Steve Calvin wrote:
zxcvbob wrote:


I have a Mantis tiller that I bought 12 years ago, and I hate it.
It only worked well for one season. I have lots of 2-cycle
equipment, and the Mantis tiller is the only one I have trouble
with. Also, it was just a little too light and bounced around a
lot when I could get it to run.

Last year I bought a little Honda 4-cycle tiller (model FG-100?),
and it is easy to start and is much easier to use than the Mantis.
It is only a couple of pounds heavier than the Mantis, but the
extra weight makes a big difference in the handling.

It has detachable transport wheels like a big front-tine tiller --
I took them off of mine and I just carry the thing by the top
handle, but if it's too heavy for you to carry you can rool it
around with the back wheels.

Best regards, Bob


Different view on the Mantis... I've had mine for 5 years and the
thing will dig up anything. I had to rebuild the carb last year but
that's to be expected.

I think mine has a bad carburator, and I've had it rebuilt a couple of
times but I really need to have it replaced. But since I bought the
Honda tiller, I have no use for the Mantis and will probably try to sell
it (not that I'll get much for it.)

Starts the second pull ever time and I've yet to see something it
would go through. I put in a large set of walkways and a 20 foot
diameter patio last year. I needed to dig 10" deep for the base, item
4, stone dust, etc. The first 6" were nice topsoil and after that it
was somekind of crap about the consistancy of concrete with a *lot*
of rocks in it. The Mantis had absolutely no problem.

The only fault that I have with it is that it does tend to try and
"kick up" when it hits something like a root or rock. You pull it
backward versus going forward and gotta hang on to it.


The Honda is the same way, but because it is a couple of pounds heavier
it doesn't buck near as much and you don't have to wrestle with it.

Best regards,
Bob