290 rpm tine speed (with engine at maximum rpm), hardened-steel ring and pinion gear drive and ball bearing supported shafts in an oil bath.  Both units use a wedge-shaped “middlebuster” (BCS calls theirs a “Planar wedge”) which has 3 functions:  1) Depth control; 2) completely breaks out center strip of untilled soil under gearbox; 3) helps hold tractor in place in hard soils.  BCS planar wedge adjusts to 4 depth positions; Grillo adjusts to 6 positions.  Grillo tillers also feature a “Helix” type spiral time pattern (with Bolo style tines) for a smoother tilling action.  Both brands will leave up to 8” deep worked soil.  Tillers can be used for primary cultivation but can over-pulverize the soil, resulting in degraded soil structure.  Caution has to be taken not to over-till.  Tillers are best used for secondary tillage, seedbed prep, mixing fertilizer and crop residues (provided they are not too long and fibrous, in which case they will tend to wrap around the tine shaft) into the soil, shallow weed control and inter-season work.  A Hiller/furrower accessory can be quickly attached behind all tillers to make furrows or push soil out for hilling or ridging.

Click here for a video of the BCS rear-tine tiller in action.

BRAND/ SIZE BCS 18” Grillo 18” BCS 20” Grillo 22” BCS 26” Grillo 27” BCS 30” Grillo 32” BCS 34” FITS 5-6.5 hp BCS 6-9 hp Grillo 7-11 hp BCS 7.5-10 hp Grillo 8-13 hp BCS 8-10 hp Grillo 10-13 hp BCS Grillo G131 only BCS 948 only WIDTH ADJUSTS TO (width not adjustable) 16” or 20” - 27” (with extension kit) 26” (with extension kit) 16”, 18”, 20”, 25” & 27” (with extension kit) 20” 16”, 18”, 20”, 25” & 31” (with extension kit) 26” 20”, 24”, 28”, & 36” (with extension kit) 27”, 30”, 38” (with extension kit) WEIGHT 64 lbs. 80 lbs. 83 lbs. 85 lbs. 95 lbs. 95 lbs. 100 lbs. 125 lbs. 168 lbs.

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R2 Split-hood Tiller

Designed for commercial-scale row-crop cultivation, this unit is manufactured by the R2 Rinaldi Company in Italy.  This implement is designed to do shallow cultivation on either side of a row, and is able to straddle a plant up to 6” tall.  Individual tiller widths are adjustable from 7.5” to 10.5” and tiller units slide left and right on the frame to allow 7” to 12” widths down the center.  Extremely heavy duty, it has a hardened-gear split gearbox at the top, and then oil bath enclosed chains center-driving each tiller unit.  Fits tractors 8.5 hp and up (gas) or 7 hp & up (diesel) with 4x10x18” wheels or larger.  (very heavy – may require front weight with some engines)

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R2 Power Harrows

Built by R2 Rinaldi of Italy, the Power Harrows (also called Rotary Harrows) offer the ultimate in seedbed prep and secondary tillage/weed control.  Multiple sets of tines rotate on vertical axes (yes, this is the plural of axis) for totally horizontal tilling of the soil – No inversion of soil layers and No vertical compression leading to hardpan formation.  Also, “stirring” action does not over-pulverize the soil such as can be done with a rototiller; soil structure stays in better shape.  Depth incrementally adjusted by means of the steel mesh-roller in the rear, allowing 1” to 5” depth.  Mesh roller also perfectly levels and pre-tamps seedbed for precision seeding and good seed-to-soil contact.    Extremely heavy-duty, the hardened steel gearing runs in an oil bath, shafts supported by ball-bearings.  Side panels are spring-loaded to allow rocks to be “kicked” around the edges of the rotors without damaging tines.  Due to the fact that this is the only soilworking implement that actually has an oscillating swivel-joint at the PTO coupling allowing the harrow to “float” independent of the tractor axle, these tools are also coveted by the landscaping industry for leveling out / renovating yards or any lumpy terrain. The implement even has a small (removable) adjustable-height grader blade at the front to level out the ground in that plane as well.  (these units are also available by special-order with a full-width seeder attachment mounted between the harrow and the mesh roller for lawn/cover crop seeding. Call for quotes on this option)


These are very heavy implements – may require a front weight on the tractor for proper balance. Also, we recommend that the tractor be equipped with 5x12x22” or larger wheels for proper ground clearance, especially important on diesel-powered machines, since the diesel engine oil pan "hangs" lower.

Click Here to view a short video of a power harrow in action.

Size 20” 23” 29” 36” (special order only) Minimum tractor HP 8.5 hp Gas 7 hp Diesel 10 hp Gas 8 hp Diesel 12 hp Gas 10 hp Diesel 14 hp Gas 12 hp Diesel Weight 140 lbs. 170 lbs. 210 lbs. 242 lbs.

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R2 Stoneburier

This is essentially a super-heavy-duty counter-rotating-tine tiller (tines rotate opposite tractor wheel direction) with reverse-angle tines that interface with a set of vertical steel rods at the rear of the unit… the net result being that stones (up to baseball-sized), roots, organic matter, etc. are pushed to the bottom of the tilth and “clean” soil is left on top.  Depth is adjustable up to 6” deep by the mesh-roller in the rear (like the harrows), which also completely flattens and presses the top of the bed for perfect seeding.   Useful in soil types with lots of ‘gravelly’ rocks that are too numerous to ever pick out; also popular for lawn renovations because one pass through an old lawn results in a clean, perfect seedbed with all the grass & roots buried. (This unit is also available by special-order with a full-width lawn seeder attachment mounted between the tiller and the mesh roller for one-pass lawn renovations).

This is a very heavy implement: 190 lbs. May require a front weight on the tractor for proper balance. 25” working width. Fits BCS and Grillo walk-behind tractors 11hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel with differential drive.

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Tortella Reciprocating Spader

The only company in Italy producing a reciprocating (true) spader for walk-behind tractors is Tortella.  We offer the 25” Model, which still weighs in at a staggering 198 lbs.  Reciprocating spaders have cam-lever driven spades which thrust into the ground at about a 45 ° angle and then “kick” the soil up against the underside of the hood to break it up.  The spading action results in minimal inversion of soil layers and no measurable hardpan formation.  Maximum working depth 8” (with multiple passes).   Spaders work well on 4-wheel tractors (where a depth of up to 14” can be achieved) because of the high tractor-to-implement mass ratio. On walk-behind tractors, this is more of a challenge, as the thrusting action of the spades makes the relatively light walk-behind tractor shake.  This vertical thrust also is demanding of the tractor’s PTO coupling flange.  For these reasons, we only offer the spader for the two largest walk-behind tractors we carry:  the BCS 948 and the Grillo G131.  Of the two, the G131 is better suited for the spader because of it’s heavier frame and the spring-shock handlebar mounting system, which is designed to absorb vertical shock (the BCS handle anti-vibe system is designed mainly to absorb horizontal vibration, such as a sickle bar).     Fits:  BCS 948 or Grillo G131

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Plastic Mulch Layers

Available in 2 or 3 foot sizes, these units are made in the USA to fit walk-behind tractors and, properly adjusted, do a nice job flat-laying plastic mulch and burying the edges.  (This tool DOES NOT make a raised bed; if you want your plastic mulch on a raised bed you must build one first using a Rotary Plow or other such tool.)  These units come with no ‘pre-set’ adjustments from the factory, and with good reason: they perform differently in different soil types, moisture conditions, tilths of soil, etc.  We always tell buyers of this item to “give yourself half a day to play around with it” to get all the adjustments right for your soil.  Always figure that 4 to 6 inches of plastic will be buried on each side of the bed, so for example 3 foot plastic, once the edges are buried, leaves about 24 to 28 inches of exposed plastic to plant in.  Has a drip-tape laying accessory which is almost always purchased with the plastic layer, because once you have plastic down you just about have to irrigate… rain won’t go through plastic!  The drip-tape carrier works nicely with the 1000 foot rolls of drip-tape supplied by the mulch layer manufacturer, but these are pricey compared with larger rolls… so some folks buy one 1000 foot roll and then re-use the spool and re-roll it off of a larger roll.  Or, you can do what the fellow who supplied these pictures did: he modified the drip-tape carrier to take a 3000 foot roll!  Overall, this whole system is very simple and quite easy to modify to meet your needs. Tractor pictured has 16 inch (total) axle extensions on it, which some folks prefer so that no soil under the plastic mulch has “tire tracks” in it.  There is also a Dibble Wheel available as well to poke holes through the plastic for planting (which is it’s own implement… we haven’t found a good way to put the dibble wheel behind the mulch layer to do everything in one shot)… comes with 6 ‘spikes’, which equally spaced, put holes 1 foot apart.  Extra spikes are available, and are fully adjustable on the wheel for virtually any spacing. Extra wheels (up to 2) can be added to the dibble wheel frame for doing up to 3 rows in the same plastic-bed.

Recommended for walk-behind tractors with differential drive and minimum of 5x10x20” wheels. Usually requires wheel weights.

We also have available 3-point-hitch adapters in both catagory 0 and 1 to fit these layers to small 4-wheel tractors.

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Aldo Biagioli Tool Bar / Cultivators

Constructed by Aldo Biagioli of Italy, these universal tools are available in 4 configurations and feature clamp-on shanks with standard reversible 1½” wide chisels.  The curved shanks will accept “Danish” V-sweeps, which are great for weed control.  Outfitted correctly, several rows of crops can be cultivated between simultaneously, as the tractor can straddle 6” – 7” tall plants (with tall enough tires).  Clamps and shanks can be added, removed and slid left, right, up and down on the frame.  All styles come with 2 removable/adjustable caster wheels for depth control.  Frame can be adjusted to free float (oscillate) or can be locked with plane of tractor axle.  Angle of frame relative to tractor adjusted by T-handle crank on hitch assembly...this allows "attack" angle of shanks to be adjusted.  MAY REQUIRE WHEEL WEIGHTS ON TRACTOR; 4 x 10 x 18” minimum wheel size recommended.

Model Shanks (std) Style & Size Fits Weight ET-3 3 Fixed frame 21” wide 5 hp and up 75 lbs. ET-5 5 Fixed frame 34” wide 10 hp and up gas 8 hp and up diesel 90 lbs. ET-6 6 Fixed frame 39” wide 12 hp and up gas 10 hp and up diesel 110 lbs. ETR-5 5 Adjustable frame 12-25” wide 10 hp and up gas 8 hp and up diesel 95 lbs.

All the implements built by Aldo Biagioli use the same drawbar and angle-adjustment assembly to attach to the walk-behind tractor PTO flange (which is included in the price of the implement). If more than one of this brand implement are purchased, you can purchase the other implements WITHOUT drawbar and/or angle adjustment assembly, (switches easily to other implements with a single pin), taking $25 for drawbar OR $50 for drawbar and angle adjustment assembly combined off the price of subsequent Aldo Biagioli tools.  Also note that the standard drawbar is made to bolt on to the PTO mounting studs of the walk-behind tractors but we also offer drawbars with built-in Quick-Coupling flanges for an additional $20

(NOTE: All the above DOES NOT APPLY on the ET-6 model cultivator; this model has a different drawbar/angle adjustment assy. and is not available with quick-hitch mount.)
 

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Aldo Biagioli Moldboard Plows

The design of this tool is hundreds of years old, but it is still in widespread use today, especially on 4-wheel tractors.  While other primary tillage methods may be faster and more effective, the moldboard is still an inexpensive way to do first-time soil breaking.  Two 1-bottom designs available for walk-behind tractors:  Standard (rolls soil to right) and Swivel (reversible frame with 2 plowshares: one rolls to right, the other to left).  Swivel version a must for any work on a gradient (slope); it allows the operator to always flip the soil uphill regardless of direction across slope.  Both available in two sizes.  ALL MOLDBOARD PLOWS REQUIRE AT LEAST 150 LBS OF WHEEL WEIGHTS (and may require larger tires too) TO BE EFFECTIVE.  Recommended for tractors with differential drive only.

Plow Size Style Fits Small (8”) Standard Up to 853 BCS Small (8”) Swivel Up to 853 BCS Large (9”) Standard 853 BCS and up Large (9”) Swivel 853 BCS and up current models may differ slightly from pictures

All the implements built by Aldo Biagioli use the same drawbar and angle-adjustment assembly to attach to the walk-behind tractor PTO flange (which is included in the price of the implement). If more than one of this brand implement are purchased, you can purchase the other implements WITHOUT drawbar and/or angle adjustment assembly, (switches easily to other implements with a single pin), taking $25 for drawbar OR $50 for drawbar and angle adjustment assembly combined off the price of subsequent Aldo Biagioli tools.  Also note that the standard drawbar is made to bolt on to the PTO mounting studs of the walk-behind tractors but we also offer drawbars with built-in Quick-Coupling flanges for an additional $20
 

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Aldo Biagioli Root Digger Plow

Also called a “Potato Lifter”, this tool is popular for small-scale root crop harvesting.  It requires wheel weights to be effective, as with any tool on a walk-behind tractor which requires tractive (rather than PTO) power.  Easily digs as deep as the soil has been worked.  Adjustable depth and “attack” angle.  Minimum 4 x 10 x 18” wheel size.

All the implements built by Aldo Biagioli use the same drawbar and angle-adjustment assembly to attach to the walk-behind tractor PTO flange (which is included in the price of the implement). If more than one of this brand implement are purchased, you can purchase the other implements WITHOUT drawbar and/or angle adjustment assembly, (switches easily to other implements with a single pin), taking $25 for drawbar OR $50 for drawbar and angle adjustment assembly combined off the price of subsequent Aldo Biagioli tools.  Also note that the standard drawbar is made to bolt on to the PTO mounting studs of the walk-behind tractors but we also offer drawbars with built-in Quick-Coupling flanges for an additional $20

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Hiller / Furrowers, Ridgers

All these tools are designed to create a furrow or, with “wings” on rear folded out,
push soil further out to create ridges or do hilling of crops. 

The Hiller/Furrower is an accessory to the tiller implement; it attaches with a single pin to the rear of the tiller implement and is used with the tiller tines running so it can sink into the soil.  The forward rotation of the tines helps to give extra “push” to offset the drag created by the tool.  Fits all tiller models, but works best as a “hiller” on tillers 27” and smaller in width due to the ‘wings’ being not quite long enough to flip the soil outside the edges of a 30” or larger tiller. (Some of our customers deal with this by just attaching some sheet metal extensions to the ‘wings’ for the larger tillers.)

 The Combined Ridger (Grillo only) is really just a fancier hiller/furrower, quite time-consuming to mount, but it is a bit easier to handle and does a better job.  Mounting it requires removing the hood of the tiller implement and narrowing the tine width to 16” (by removing tines) and then bolting the combined ridger over the tines in place of the hood.  Takes half an hour plus to mount or dismount, so it is only recommended for large furrowing/ridging/hilling applications.  Some customers actually just purchase another tiller implement and permanently convert it.  Fits Grillo 22” and 27” tillers.  

Aldo Biagioli Adjustable Ridger is a tool that attaches to the tractor in place of the tiller, and since the tiller implement is no longer there to help “push” the tractor, wheel weights are recommended for extra traction.  “Attack” angle is adjustable, unlike the other two styles, and this one can also be offset slightly (up to 4”) to the left or right of the tractor centerpoint.  Two sizes.

ITEM: Hiller/furrower (fits all BCS or Grillo tiller implements) Combined Ridger (Grillo only) Small Adjustable Ridger (up to 853 BCS) Large Adjustable Ridger (BCS 853 & up)

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Aldo Biagioli Bedshaper (Double Ridger)

This is simply two adjustable ridgers clamped to a 45” wide tool bar.  Two furrows are created, and a drag chain levels off the top of the bed between the two furrows.  Makes anywhere up to a 30” wide raised bed, it will raise the bed 2” – 3”.  Narrower beds can be proportionally taller if desired.  If you want no compressed soil at all in your beds, our fixed axle extensions (up to 16” total) will put the wheels outside the finished bed.  (See Accessory page.)  We actually built the prototype of this tool for Elliot Coleman, and then communicated the design to Aldo Biagioli, who has built them for us.  Wheel weights are a must for this tool.  Differential drive tractors only. 

We now also offer a version of this tool with the same frame, but with shank-mounted disk hillers on each side instead of furrowers.  The disk hillers are more effective "throwing" the soil, as they are turning as they are pulled through the soil, and they are also less agressive and easier to control the depth of.  Additionally, each disk moves the soil in only one direction, where the furrowers push some soil to each side as it passesd through the soil.  The disk hillers in this picture are adjusted for throwing soil inward to form a bed (still makes a max. bed width of 32" wide and about 2" - 3" tall depending on soil), but they are fully adjustable and can be turned "out" to flip soil outward, for hilling of rows too far apart to use a hiller/furrower, for example.  The disk hillers and clamps can also be purchased seperately (as can the shank-mount furrower units above) for mounting on any of the tool-bar/cultivators we offer (exception: the furrowers will not fit the ETR-5 model); see implement price list for prices.

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Rescia Guiliano Subsoiler / Ripper

TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE TO FIT BCS--UNDERGOING REDESIGN

Allows you to break up hardpan and loosen compacted soil up to 11” deep and rip through sod, etc., with your walk-behind tractor.  Adjustable “attack” angle and depth.  The more wheel weight you have, the more effective this tool will be.  Differential drive tractors only.

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FLAIL MOWERS: BERTA, BCS, AND PALLADINO BRANDS

These heavy-duty mowers feature a horizontally-mounted drum with numerous sets of hinged blades mounted to it.  The blades “flail” out by centrifugal force (at a drum speed of about 3000 rpm) to pulverize material.  Flail mowers are excellent for reducing mowed material to a very small size for quick incorporation/breakdown into the soil; very popular for cover crops for this reason.  A six-foot tall cover crop can be reduced to 2” – 4” pieces in a single pass and left evenly distributed across the width of the mower.    Because of the time and horsepower required to grind up the material that is being mowed, the taller and denser the material is, the slower this type of mower typically has to travel (unlike a Cutter [sickle] Bar Mower, which only cuts material off at the bottom and therefore doesn’t care how tall it is, or a Brush Mower, which will give a decent cut at higher speeds but just not grind the material up much).  However, with the introduction of the Berta Franco (same company that builds our Rotary Plow) brand flail mowers in 2010, this has changed…Berta is the first manufacturer to offer flail mowers with an  easily removable baffle in the rear of the shredding chamber: If the baffle is removed, the mower discharges the cut material in larger pieces, therefore requiring less power, and the mower can be run at higher ground speeds, essentially allowing the Berta flail mowers to double as an effective and fast Brush Mower.  They also have an optional “brush bar” available (red, shown in picture above) to “funnel” tall material into the mower better, if desired.

The Palladino and Berta Flail Mowers come standard equipment with a full-width steel roller behind the blade rotor which can be adjusted (by removing 2 bolts) up or down to regulate cutting height from about 0-3 inches (varies somewhat by tire size on tractor). Berta Franco also offers a set of caster wheels as optional equipment which mount in front of the mower…these result in slightly easier side-to-side maneuvering, but make the mower physically longer and can “press down” the grass, weeds, etc. where the wheels roll, resulting in the material not being cut as evenly. Cutting height is fully and easily adjustable with the caster wheels as well, and virtually limitlessly within the 1 to 4 inch range, with a couple quick-pins. The Berta casters can also be “unlocked” and flipped back up over the mower to get them out of the way in rough conditions.

The BCS brand “Blade Runner” flail mowers have caster wheels standard equipment; they adjust via a convenient screw-crank.  These wheels can also be lifted and locked in a “straight up” position, if desired, to get them out of the way, and then the BCS flail mower rests on Skids (which are NOT adjustable in height) on either side.  There is also a rear roller like the Berta or Palladino available optionally. The BCS flail mowers do not have a removable discharge baffle like the Berta mowers.

All the flail mowers use two V-belts to transfer power to the blade rotor; has oil bath input gearbox with grease fittings on rotor bearings. 

The Berta and Palladino mowers come standard with Y-blades, which will cut anything from grass and weeds to ¾” hardwood or 1” softwood saplings.  They also can be equipped with straight “scarification” blades, which will do light slitting of the ground for overseeding.  The Palladino mowers can be equipped with “finishing” blades as well, which will do a smoother job on a lawn (the Berta does not need this; the blade “overlap” is so complete and the blades so numerous that even with the Y-blades, is does a nice job on a lawn). The BCS brand flails come with Y-blades as well, but they are not as heavy-duty as the ones on the Berta or Palladino, so they will not cut material quite as large.  This is the only blade option on the BCS.  However, they are overlapped well enough to do a good job on a lawn, if desired.

Click here for a short video of the Berta flail mower in action.
Click here for a video of the Berta Flail mower cutting cornstalks.

Size 18” 24” 26” 30” 34” Brand Palladino BCS Berta BCS Berta Fits 6.5 hp and up gas, 6hp & up diesel, BCS or Grillo 8.5 hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel; BCS only 9hp and up gas, 8hp & up diesel, BCS or Grillo 12hp & up gas, 10hp & up diesel, BCS only 13hp & up gas 11hp and up diesel, BCS or Grillo

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 Zanon and Del Morino (BCS) Brush Mowers

These are our best-selling mowers overall, because of their durability, relative simplicity, economy and their ability to handle a wide range of material.  Their design being a miniature version of a full-size “bush-hog” on a full-size tractor, these mowers feature blades counted on heavy duty pivots so that blades can “break away” when encountering a solid object such as a rock, stump, etc., and not damage the gearbox.  The Del Morino (BCS also private-labels the Del Morino mowers, so a ‘BCS brand’ 21”, 26 or 32” brush mower is a Del Morino) mowers have steel-reinforced aluminum gearbox cases, while the Zanon “super-duty” mowers feature cast-iron gearbox cases; both have hardened steel gears and ball bearings.  These mowers are essentially rotary axes that will take down weeds, brush and up to 2” saplings.  There is no “lift” to the blades (such as with a lawn mower), so material is not necessarily chopped up as fine as would be by a flail mower, and cut material is somewhat “windrowed” to one side of the mower due to the blade rotation. So, although these mowers are great for general-purpose brush mowing, they are not the best for cover-crop mowing..

Input shaft housings are designed with an oscillating swivel so that deck “floats”, or follows the contour of the ground independent of the tractor axle.  Cut material comes out under a reinforced rubber flap in the rear to prevent clogging.  Cutting height on the Del Morino mowers adjustable from 3” to 4” by means of adjusting skid height (4 bolts).    (NOTE:  BCS also offers a “30 inch ‘combo’ or ‘heavy duty’ mower”, which we do not stock because it is not a true brush mower, but a glorified lawn mower.)

BCS 853 diesel with 5 x 12 wheels and Zanon 28” Super-duty brush mower

We are excited to offer an expanded line of the Super-heavy-duty brush mowers to fit BCS machines, from the Zanon company of Italy. Now available in 24”, 28” and 32” width, the smaller two being single-spindle and the biggest one having twin blade spindles.  These mowers have all the features of the Del Morino brush mowers, but also feature all-steel gearbox housings, and an extremely convenient height adjustment by a screw knob (with a larger range of adjustment), and REVERSIBLE swinging blades…sharpened on both sides, so you can flip the blades over and get more wear out of them.

All brush mowers we carry also have a feature which allows the input shaft angle to be adjusted to allow the deck to be parallel with the ground regardless of tractor wheel height.

BCS 853 diesel with 6.5x12x23" wheels and Zanon Super-Duty Twin-Spindle Brush Mower

Still, using a brush mower requires minimum of 4x10x18” wheels on tractor, and really 5x10x20” (or larger) is better for good ground clearance under the tractor engine...larger is better with rough ground conditions (Ask us for our recommendations on wheel size to best suit all your implement needs).
The Zanon brush mowers now also feature integrated  quick-coupling mounting flanges to hook directly up to a current-type BCS quick-coupling system without having to purchase a quick-coupling “male” from BCS (a $73 savings)

Size/brand: 21” Del Morino 24” Zanon Super-Duty 26” Del Morino 28” Zanon Super-Duty 32” Del Morino 32” Zanon Super-Duty Twin-Spindle Fits: BCS & Grillo 5.5 hp & up BCS 8 hp & up BCS & Grillo 8.5 hp & up gas, 7hp & up diesel (with differential) BCS 11 hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel (with differential) BCS 12 hp & up gas, 10 hp & up diesel BCS 13hp & up gas,  11hp & up diesel; Grillo model G131 (may require engine weight on BCS 853 gas) Max. Cutting Diameter: Hardwood: 1.5 inches; Softwood: 2 inches

To view a video of the 32” twin-spindle brush mower on the Grillo G131, click the below link: http://www.zanon.it/eng/product_38.php

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Cutter (sickle) Bar Mowers

Typically called Sickle bar mowers, these have been the traditional mechanized tool for mowing hay for over 100 years. The earliest ones were drawn by horses and the reciprocation of the blades powered by the rolling of iron wheels as horses pulled it.  The BCS company’s first product in 1942 was a walk-behind motorized sickle-bar mower, the first of it’s kind, and it revolutionized small-scale hay harvesting in Italy and across Europe.  These mowers have evolved over the years; the single-action cutter bar mowers we offer are clog-proof due to a ‘guardless’ lower blade design which we have demonstrated by cutting right through a hay-bale without clogging.  The latest innovation is cutter bars was the advent of the “double-action” mowers a few years ago; these units have the upper and lower blade assemblies that both reciprocate opposite each other to cancel out at least 95% of the vibrations, which are the most objectionable part of using a walk-behind cutter bar mower. (the double-action units do have “guards” affixed to the lower teeth, like a conventional sickle bar, but since these reciprocate, they shake themselves through material and we have found them to be virtually clog-proof as well.) The double-action bars also come with spring-loaded blade tensioners, which require no adjustments and are extremely easy to disengage when the blade needs to be removed for service. (single-action bars stocked by us all use the standard ‘adjustable’ tensioners, which require periodic adjustment and must all be loosened when removing the blade. The BCS brand single-action bars can be special-ordered with spring-loaded tensioners as well.)

Cutter bar mowers cut down material at the base, kind of like a big scissors, and leave the material whole.  Therefore they are great for forage (hay)  harvesting, when you want the material long (to more easily be handled or formed into bales) and you do not want the material chopped up a lot, where the extra exposure to air would degrade the nutrient value of the feed faster.  These mowers will cut anything up to a 1 ¼” sapling, so they are pretty tough.  Some folks use them for mowing brush, but if used for this, they will: A. probably require more maintenance compared to a brush or flail mower, due to all the individual blade sections that are riveted into the blade that you may damage on rocks, larger trees, etc.  (These blade sections are sharpenable and replaceable, of course, but doing so is time-consuming) ; B: Of course, the cut material is left whole, takes a long time to decompose, looks ‘messier’ and if you’re cutting thorn bushes, look out! You’re going to get torn up walking through those whole thorn bushes cut off at the base!  

Cutter bars do have other advantages, however, due to: Low clearance and cutting blade ‘side projection’ greater than the wheel width of the tractor for easily mowing under plank, barbed wire, electric or high tensile fence,  mowing around pond edges (a reciprocating blade doesn’t care if you stick the end in the water… unlike a rotary mower, which will nearly kill the engine) or mowing under Christmas trees.  Also, cutter bar mowers are simply the most efficient mowers around in terms of time and fuel use; because they require so little power to run, a very wide width can be powered by a relatively small engine (typically, you can figure a cutter bar requires half the horsepower of any rotary mower; therefore the same size motor can run a mower twice the width in a cutter bar than a rotary mower).  So if you need to mow big areas, you don’t mind if it looks a bit rough and the material stays around awhile and you want to cut it in the least time with the minimum fuel use, the cutter bar is the tool of choice.  Cutter bars are designed to cut close to the ground, as they rely on the cut material simply falling over backward to clear off the top of the blade; if the material is cut too high on the stem and/or the material is too short, it won’t clear off the top of the blade properly.  This is why cutter bars are not typically equipped with height adjustments that go very high; about 3” maximum is all you can get out of them.  Height is adjusted by means of loosening bolts on two skids, one on either side.  All bars feature a ‘swivel’ joint in the input shaft assembly which allows the bar to follow the contours of the ground independent of the tractor axle.

BCS 853 w. 59” double-action cutter bar

We offer several options in cutter bar styles: the most economical are the single-action with grease-type gearboxes, suitable for occasional use and they must be kept greased… every 4 to 6 hours of use.  Next up are the single-action with oil bath type gearboxes… the oil bath gearboxes are virtually indestructible and require only once-a-year oil level checking (and a single grease fitting lubricating the “swivel” joint , grease twice a year).  But for large acreages, a double-action cutter bar should be considered not only for operator comfort (virtually no vibration), but for speed: since the blade reciprocation speed is effectively doubled by the opposite motion of the upper & lower blades, you can simply mow faster (in a higher gear).  NOTE: NO cutter bar should be run at full engine throttle; single-action bars should not be run over 1/3 throttle and double-action not over ½ throttle, just to keep machine & blade fatigue at a minimum… and you certainly don’t need the power of full throttle with a cutter bar anyway!

Click Here to see a short video of a cutter bar mower in action.
 

Single Action Cutter Bars CUTTING WIDTH 30” 39” 45” 53” GEARBOX TYPE Grease or oil bath Grease or oil bath Grease or oil bath Grease or oil bath FITS 5.5hp & up, BCS & Grillo 5.5hp & up, BCS & Grillo 6.5hp & up, BCS & Grillo 8hp & up, BCS & Grillo

Double Action Cutter Bars CUTTING WIDTH 47” 59” 71” (special order only) GEARBOX TYPE Oil bath Oil bath Oil bath FITS 7hp & up, BCS & Grillo 10hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel, BCS & Grillo 12hp & up gas, 10hp & up diesel, BCS & Grillo

Notes: Cutter bars with Grease-type gearboxes are manufactured by BCS and Grillo; units with oil bath gearboxes are only made by BCS.  We use a PTO adapter to adapt the BCS oil bath units to the Grillo tractors.  So, when figuring prices, make sure to add in the adapter price if you are fitting a BCS oil bath cutter bar to a Grillo tractor (adapter price on Tractor Accessories page).
 

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BCS and Zanon Lawn Mowers

When one of the tasks you need a walk-behind tractor to perform is maintaining a lawn, you will find that these lawn mower implements equal or surpass any commercial-grade lawnmower on the market… both in performance and quality.  All models feature heat-treated gear drive in oil bath, 1/8” plate steel decks, and high-lift blades that have hinged blade tips (on all but 22”) to protect gearboxes and spindles from impacts with stumps, rocks, etc.  BCS Models come with baggers (1 bushel on 22”, 4 bushel on 38”) and convert within seconds to side-discharge decks if bagger is not required.  Zanon 28”,33" and 40” decks are side-discharge only, and the Zanon 33” deck is available in a bagger-only configuration to fit the Grillo G107.  When bagging, these mowers are extremely effective due to their high lift blades and very short chutes filling the bag.  In fact, we have had several reports of folks (ourselves included!) mowing directly after a rain and still bagging without clogging.  Zanon models have adjustable-angle input shaft assemblies that can be adjusted to keep the deck parallel to the ground regardless of the size of the tractor; still, on 28" decks, minimum 4x10x18” tractor wheel size recommended, and on larger decks, minimum 5x10x20" tractor wheels recommended.  Cutting height is adjustable on all models.   BCS models have aluminum gearbox housings and PTO flanges; the heavier-duty Zanon units have cast iron/steel gearbox housings and PTO mounting flanges for extra strength. Zanon models also have a “floating” feature in the PTO shaft housing that allows the deck to float independent of the tractor axle.  --Also well worth noting is the fact that the Zanon 33" and 40" side-discharge decks have blade tips that are easily twice the thickness of the BCS blades, and these coupled with the "high-volume" deck design on these models, it is AMAZING what tall and thick material can be cut very effectively (and cleanly) with these so-called 'lawn mowers'...to see them perform, one would almost think they were "brush mowers", but they leave a nice finished cut, like a lawn mower does.   The 33" size is actually a much more desirable alternative to the BCS-brand 30" 'Combo mower', which does a lousy job as both a brush mower and a lawn mower (note we do not sell this model!!).

Click here for a video of the BCS 38” lawn mower with bagger in action.
Click here for a video of the Zanon 28” side discharge lawn mower in action.
Click here for a video of the 33” 2-blade Zanon mower with bagger in action.
Click here for a video of the 40" Zanon side-discharge mower in action.
 

Size/Brand Fits Cutting Height Adjustment Number of Blade Spindles Discharge Type 22” BCS BCS 5hp to 8hp 1.5”to 3” 1 Convertible from side-discharge to bagger 28” Zanon BCS or Grillo 7.5hp to 11hp 1.5”to 3” 1 Side discharge only 33” Zanon BCS & Grillo 10hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel 1.5”to 4” 2 BCS: Side-discharge only, Grillo: Side-discharge OR Bagger (NOT convertible!) 38” BCS BCS 12 hp and up gas, 11 hp and up diesel 2” to 4” 2 Convertible from side-discharge to bagger 40” Zanon BCS 12hp & up gas, 11hp & up diesel 1.5” to 4” 2 Side discharge only

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Zanon Disc Mower

Disc mowers are ever-more popular for mowing hay with 4-wheel tractors, and now we offer a model for a walk-behind tractor.  These mowers feature spinning discs with small hinged blades on the outside edges which will “fold back” in the event of hitting a rock, stump, etc.   Advantages over cutter bars are lower maintenance and no vibration, disadvantages are higher profile and more power-consumptive, hence not as much available cutting width per tractor horsepower.  On this model for a walk-behind tractor, the two discs with 3 blades each turn opposite directions and toward the center, leaving the hay windrowed down the middle and the row straddled by the tractor.  We have found that the disc mowers are an advantage in regions with highly abrasive soil/high sand content soil: because rains tend to “splash” some traces of soil up onto the lower few inches of plants, the highly abrasive soils will cause premature wear of cutter bar mowers because of the way the blades scrape against one another like a big scissors.  With the disc mowers, all that suffers in these conditions are the 6 little blades, and they are inexpensive and very easy to change.  Cutting height is fixed on this mower; unit runs on ball-bearing-isolated heavy steel “bowls” (for lack of a better term… that’s what they look like!) mounted beneath each disc.  There is no way to adjust these, so you just have to live with about a 2” cutting height.  As with everything else Zanon manufactures, this unit is super-heavy-duty: cast-iron gearbox housing and PTO mounting flange with hardened steel shafts & gears in oil bath.  Has an oscillating swivel-joint in driveshaft housing to allow mower to "float" to follow ground contours. Because the cut material is straddled by the tractor, tractor must be equipped with 5x12x22" tall wheels or larger for adequate ground clearance.

Because of the power needed to maintain the high disc speed, the maximum size offered (and only size we stock) is 40” wide, and it takes a minimum of 13hp gas or 11hp diesel to run it.  Stocked to fit BCS 853 or 948; can be fitted to Grillo G131 with an adapter. (Smaller size disc mowers can be brought in by special order to fit smaller tractors.)

To see a video link of this machine in action, click on the link below:
http://www.zanon.it/eng/product_37.php

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BCS Single-Stage Snowblowers (snow throwers)

Don’t be fooled – these blowers, with a single stage auger that turns over 1200 RPMs, will outperform almost every two-stage walk-behind snowblower on the market (with the exception of the Berta 2-stage blowers in our lineup and possibly some of the Gravely walking-tractor-mounted blowers).  Why can’t other brands do this? Simple: we have all gear drive.  The power necessary to maintain this high auger RPM cannot be efficiently maintained through belts, and yet that’s how every ‘competing’ single-purpose walk-behind snowblower is built.  Owners of the BCS single-stage units call them “snow cannons”, and they are not kidding!  We don’t get to use these much here in Kentucky, but when I lived in Indiana, we got to use them some…it’s mighty impressive to watch a blower throw snow 30 or 40 feet!

Heat-treated gears are housed in an oil-bath gearbox and supported by ball bearings.  Augers in the BCS-brand units are shear-pin protected, and because the “paddles” (which are at the center of the augers to throw the snow out the chute) project a half-inch or so past the augers themselves, this unit has the uncanny ability to crush and spit out almost anything…frozen chunks of snow, ice on top of snow, wet snow…we even have a customer who uses it to help clean out the corners of his Turkey house (yes, he blows Turkey manure with it…wearing a respirator, I hope!).   Units have adjustable skid shoes on each side, which can hold the (replaceable) scraper bit on the bottom up off the ground as much as an 1.5 inches for gravel driveways.  Discharge chutes are made of steel—no cheap plastic here.  Chute rotates nearly 180 degrees right-to-left via a handle that extends up to operator position; top of chute has an up/down discharge angle adjustment with a quick screw-knob or pin.

BCS 853 diesel with 5x12x22" wheels and Rescia 32" snowblower

The Rescia Guiliano blowers have an additional design feature: they utilize a SIDE-DRIVEN auger, which has the added feature of simply NOT being able to clog or jam it with anything that will fit through the chute opening (up to 5”)…simply because there is no gearbox in the center to jam against.  The augers on these models are driven at one side by a lubricant-enclosed super-heavy-duty chain drive, and supported at both ends by ball bearings.  Without the gearbox in the center slightly impeding the flow of snow, the Recsia models will also handle slightly more volume that the comparable BCS.  And—best yet: Rescia offers a model to fit a BCS in a 32” width, so folks with the larger 800 series BCS tractors no longer have to settle for a 28” snowblower, they can get something better matched to the HP and weight of their larger walk-behind tractor!

Click here for a video of the BCS single-stage snowblower in action.

SIZE BRAND FITS 20” Rescia Giuliano Grillo 6hp to 9hp Gas 24” BCS BCS 6.5hp & up gas, 7hp & up diesel 24” Rescia Giuliano Grillo 7.5hp & up gas, 7hp & up diesel 28” BCS BCS 8.5hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel 28” Rescia Giuliano Grillo 9hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel 32” Rescia Giuliano BCS 13hp & up gas, 10hp & up diesel

 

Due to relatively low implement weight, PTO extension may be required to properly balance engine.  Ask us for more info.
 

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Berta 2-Stage Snowblowers (snow throwers)

If really high volumes of snow (aka very deep snow) need to be moved, it’s time to consider the 2-stage option.  These all gear-driven powerhouses have 35% more volume capacity than our single-stage units and equal or better performance.  The build quality of these implements is fully up to the standards of the Berta Franco company (who manufactures our incredibly popular and virtually indestructible Rotary Plow implement for soilworking) …this blower is nearly twice the weight of the single-stage unit of the same size.  The housings are all plate steel, and the “scoop” at the bottom of the mouth is 3/8” thick steel.  Units feature adjustable skids as well, and a crank handle for chute rotation which comes up to the operator position.  Also double-shear-pin protected: a shear pin on the input shaft to protect the “second” stage impeller and shear pins on the augers for “first” stage.  Heat-treated gears and ball bearings in oil bath encased in cast-iron gearbox. Truly built with full-time commercial use in mind, and the kind of snow they get in the Alps! (color may vary.)

Click here for a video of the BCS tractor w/Berta 2-stage snowblower in action.

SIZE FITS 28” 9 hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel, BCS or Grillo 33” 13hp & up gas, 11hp & up diesel, BCS or Grillo

 

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Caravaggi Power Sweeper

This tough gear-driven sweeper is equipped with a universal joint in the drive shaft which allows the broom to operate angled to the left, right or center position; the angle adjustment lever protrudes conveniently back toward the operator for quick adjustments while sweeping.  Popular uses for this tool include snow (excellent for snows of  4” or less), dirt and debris removal on parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, construction sites, loading docks, etc.  Even does a good job on leaf and pine needle removal on lawns and some folks use it for de-thatching lawns.  Swivel caster wheels infinitely regulate sweeping height/pressure; oscillating swivel-joint in mounting flange allows sweeper to follow ground contours independently of the tractor wheels.  Equipped with polypropylene bristles standard; poly-wire bristles optional.  Bristle ‘ring’ sections available individually or in a complete set. Fully hardened steel gears and ball bearings in oil bath enclosed in a cast-iron housing.

WIDTH FITS BRUSH RPM: MAX ENGINE SPEED 40” BCS or GRILLO 7.5 hp & up gas, 7hp & up diesel 290

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Dozer / Snow Blades
Dozer / Scraper Blades

We offer two styles of scraper blades for our walk-behind tractors: A Dozer / Scraper blade which has a reversible blade, allowing it to be used either in front of (dozer) or behind (scraper) the tractor; AND 3 SIZES of Dozer / Snow blades (SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE TO VIEW), which are used with the tractor in front-PTO mode (and are therefore a “push only” blade).

While it sounds as if the Dozer / Scraper type is the easy choice because of its greater versatility, the fact is that the “stepped” blade shape (instead of a Rounded shape top to bottom) of this style, in addition to a relatively small size, make it a poor choice for snow removal.  It also has no ability to “float” and stay flat on the ground independent of the tractor axle.

However, if your application is primarily moving/grading gravel, dirt, sand, etc.: the Dozer / Scraper IS a better choice…the fact that you can use this blade in the rear of the tractor makes it more effective for these applications due to better control…and if you are grading, you don’t want a blade that free-floats independent of the tractor axle or you’ll never get things level!  PLUS, we now offer an exclusive option of BOX ENDS for this blade (see below), that convert it to a "scraper box" for the ultimate in grading and levelling.  This blade has 5 angle positions (center and 2 to left and 2 to right) to push material to one side if desired and the entire blade can be inverted on its mounting frame, which is what allows the blade to be used as a push or pull type.  Blade thickness is 3/8” steel, far stronger than it needs to be for a walk-behind tractor, but the idea is that it has to be fairly heavy to counter-balance the engine.  Even so, with the heaviest engine choices (particularly large diesels), an additional weight will have to be attached to the frame when using this blade in the front-mount "push" mode (because, in this position, the tractor handlebars are over the engine, thus making the engine side of the machine heavier).  One size: 36” wide by 12” tall.  Also, we now offer Another New Earth Tools Exclusive Accessory: Since this blade type does not offer any "rotational float". this becomes a problem when used on a tractor with larger-than-standard wheels: anytime you "pivot" the blade to one side, one side of the blade is higher than the other, because of the "tilted" angle the of tractor down towards the blade when large wheels are used.  So, we have devised a "Levelling Plate", which offsets the blade frame mounting to the implement mount of the tractor, and thus keeps the horizontal plane of the blade level. The plate has 3 different offset positions to handle any wheel height.

For their part, the Dozer / Snow blades have many features that make them excellent for the task of snow removal: Free floating to follow surface contours perfectly (with optional “lock” for the floating mechanism—adds $20 to the blade price); rounded blade shape to “roll” snow without sticking to blade; replaceable cutting bit at bottom (optional equipment is a rubber scraper bit for bottom of blade to work on surfaces such as wood decks or on rooftops, where you don’t want a steel scraper bit to damage the surface); adjustable “attack” angle (blade pitch can be adjusted forward or back to give a more- or less-aggressive cutting angle); 7 blade angle positions (center, 3 to left and 3 to right) which are adjusted from the operator position via a control bar that comes up over the tractor; 10-position height-adjustment skids with bowl-shaped runners on bottom (moving blade in any direction, runners will not dig into ground) so blade can be raised up for clearing snow off gravel driveways, etc.; provisions for weight mounting of one or two counter-weights so blade can properly counterbalance heavy engines.  The snow blades are also built with plenty enough strength (blade material about 3/16” thick) that if you want to push gravel or dirt with it, it’s not a problem at all.

Click here 40” Snow/Dozer blade in action video #1
Click here 40” Snow/Dozer blade in action video #2

All said, be advised that the effectiveness of any of these blades on a walk-behind tractor is related purely to overall machine weight and therefore traction.  The fact is: a walk-behind tractor is, by its design, a relatively light-weight and maneuverable machine. Even outfitted with wheel weights or steel cage wheels for additional traction, you are not going to turn this thing into a bulldozer that will push over trees or cut into sod/hard-packed soils…you are still dealing with a machine that doesn’t weigh all that much, and it is NOT going to push anything with a blade that’s heavier than the tractor is…at least, not all at once.  We use one of these blades here at our shop for soil grading, snow removal, spreading gravel in our parking lot and gravel driveway maintenance—and it does a good job, as long as you are relatively patient.  It SURE beats the heck out of doing those jobs by hand!!  Certainly, though: the more wheel weight you put on the tractor, the more effective these tools are.

STYLE BLADE SIZE FITS DOZER / SCRAPER 36”W X 12”T 7.5hp & up gas, 7hp & up diesel DOZER / SNOW 32”W x 18” T 6.5hp & up gas, 7hp & 8hp diesel DOZER / SNOW 40”W X 18”T 8hp & up gas, 7hp & up diesel DOZER / SNOW 49”W X 18”T 10hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel

NOTE: the dozer/snow blades will all accept  counterweights, if needed, to help balance the blade properly against the engine on your walk-behind tractor.  Barbell weight plates can be used, and we can supply the weights, OR, just the hardware to attach them and you can buy the weights locally.  Make sure to ask us if we recommend weights for your particular engine type / application.

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Haymaking Implements

The maneuverability, compact size, ability to safely work on steep slopes (up to 45° [100%]) and relative low price (when compared with four wheel tractor haying equipment) make this small scale haying equipment very attractive to small farmers, especially in rough terrain or small field sizes where full size equipment is impractical. Also popular in the South for raking and baling pine straw. Built to agricultural standards of quality, this equipment will last for many years with minimal maintenance.

The first component of any haying operation, of course, is the Mower to cut the hay; typically a Cutter (sickle) Bar or Disc mower.  We carry both of these types of mowers for our walk-behind tractors, and they are listed in our Mowing Implements section (see Tabs above).  Next, the hay needs to dry and then, if it is to be baled, be raked into ‘windrows’, so the Baler can more efficiently cover the field.

Due to financial constraints (or just too small an acreage to justify it), some of our customers ‘loose-stack’ their hay rather than use the Baler.  Even so, the Hayrake/tedder unit is an incredible labor-saver, and should still be considered for small hay areas even if the Baler is not.

Molon Side-delivery Hayrake / Tedders

This well designed tool is PTO driven, so it has plenty of power to move a large amount of hay and sweep the ground clean. Fully adjustable height of tines make it adaptable to any situation.  In fact, when lowered all the way, the tines will de-thatch a lawn!  This rake makes perfect size windrows for our Baler, or you can rake a plot of hay into a central ‘haystack’ for easy forking into a vehicle loose. It also works very well as a tedder (spreads the windrows of hay back out to dry in case it gets wet before baling) - - it takes about 20 seconds to convert from a rake to a tedder or back again; just one simple frame adjustment. The front wheels of the rake are controlled by a steering system to guide the machine; steering lever protrudes back over tractor to operator. Available in 40", 48", 60" and 72” widths (only 40” and 60" stocked; others special order). 40" size works well for raking pine needles in narrow rows and is more economical for really small haying operations where the Baler is not justified.

Click here to view video of a Hayrake in action at Earth Tools.

WORKING WIDTH 40” 48” (special order only) 60” 72” (special order only) FITS 5.5hp &up 7hp & up 8hp & up 10hp & up

There are larger versions of these rakes (72” & up) also available (by Special Order only!) to fit a 3-point hitch on a 4-wheel tractor; requires minimum of 18 hp and a 540 RPM PTO.   Call for prices on these versions.

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CAEB Round Hay Baler

Built well enough for everyday agricultural use, this mini-baler produces a 40 to 60 pound (depending on moisture of hay and how tight you roll it) bale measuring 21' x 23", every 60 seconds or so with maximum size windrow. Bales are formed by a series of chain-driven patented aluminum rollers around the circumference of the bale chamber - - no belts or bands to dry-rot or need adjustment.  Chains are automatically oiled during operation, and much heavier-duty than you would think necessary, no more power than these little tractors have… but that’s a good representation of how CAEB over-builds this thing.  The Baler forms “soft-core” bales which allows air to circulate through the bale center while the outside of the bale is rolled tight to shed moisture if left outside. Bales are wrapped with a self-sticking UV resistant nylon net-wrap OR a biodegradable netting upon request.

The number of bales you can make on one roll of net-wrap varies according to the “lap” setting you choose on the Baler: The most common is the “2.5 lap” setting, which will do about 425 – 450 bales and results in a nice, durable bale… but if you’re not handling the bales much and really want to conserve the netting, the “1.5 lap” setting will get you about 700 bales per roll.
 
An indicator on the side of the machine tells the operator when the bale is fully formed, at which point the operator pulls a lever which trips the net-wrapping, wrap cutting and chamber opening cycle. The operator then sets the bale out of the chamber, closes the chamber, and resumes baling. As with the hayrake/ted der, the front wheels steer to guide the machine with a steering rod that comes out to the operator. This baler will bale hay, leaves, and even pine needles as long as the material is dry (green hay can be made into silage using the CAEB Bale Wrapper). Baler comes with one roll of net-wrap, automatic chain oiler, parking brake and male a quick-coupling built into the PTO hookup flange. Requires tractor be equipped with female quick-coupling.

Click here to view video of a baler in action at Earth Tools.
Click here to view video of CAEB baler in action in the mountains of Italy.

Options include: Gathering wheels (increase pickup width from 28" to 38"); and dual front tires (recommended for slopes over 35 degrees, or in boggy terrain).

Fits BCS or Grillo walk-behind tractors 9hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel.

This Baler is also available (by Special Order only!) in a version to tow behind a 4-wheel tractor; requires minimum of 18 hp, 540 RPM PTO, at least single-action hydraulics and a 12 volt electrical hookup.   Call for prices on this version.
 

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CAEB Bale Wrapper

Now you can effectively produce silage with a 2-wheel tractor using the CAEB Bale Wrapper. In many European countries where the climate is too damp for hay production, hay is simply cut and baled green (no drying time for the hay)  and then wrapped in airtight plastic film to make haylage or silage… which is actually a higher quality feed than hay for many animals.  The “green” bales are simultaneously rotated and spun (make sense?) on the gear-driven platform while the 10" wide stretch film wraps, overlaps and squeezes air out to allow the proper anaerobic action that "ferments" the hay. The machine can be set for 2 lap, 4 lap, or 6 lap winding depending on how stalky (and therefore prone to puncturing the film) the bale material is.  Like the Baler, the Wrapper is equipped with a male quick-coupling to fit the desired tractor, and comes standard with one roll of plastic stretch-wrap included.

Fits BCS or Grillo walk-behind tractors 9hp & up gas, 8hp & up diesel.

This wrapper is also available (by Special Order only!) in a version to fit behind a 4-wheel tractor; requires minimum of 18 hp, 540 RPM PTO and a 12volt electrical hookup.   Call for prices on this version.
 

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Haulage Options

One chore that inadvertently needs to be done on a piece of property is Hauling stuff around, and our walk-behind tractors are up to the task with a variety of options… many of them converting the machine into a 4-wheel vehicle that you ride! 

Some things to keep in mind while making your choice:

• If moving loads up steeper hills, the towed trailers (#1, & 2) are at a disadvantage simply because the weight in the trailer is not ‘helping’ the tractor in terms of traction, which is the primary limitation when moving loads with a walk-behind tractor.  Actually, when the tractor will not pull a trailer up a hill for lack of traction, I have had good success backing the trailer up the hill, because of the way the weight is shifted… the load in the trailer is now shifted downhill, putting weight on the tractor wheels to make them ‘bite’ better and push the load up.  Its all physics.  (Adding wheel weights to the tractor will help too, obviously.)  On the other hand, the front-mounted options (#3 & 4) are by their design very well equipped to push loads up a hill, because the weight of the load is shifted back onto the driving wheels when going uphill.
   
• The haulage implements with brakes on them are much safer and more convenient to use on steeper hillsides.
   

#1.   American-made, 10 or 14 cubic foot dump carts We modify these Ohio-made carts to fit a walk-behind tractor by lengthening the tongue, installing a tow coupler hitch to match the tractor being used, fitting a bench seat to the front of the cart and fitting a foot-rest to the tongue. Works great, and are our best sellers.  No brakes on this trailer, but if tractor is equipped with brakes, you have some ‘stopping power’. Specifications are: 10 cubic foot: 30"x48"x12" deep, with 15" tall 4" wide tires, overall width 30", weight capacity 1000 lbs.; 14 cubic foot: 34”x 48”x15” deep, has 16” tall x 6” wide tires, overall width 35", weight capacity 1200 lbs.  Wooden bench seat (a pressure-treated 2x8, cut the width of the cart) is affixed over the very front of the bed, and while you can slide stuff (firewood, gravel, compost, etc.) under the seat, taller items will not slide all the way to front of trailer.  Shipped disassembled.

#2.  Italian made 16 cubic foot dumping cart with 1200 lb. capacity, padded seat in front of bed and heavier-duty brakes (foot and parking). This model can be attached with tiller mounted (as shown); solid tow coupling (which is included with trailer) holds tiller off the ground while trailer attached.  Bed measures 43” x 59” x 10.5” deep. Shipped disassembled.

FOR PRICES, GO TO THE IMPLEMENT PRICES PAGE

#3.   “Power Barrow” – This nifty implement, used in the Front-PTO mode, makes a walk-behind tractor into a small power wheelbarrow with heavy-duty pneumatic swiveling 10" caster wheels on the front for steering. Very maneuverable and convenient. Capacity 300 lbs., 5 cubic feet (heaped), dumps to front.
FITS: all of our walk-behind tractors, and available with a built-in quick-coupling flange to fit current BCS or Grillo standard quick-coupling systems. Counterweight-bars also available (to make empty barrow effectively counterbalance heavier engines, such as diesels).

#4.  The CAEB Minicargo front mounted dump cart.  This extremely well-built unit is manufactured by the same company that produces our Haybaler.  The deluxe model of the “push” type haulage tools, this thing, coupled with a walk-behind tractor, blows the  DR Powerwagon ™ out of the water.  16” tall x 4” wide front wheels steer with steering lever which protrudes back over tractor similar to Hayrake & Baler, so you have perfect control of loads up to 1000 lbs.  This model is not cheap, but I can say that every customer that has purchased one of these from us (always for very steep terrain) LOVES it.  Equipped with male quick-coupling built in (tractor must be equipped with female quick-coupling) and front wheel parking brakes. 10 cubic foot capacity (heaped); 1000 lb. weight capacity.

FOR PRICES, GO TO THE IMPLEMENT PRICES PAGE

#5.  ERREPPI Brand Driven-wheel utility trailer (Fits Gri