The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Bibs On!
Well… I could have chosen an easier pile of material to show off my Mantis Rototiller with, but instead, I decided to tackle a compost pile that is covered with small tree branches!
But that’s what I had available so I ran with it.
Here are a few other videos I’ve made using the Mantis Tiller:
[…] Years later I bought one of those little Mantis Tillers and that little tiny thing was awesome! It was so light it would literally climb right up the pile then mix the soil on the way down. It worked better than my 8 horse front tine tiller because using the bigger tiller was work. It was heavy and would literally get “stuck” in the pile and I’d have to pull it out. The Mantis was so light it couldn’t get stuck. In the video on this page, I’m using The Mantis Tiller to turn a compost pile. You can see ho… […]
[…] Watch our Mantis Tiller video here. […]
Wes, I had the same problem. After several times of failures, I took the air cleaner off, and to my amazement, the machine started right away. I had to do this on 3 occasions and then the machine started right up, following the directions in the manual. I write an article about Electric Tiller https://bit.ly/35UXlQI
Hope this helps you, Gearinsane
we have had a mantis for over 10 years. the stupid thing has a terrible gas leak problem with the hoses coming from the tank as they they are not sealed properly. just fed through a rubber grommet. so any time you do what the mantis people would say and tilt the engine forward to remove the tines and such… it leaks gas everywhere. if you hang it by the handles up in the shop somewhere… it leaks gas. only way to no leak gas is to use it all or siphon it out.
then i dont know what they put the choke in such a closed in awkward position. why just flipping it around to the front would make life infinitely better.
also, the mantis is rated at 21cc for the engine. if you look at someone like earthquake they sell on their 2-cycle cultivator/tiller a 43cc engine! with wheels not being extra! it is still like $100 cheaper too buying an earthquake.
imo, mantis is overpriced and underpowered. since we are considering buying a new tiller to replace our mantis you can bet it won’t be another mantis for sure.
David,
It sounds to me like your gas like problem is unique to your machine. I’ve never had that problem. It could be a dry rotted hose that is leaking.
I agree with Mike. We own a Mantis and its a little trooper. Never have had any problem with it other than being a little grumpy starting when we havent used it for a while. Too bad you didn’t return it for a replacement. Would have saved you 10 years of aggravation.
I’ve had the same issues with mine.Had to have it repaired, still leaked, re-repaired and it still doessn’t run right. Have had many problems and will never buy another.
Owned two of these tillers complete junk never ran right leaked gas never started constant repairs will never buy again!!!
The one that I have works fine, I’ve had it for years.
Sounds more like an angry wasp! How will it do in rocky Arkansas soil? Compost is one thing but rocks are another. Also,volumn was low with my speakers.Usually your videos are loud enoug but this one wasn’t until you starter the machine.
I’ve had my Mantis Tiller for at least 20 years and it is still going strong! Sometimes it is hard to start, but that is only in the last 3 years. I put gas cleaner in it and that usually does the trick. I’ve planted large Holly trees, various pines, and everything else you can think of in landscaping two new houses. I was going to buy a new one this Spring, but when it started up, I figured it was good for a few more years. Best money I ever spent. Perfect for a woman to handle. I am the landscaper/gardener in our family, and the Mantis has been my favorite “tool.”
Donna,
I love my Mantis tiller! Eventually I think they need a good carburetor cleaning as is the case with a lot of 2 cycle engines.
Can’t get mine started after years in the garage and the manual said not to use gas cleaner. So after turning the garden over with a pitch fork and after reading your post I will try that!
naturally like your web-site however you have to test the spelling on several of
your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the reality then again I’ll definitely come back again.
Yeah, spelling can be a bothersome issue but I try to do the best I know how. And after spending hours working on a post I usually don’t have it in me to go back over the post with a fine tooth comb. So I just publish it.
Don’t blame you one bit ! You have enough ‘on your plate’ without ‘sweating the small stuff’.
After 15 years of faithful service from my first 2-cycle Mantis, I believe I could have kept it going for the cost of the carburetor work it eventually needed, but I opted to buy a new one three years ago.
1. Starting:
The manufacturer’s 1995 video for the 2-cycle engine stressed quickly pumping the primer bulb 15 times to start a cold engine (along with use of the choke). This is very unusual, since the advice for most small engines with primer bulbs is to slowly press, pause, then press again, no more than 2-3 times. I’m afraid many Mantis owners miss this unexpected but crucial trick for reliable starting, at least for older models. Check your manual.
2. Gasoline:
Yes, use non-ethanol premium-grade gasoline and fuel stabilizer for all small engines – especially for an older Mantis that was manufactured before ethanol was common.
3. Back up!
To simply loosen soil, walk steadily backward with the Mantis. For tougher tilling situations, that 1995 video advised a backward/forward motion like using a vacuum cleaner (as Mike demonstrated in his compost), but in a linear garden you are trending backward, not forward. For tilling, the sharp ends of the Mantis tines should face forward (the direction of rotation), even though you are walking backwards. My choice is to weed by hand, but those who choose to cultivate can swap the Mantis tines left-for-right so the tine points face backwards for less aggressive action, to limit soil disturbance to only the uppermost layer where many weed roots are.
4. Rocks:
Rocks could be twenty percent of the volume of a new bed in our Southern Appalachian mountain garden. The Mantis handled them. Yes, the combination of the Mantis’s light weight and the springy steel of the tines means the tiller may sometimes bounce when it hits rocks, but I regard this as an advantage, getting the tiller out of harm’s way to reduce damage to the tines and engine that a heavier tiller might suffer when hitting an immovable object. Stay alert. I have used the Mantis as an attack tiller to dislodge cobble-sized stones; it can burp out a rock that weighs more than the tiller itself.
5. Grading:
Beyond tilling a flat bed or shaping a raised bed as described by a commenter, you can use a Mantis as a power rake to move significant volumes of soil to re-shape landscape contours or even deal with trouble spots in a gravel-and-soil driveway, if the soil moisture level is favorable. Yes, steel-toed boots or tough leather, safety glasses, and maybe shin protection are smart, and watch what you are doing. For a larger area I break up the existing contour with a bigger tiller, churn and redistribute roughly with the Mantis, and finish with a 36-inch landscape rake.
6. Tine warranty:
Yes, I did break tines (see 4 and 5 above). Yes, Mantis did replace them. But by the next time I had worn tines down to nubs, I bought a new pair for the garden and kept the old ones for occasional use in gravel. You will probably never break a tine in normal garden use.
7. Edger attachment for sod cutting:
The optional Mantis straight-tine edger attachment works very well to slice through a lawn to define the edge of a new garden or landscape bed. Walking backwards creates a caster effect for smoother control – like the stability of pulling a hand truck instead of trying to push it, or pulling a trailer versus trying to back a trailer. After cutting the curving 80-foot perimeter of a new landscape bed, I stepped inside and made another perimeter cut offset by one Mantis width, then used a square spade to slide under the grass roots and lift the sod. Parallel straight cuts within the bed sped the spadework for removing the rest of the sod.
8. R-pins:
Buy the 10-pack of retaining pins that hold the tines on the Mantis axles. They’re easy to lose, and the particular style is hard to find. Resist the temptation to spring the pin farther open to make removal easier; lubricate the pin instead, and carry a favorite tool for removing the pin. This will make it easier to frequently remove the vine tangles that accumulate on any tiller’s axle, which will in turn reduce the vines’ outward pressure on the pin and thus make the pin easier to remove.
After you discussed your dad’s mantis years ago I took your advice and bought one for myself. I bought the larger one, which is a 4 cylinder (I believe) that runs on gas. This has been the most amazing piece of gardening equipment that I’ve ever owned. It’s tilled my garden, turned my compost piles filled with chicken poop and straw and garden soil easily. I will say the only problems I’ve had is with cleaning the blades off when large pieces of material like straw get tangled. So I guess I’ve had mine for about 5 or 6 years, when ever you first mentioned it, and never had a problem! All I can say is I love it, love it, love it! Wouldn’t know what to do without it! Thanks Mike, I appreciate all of your information and definitely trust your judgment!
I have looked at the mantis machines for several years, but was put off by the price and lack of available local service options. Ultimately, though, a compact tiller/cultivator was exactly what I needed for gardening in my raised beds. I ended up buying a gas version from Sears 12 years ago for about $89. Not once have I had a problem starting it. It was a bit more powerful than my neighbor’s mantis, had a deeper bite, was still a very manageable weight (I have serious back problems) and did everything I ever needed it to do without a hiccup. When I sold my home in WA to move to the city, my friends got into a fight about who got to buy that little tiller. All I ever had to do was change the spark plug and make sure the tank was empty at the end of the season. And it didn’t even need mixed gas. I would buy another in a hot minute before I would look at a mantis at 3 times the price. Incidentally, one of the friends fighting over the tiller was the neighbor who had gone through 3 mantis tillers in the time I had mine. I highly recommend the type of tiller. It’s convenient and awesome. I have been very, very happy with my Craftsman, though. Sometimes more expensive is not better.
That video is an excellent testimonial for Mantis.
I have read these replies and want to make a statement. I used to sell outdoor power equipment (OPE) at a big box store for about 9 years.
One thing that I have read a couple times in these posts about using premium gas is right on. Something not mentioned is the use of ethanol gas, that is a small engine killer. Never, ever use ethanol gas if you can avoid it. If you have to then get the Sta-bil brand stabilizer for marine use, it is a green color instead of the original pink. I use nothing but the marine Sta-bil in anything I put stabilizer in. Always use a stabilizer in your gas for OPE as most people will not use up their supply in 30 days and that is the most that gasoline will stay good before it starts breaking down.
I have 2 Mantis tillers. I also have a regular behind tines tiller. If the tilling job is too hard for the Mantis’s I start with the behind tines tiller. Then I go over the area with my Mantis.To make a raised bed all I do is get 2 stakes and enough mason string to make my row length, then start with the Mantis on one side of the string and pull the Mantis towards the string. Then when that row is finished I do the same on the other side of the string. I try to make the tilled up row at least a foot high, then go with a landscaping rake and flatten the top of the row. My opinion of the Mantis tiller is “Its a GREAT piece of equipment”!!!
My yard used to be a gravel pit – there are some huge rocks, some small rocks, lots of gravel and sand, all held together with clay.I have found that raised beds are the only way for me to go. Even if that cute little mantis could manage some of the yard, all the tree roots would tear it apart. However – I do have a ‘cheep, cheep,’ way of breaking up the compost pile…. I let my chickens at it! They really love to scratch it up, turn it over, dig around in it, enhance with a bit of extra poop. They work really hard, are so much fun to watch, and best of all, I don’t break out in a sweat or break a tool or a nail…. ha ha!
thank MIKE my mom got one back when they first came out we gettin one this fall have a good one
I have had a Mantis for 12 years, and use it in very hard dense rocky clay. I paid $500 for it and all the accesories. I use it to till the garden, dig holes, trim a straight line, trench for drip systems, aerate the lawn, and power rake. The power rake is fantastic. I wouldn’t use any other tiller. As others have said, in some soils, such as mine, it works so much better to pull it instead of pushing it. I have never had a problem with it starting. I highly recommend this little machine.
Used once and had to bring in to the shop . Then the season was over so didnt use tell next season. Its still a piece of junk.
Mike, I put a ounce to two gallons gas and oil mix of car fuel injuctor cleaner in my 2 cycle gas every time I mix a new batch helps to keep my carburetor on my 2 cycle engine clean and not gume up.
I had one from 1989 until 2006. Starting was an art, but it did, and worked well. Traded it in for a new easy start engine and have had nothing but trouble. Spent over 20 hours getting it to work last year, and I have the same problems this year. The maintenance they want you to perform is far beyond what most consumer grade power tools need. The maintenance is typical of farm tools. Engine is difficult. I have heard a coupe of comments that the Honda equipped tillers are better. In my mind could not be worse. I think they have a design problem that they are addressing through maintenance rather than engineering. Making it an owner problem and telling you to spend more money with them to get the problem resolved. I would suggest you look elsewhere – I think they are living on their old reputation.
Steve, I’ve had my Mantis, 2 cycle engine, since 2003. Used it a lot. Eventually the carburetor got gummed out. Had a new carb installed and it now runs like a dream again and is very easy to start.
Just got my gas powered Mantis & can hardly wait to try it out. But our ground stays frozen usu. to 3rd week in May as in Canada & a mid-east province. Got the furrower, edger & so excited to dig thru’ the dense clay soil to amend & put in a few more plants. Wish me luck! Tines are lifetime guaranteed so sounded good to me. Wish I could have gotten the 4 cycle one but needed a less wide one to fit into some narrow areas. Really can hardly wait to get to the areas that need fixing & then concentrate on getting one of the snap together greenhouses to continue on my quest of gardening & growing some plants for myself & to sell. Busy now taking the U. courses to become a Master Prairie gardener & just joined a Hort. Society in my city! Life is busy & very enjoyable for this retiree. Thanks Mike for all the gardening help & tips. Didn’t know splitting plants could be so easy to replant for extra plants.
I love my Mantis, should I say Ours, 3 friends went in together on one. This has worked out well and we are all happy with the Mantis which is of course the smallest tiller I own and probably the most often used.
ditto on the premium fuel, that is what my mechanic said to use too, the plastic fuel carrying parts last longer.
Mike, I am very appreciative of all of the ways you help us. Now to the Mantis. I purchased the Honda 4 stroke model with all attachments 5 years ago. As stated by David, the torque of the 4-stroke is much greater. I am 68 years of age. I live above Atlanta in the RED clay hills of Georgia. The soil is rocky as well. With the complete package of attachments, I have been able to plant trees, to prepare and replant beds of various sizes and depths. Also I have used the trencher to install drainage pipe, both sock covered to prevent clay fines infiltration and perforated pipe to remove excess water in my beds. Another project was installing underground electric pipe and wireing plus water to a 20’x20′ utility bulding. Edgeing and dethatching were also done. I have not had any problems with my Mantis period! I did my research before I purchased. The ground here is unforgiving; hard & rocky clay. The Mantis lived up to the name, aggresive! The Mantis was an investment and the return has been phenominal. It has been easy to use and does not wear out a 68 yr. old gardener and DIY grandpa. Boppa in Ga. Go DOGS!
The mantis is not a groundbreaker….although I have used it to make bulb beds alongside my front walk, two passes gave me a nice 1 foot bed for my daffodils….use it for what it is good for and you won’t have problems….I use it all summer for weeding my garden and to keep the soil loose…..if you want a groundbreaker for a new garden or in heavy clay soil rent or borrow a big troybilt with counter-rotating tines to do the work….once you have the soil loose the mantis will work fine…..use the right tool for the job as Mike says in the video and you will not be disappointed….also for all of you that are in tree-hugger states you can go electric or buy the 4-stroke Honda edition that runs cleaner and doesn’t require mixing of gas….I have also heard that the 4-stroke has more torque than the 2-stroke version for breaking up hard soils….
I have these spiders in my yard, they are fast and they jump. They seem to be eating my plants both flowering and vegetables. First of all, what are they…they seem to be spiders and how can I get rid of them before they finish off all my plants?
Hello Mike speaking of tiller’s I own a Mantis Tiller and I’m impressed with it.I’v had mine for 10 year’s now.You couldn’t ask for a better machine.When I did my garden it took like 2 Month’s to tear up the ground.After it was just like looking like coffee ground’s No grass could stand in it very long.
Thank’s Mike for sharing your video, i had no idea what a mantis was! Since i am learning the gardening Things! 🙂
I bought a mantis and had trouble with it from the start. Hey Mike, try making a new garden with it. Good luck! Call the company about it if it isn’t working. Good luck there too! It ended up not working at all before the first year was over. If you want to lose weight, your in luck, the mantis will beat you to death trying to break ground.
I now have an Earthquake mini cultivator. Very easy on the body and the work is done in half the time as a mantis. Starts easy, small like a mantis, and does everything and more than a mantis. And cheaper! I love it!
So for all of you that want a good tiller, get an EARTHQUAKE! and have fun gardening!
Mike,
We use Stihl equipment in our landscaping and home business. Thanks for the video.
I bought an electric Mantis five or six years ago because I could no longer handle a large tiller.
Best gardening investment I have ever made. I have tilled up flower beds, dug holes for planting trees and tomatoes in areas that for the world resembled concrete. I used it to break up piles of dirt that I had dumped in my yard and that had set up. My neighbors have borrowed it and it has truly been put to a test. It has never given me one minutes trouble and I love it.
Looks way too dangerous for my compost pile. I sure hope you use steel toed boots Mike. I’ll stick to my pitchfork and rake to turn the compost.
Be Careful!
I have had my Mantis for several years and it still gives good service. Thanks for the tip on using it on the compost pile.
thanks Mike, I’m waiting for mine to get out of the shop. Then I’ll go out to my compost bin and work on it. good tip.
Mike,
I really enjoy your videos and this one was neat also. I have a tiller like this also and because I am 73 and it is so light, I use it a lot. I appreciate what you do and how you share your knowledge. Thank you so much.
1st mantis lasted a week. second started dogging out the second day i used it with fresh gas, clean can and new mantis oil.
Mike:
Reading all the responses from your Mantis video really brought back memories. I used my Mantis several years and then it was stolen. Have not bought another one -yet. With #78 coming up, my family suggested I rent one. It is not the same as owning your own.
Loved it while I was using it.
Aileen, I agree. Rented equipment is a pain. Seems that everybody that rents something adjusts the carburetor or something. Very frustrating rentinq equipment.
Here’s a tip on starting: Use synthetic 2-cycle oil, like Amsoil. BUT, most importantly, get a special spark plug, like an E-Series Champion. My brother, who ran an auto parts store for many years, told me about this. These little plugs cost a couple of dollars more, but they make starting little engines a breeze! He said many of the ‘easy start’ mfrg’s were just putting these plugs in their engines, with out doing anything different. They really do make starting easier.
Thank you for that tip. Sometimes I learn more than I share. And that’s the good part.
I love my electric mantis tiller. I saved a lot by buying the factory rebuild on ebay. They honor the factory warranty and they go through a very strict inspection. (more than the new ones)My soil is very hard clay and My mantis cuts right through. Possibly if people are having problems with the motor burning out, it could be the wrong guage extension cord. I attempted with the wrong cord when it was easier to get out and kept blowing the fuse and had to reset.
We purchased our Mantis back in 1988 or 1989 and have had very little trouble with it……other than running out of gas or having a loose wire that even I can fix! I love it and so does my husband. He uses it for a any number of chores, including hilling up potatoe rows and in the winter it is used to break up the ice in our driveway (it’s dirt). I first saw it when visiting friends in VA and was so impressed that when we got back to ME, it was the first thing I ‘had to have’! That’s a great review, Mike.
I’ve seen them advertised for years, but didn’t know anybody who had one. I called a local guy who sold them and asked for a demonstration, but they wouldn’t give me one. I wouldn’t buy it without the demo. Now I can know they work! Thanks, Mike!
Sojourner, that’s what I don’t understand. If I sold those things I’d let everybody I could find run one. They’ll fall in love with them.
I love my Mantis!! Lightweight and easy to handle, but Mike is right, if you hit a hard spot or a dense clump of roots or sod, it will jump in the air; watch your toes when it comes down. Very powerful for its size.
The Mantis is many tools in one, not just a tiller. You can purcahse many other attachments for it – edger, dethatcher, plow, planter/furrower, aerator, crevice cleaner… Easy to transfer from one tool to another.
For my small yard and garden (< 1/2 acre) it is the only machine I will need.
Over a few years, it will pay for itself by eliminating the price of rental and transport costs. Great investment!
There is an electric start machine available. It is Earthquake MC43E mini cultivator. It is much stronger than the mantis, has a drag stick and a set of wheels, just like a Front Tine tiller. It can be adjusted from 12 inches wide to 6 inches, allowing it to get in tight places. It is heaver though than the Mantis or other small mini cultivators. I use mine in “Heavy” soil, without a problem. The other “Lightweight” min cultivators do not. I use the wheels in the “Transport” position when I push it around. Also, it costs less.
I am 78 years old with a bad heart. This machine starts without a problem, and is very easy to use. I have a large vegetable garden. I use it to rototill around the plants in order to keep my garden weed free. All I do is follow behind. The thing I didn’t like about the light weight mini cultivators is they “Jack rabbit” around, which is very tiring to me.
I hope that this helps.
Paul Evans
Thanks everyone for all of your great advice, I just bought a new home with a great area for gardening. I was wondering what kind of tiller would be good for a woman to use and now I know. And thank you Mike for having one of the best sites and great people to help.
Thanks for demonstrate that machine, so great and inspiring me.
Check the exhaust on your mantis. There is a screen that can clog up and make it very hard to crank. If cleaning this fixes the problem start using high test gas and top of the line 50:1 oil. NONE of the cheap stuff. Pops
Makes me want to become a real gardner.
I bought a 4 stroke Honda 110. Great machine!!
I love my little mantis tiller. I have severe arthritis, but it’s small enough and light weight so that I can handle it. The only problem is, all my friends love it to. Your next video could you make video that would convience my friends to buy there own. I’d appreciate it, then I’d have more time to do my own thing instead of begging my friends to return my tiller. What a great machine Thanks Mike
I agree whole-heartedly about your thoughts on the Mantis tiller. I have had mine for four or five years, and it always does the task set out for it. It is terrific for combining fish compost with my compost and garden soil, as well as breaking up the sods. Wouldn’t be without it!!!
About the electric motor burning out, have you tried a local motor rewind shop? They may be less expensive. Who knows, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I bought mine several years ago and I love it. It has made my garden an easy thing to do. And especially since the blades have a lifetime guarantee. And being a women I have never had a problem starting mine. Its a great little machine!!!!
I’ve mine for almost 12 years. I love it .When we moved to a new . ground was all hard clay; By golly I got thru it all. My hubby you will never get thru that with that LITTLE thing.
we showed him. I love would not trade it. It has been used very hard, and long. Had it worked on a coulpe of times. Never cost me much to get it fixed.
Thank you Mike … That was quite informative, I was looking at this tiller for my small yard and garden, and you convienced me . I will send in the postcard for information and a DVD.
I rented one last year. They are an awesome garden tool. I want one!
Does anyone know how much the tiller cost? It looks like it’s easy to handle.
Georgine, seems to me they are right around $300.
My Mom had this little tiller, and when she and I bought a place where we could live together, this tiller came along. It is great! On hard ground I just pull it toward me instead of trying to go forward where it will hop all over the place. Once you get the top layer softened up a bit, it’s a breeze. Light weight — just right for a woman to use too. Even I can pick it up with one hand. Great for working the flower beds because it can go into tight places. If this one ever dies, I would sure get another one!
I just came back in from pulling dirt up to my peanuts in the garden with my Mantis. Please warn folks not to get the Troy Built tiller that looks like the Mantis. I made that mistake and the lower gears tore up as soon as I started using it and after factory repair it just tore up again. My Mantis is great.
I am also a Certified Texas Master Gardner and I took this lil Echo to one of our landscape projects at the Zoo here… The local chapter here purchased a large bulky rear tine tiller several years ago. By the time it got out of our shed at the Zoo and started up I was almost done. I sure got a few looks when about 35 folks in the group that day saw it… but when I fired him up and made short work out of a flower garden replanting … everyone in the group had to have a turn… my salesman called me the next week and thanked me for sending him all the customers… he asked if her could send me something in return and I took advantage of his offer and went in and picked up a new set of tines ! ( 100.00 )
I am a Master Gardener in Massachusetts. Have you or any of your crowd had any experience using the Mantis or Echo in rocky soil. I have seen the large rear tined tillers hit buried rocks (granite) and take off with the operator holding for dear life.
Toi, if you hit a large rock with the Mantis the machine is just going to bounce in the air. On hard packed soil the Mantis isn’t the best machine for loosening soil, but once it lose it does a good job of keeping it that way.
Wes,are u using the bubble bulb located right in front of carb to prime it 1st..then pull out choke located to front of carb.,pull starter a few times tell u here it try to start shoe choke back in and it should start right up,had mine for 3 yrs.and it starts right up even if gas sits in it for 6 wks.,are u sure u r getting gas mixture right.
I have the Echo cultivator/tiller. Echo makes the Mantis. I love this lil guy. I have 4 20×60 foot raised beds with very well amended soil in all of them. It’s all well amended because I also use it to turn my compost pile with everytime I get 4-6 inches of new materials piled on it. I use a long sharpshooter type spade to loosen up the garden beds first thing and the Echo to fluff it right up and break up the clods and then for maintianance between rows. These lil guys actually till full tine debth best if you pull them backwards… try it and see for yourself. My salesman told me this little trick. Either brand is equal and money well spent. I have used mine for 3 seasons and In Abilene, Texas we have very long growing seasons usually from March – October. I use my several times each month.
To: Wes with the hard starting Mantis
I have had a Mantis for several years now. I add gas (50:1) when it runs out, sometimes at 3 year intervals. I pump the primer bulb 4 times, full choke, and it fires on the second pull. I push in the choke lever and it starts on the 3rd pull. I think the primer bulb is the secret, experimenting to find out how many times to push it. Hope this helps!
John and Wes, sometimes it’s best to not push the primer bulb at all unless the machine just won’t fire. Choke it, pull it a few times, take the choke off and it should fire. Make sure you add fuel stablizer to all of the gas that you put in your yard equipment. That way when the machine sits for months with fuel in the tank it won’t gum up.
I have one and I always have to get my husband to start it for me….it takes several pulls on the cord. I wish they would make one that I could just push a buttom to start it because my husband isn’t always at home so I just have to wait. I do love using it tho’. just wish I could start it without taking him away from his doings…
I have had a Mantis tiller for about 5 years. There are a few things that you may need to know that could make owning one a better experience.
1) Always use premiuim gasoline. Premium gasoline will make an air cooled engine run cooler. This is often over looked, and hardly ever mentioned buy the dealer, mechanic or the operators manual.
2) Always use high quality 50:1 oil. Don’t even think about buying some no name brand that’s on sell to save a couple of bucks. These tillers are to expensive to risk using cheap oil in your mix. DO NOT use straight gas. It will probably ruin the engine in less than 5 seconds.
3) Do not leave gas in the fuel tank for more than a week at a time. Make it a practise to empty the fuel tank after each use unless you know for sure that you will be using it again within a few days. I thought that I had emptied mine last year and hadn’t. I never did get it running. Finally turned it over to a mechanic friend of mine who said he would repair it if he could use it.
These are amazing machines and well worth the money. If the ground is too hard for them, then it is too hard to grow anything.
John,
You’re #3 is the reason your’s still runs. I left gas in mine over the first winter and had to have the carb rebuilt because the alcohol in the gas deteriorates the gaskets. We have a great small engine repair shop close by and he’s the one that clued me in.
For the last 5 years I’ve drained my Mantis after each use and left the cap off the tank until the tank is dry. Since then I haven’t had one problem with it.
Other than this one problem I have nothing but great results using it!
I am 63 andI have been using the Mantis Tiller for over 10 years on my 5 acres. It is the best tool I have purchased. I have also removed the tines on one side so I can do some very close tilling around my plants like my Day Lilies and other flower beds. On one ocassion I planted a pretty large tree that had a large root ball. I used the tiller and my son shoveled the dirt out of the hole. If I had not had the Mantis tiller it would have taken us much longer, and my son would have been very tired. A great machine and can easly be carried and used by a woman.
Thanks, Mr McGroarty. I’ve subscribed to your news letter for quite a while now, keep up the good work and keep these informative videos coming!
I’ve had my Manthis for so many years I can’t remember when I bought it. Mine has no trouble starting but I do add STA-BIL every time I get gas some times it sets over winter and starts in spring. But I do love it don’t know what I would do without it.
I bought my Mantis about 8 years ago and it is still going strong. Wouldn’t want to be without it.
Mike that compost pile is nothing. I’ve had my Mantis for 6 or 7 years. It’s the best $300 I ever spent. I live in Tucson and between the invasive grasses and caliche (a hard mineral in the soil that prohibits roots and water penetrating it), gardening before the Mantis was a nightmare. I used it to rid the yard of the grasses and use it for digging holes through the caliche in order to plant rescued cactus.
My tiller needs a rebuild. Can you send me a engine rebuild kit? Or would it be better just to
get a new one?
Byron Cox Jackson, Tennessee
Byron, I took my mantis to the local Sears affiliated mechanic and had the carb rebuilt and a new gas tank put on. this cost $132 and I think it was worth it my tiller runs like new.
Pat, I did the same thing. New carburetor installed and it runs like a charm.
I’m going to have to get one of those.
I love this idea because I cant turn my compose over myself and most of the time there is no one to help so I am going to buy a Mantis and do the same thing I just watched you do. Thank you Mike I havent been able to read or do anything to much as of yet this year but I am looking forward to July to start something. Thank you for the information and I will get back to you when I am done using my Mantis in my compost bin.
This was great…Thanks Mike for showing us what this machine can do.
Spunky little critter…. I need one of those.
I basically agree, however, I have some comments about he electric model, which I suspect alot of older folks buy. Many of us prefer electric to gas,
I’m on my third electric Mantis, having found out that the motor burns out too easily. Replacement motors are about $80 from Mantis. I use mine alot for ‘sheet composting’: I spread horse manure and shredded leaves about 6″ deep on a 8′ x 10′ patch of Kansas clay, and rototill it to about 12″ deep. I have found it is best to run the motor no more than 10 minutes at a time, and then set it aside to rest for 1/2 hour or more while I do other things. It certainly does alot of work, but the electric motor should be much more heavy duty.
By the way, Mike, how about using an electric lawn mower to run over small piles of dried leaves to shed them? I’m having great luck doing this with my Black & Decker, having had a bad experiance with a $300 chipper/shredder recently. As soon as the bag is full, you just take it off and spread them wherever you want.
Where id you find a Mantis motor for $80?
The only thing I have see is $176.
Was it hard to replace the motor?
Thx,
Jim
Nice video….I’m looking forward to see how you use it in the garden, both for weeding and rototilling. I have one and have had real problems in getting it to start. There is not a Mantis dealer in my home town. When I get to “the big city”, I always stop at any Mantis dealer and/or large equipment shop to ask them if they have any secrets on making the Mantis easy start. All reply “fresh gas” and 50:1 oil. I obtain new gas each month and still it’s an adventure to get it to start. Once it get going, it’s OK. I’d sure welcome any comments on making it easier to start. Thank you for all you do….Wes
Wes, I had the same problem. After several times of failure, I took the air cleaner off, and to my amazement the machine started right away. I had to do this on 3 occasions and then the machine started right up , following the directions in the manual.
Hope this helps you, Lee
one thing Wes, after the machine starts put the air claner back on before tilling
I also have problems getting my tiller started. I added a teaspoon of gas in the air filter and it started. My husband said I was luckey it didn’t catch fire. But it worked, and I really like my tiller I brough used in a yard sale for 100.00. It sure does a good job in my raised vegetable garden.
Wes,
Make sure you have your choke out the first couple of times you pull the cord. Once it sounds like its going to fire then put the choke in and the 3rd time it will start. I hope this helps you. I had trouble starting mine too and I always prime it 6 times then use the choke then push the choke in just before its fires. Hope this help…..
Nancy
I never thought to use a roto-tiller on compoist until I was turning the pile in 105 degree heat. I got fed up with the pitch fork and then hit me- The Mantis!!! I love that tiller! Great site Mike! Sometimes it’s easy to forget with all the heat and hard work, but you remind me why I’m in the business!
i use my mathis to dig holes when i plant my roses or trees. i also use it to dig trenches for my water lines and i have hard soil. it is the neatest thing that i have used in my garden.
My wife and son gave me an electric version of the Mantis Tiller for Christmas since that is the one I wanted. I bought a 50 ft.12 gauge wire extension cord to use with it. It is just as powerful as the gasoline versions and a lot quieter. Needless to say, I tilled my garden in early Spring with it and can vouch for its effectiveness. I so enjoyed using it, I expanded my vegetable garden area just to have more fun with the tiller. Now you’ve shown me I can use it to turn my compost pile. I hadn’t thought about that, but I will try that soon. May be one of the best Christmas presents ever.
Coming from you, I totally trust your judgment on this tool.
Marie
Wow!
Dear Mike; We have gone thru ‘2’ Mantis – first one 5 days after the 1 year warranty was ‘OVER’ – the ‘sealed’ compartment went kapooo-yee! (of course Mantis would NOT do a thing/even with my taking photos of several convex beveled worn off gears), Then we bought a used one and installed that onto ours – and it worked only for 2 more hours. We are working up pre-worked flower beds and pre-commercially rototilled (nice loamy fluffy soiled) gardens. We have no sticks-n-stones to harm our tillers.
In comparing the Mantis while we anticipating to purchase YET another one we found that ECHO makes the Mantis but theirs has MORE horsepower along with a 2 yr instead of a 1 yr warranty, than the Mantis. We now have had our Echo for a month over that first year with NO PROBLEMS.
After roto-tilling (deep) our gardens we line out our ‘paths’ with weed barrier and then in the allocated 12 inches of space between we use this little TILLER’s furrower attachment to trench the rows into which we plant our 3800+ Dahlia tubers of 500+ varieties. We also have an edger for our flower beds and find that using it with it’s regular purpose; it is great to fluff up the flower beds amoungst plants, shrubs ‘n trees.
Just sharing our comparison/s. Have a great day; Glenn ‘n Mike, Oregon