A Tiller/Cultivator this is cordless?
Yep! Mantis has done it again.
I need to tell you this. I own and have owned for many years a Mantis 2-cycle Tiller/Cultivator and I love it. I use it for all kinds of things.
But . . . it’s 2-cycle. That’s fine by me because I keep 2-cycle mix around all the time anyway for my chainsaws and blower. But it’s not ideal for everybody.
I reviewed the Mantis 4-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator and I thought it was a great machine and being 4-cycle you don’t need to mix oil into the fuel.
Just regular gas will do. However, my advice is to always add a fuel stabilizer (any auto parts store) into all of the fuel that goes into your small engines. Today’s fuel just doesn’t hold up without it.
Then I reviewed the Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator and I was impressed with its performance, thought it a good machine for a small yard, great machine for ladies.
Am I allowed to say that? I mean my wife could easily use that electric tiller, but chances are she’d have difficulty starting a gas-powered machine.
But the electric machine has a cord. That’s a downside.
Today I am reviewing the Mantis Cordless Tiller/Cultivator and I think it’s awesome because it doesn’t need fuel and it doesn’t have a cord!
It can’t get any better than that! It’s powered by a single, 58-volt rechargeable battery. Simple as pie. Raise the little door, slide the battery in and start tilling!
But . . . can 58 volts deliver enough power to do the job?
That’s a great and fair question. I have a bit of a confession to make. I had the rechargeable battery on the charger for a long time and with most rechargeable batteries once they are fully charged they stop charging and can actually lose some charge while sitting in the charger.
What I usually do is slip the battery out of the charger and put it right back into to start the charging cycle again if I know I’ll need that battery later that day.
I was supposed to do that today, knowing that we were reviewing this machine. I forgot! I meant to, but I flat out forgot to do it.
So when we started our demo, started shooting the video, I really had no idea how much of a charge the battery had. Shame on me!
How well did it work? See for yourself . . .
I honestly was impressed with this Tiller/Cultivator. This soil is pretty rocky and in the video, you can hear and see the machine hitting rocks and digging them right out. Nice little tiller that is super easy to use!
Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond appropriately.
I owned a gas Mantis for 20 years, failed at fixing the carburetor, so bought the Mantis 3558 battery model. It worked great for 1/2 battery charge then stopped. Installing a fresh battery didn’t help. The next day I tried it again and it worked for about 10 minutes and stopped. I emailed Mantis and they promptly sent a whole new replacement. It did the same thing. I’m in email conversations with Mantis and they want me to package up the two units and they’ll send another when they receive them. I just need to talk to a tech to try to fix the issue, but am having trouble being contacted. I’m hesitant to go to the trouble of shipping two tillers (I destroyed the boxes they came in) and receiving a new one that might have the same issue.
Has anyone had the same problem?
Richard,
That’s disappointing, I’ve never had anybody tell me that. Tell them to make sure to test the one they plan on sending you before you send it.
I want to replace/upgrade my mantis 2-cycle tiller.
Is there yet a retrofit kit? Or ,,, should I build one and compete?
I m not being as ‘smart-ass; just practical!!! Tom
I bought a 58 volt tiller because I had a 2 cycle tiller for 15 years and was pleased with it. However the cordless version is a big piece of junk! I got an extra battery right away cause I figured I would need it. The batteries lasted 1 season, just past the warranty and will no longer take a charge, the plastic handle broke inside the cover and needed repair. Customer service is a joke Will never buy another mantis product again.
Jay,
I appreciate your honest feedback.
I have A 58v tiller that the battery will not stay tight do you have a fix ?
Kenneth,
I do not. Try contacting Mantis.
Slide a screw in the hole under the battery
Mike – I would love have a battery operated Mantis but can’t seem to wear out my electric corded one! Love the mantis -78year old woman.
Mary
Mary,
And that’s a good thing.
I had a Mantis in the 80s that lasted almost 20 years . It was used in all kinds of soil and rocks till the gear just wore out. Have had two later two cycles models and they were nothing but trouble Carb / ethanol gas issues. Will never by another gas tiller or other lawn garden maintenance product.
Ray,
I’ve had a 2 cycle for years and as long as I use fuel stablizer and shake the can well before add fuel mine works great. I really need to do a video about ethanol fuel. If it sits in the can for any time at all the fuel separates and your equipment will not run. It’s just like pouring water in the fuel tank. This has happened to me twice until I figured out what was happening.
Finnegan is Awesome! So curious He stole the show!
Hi Mike – looking for a lightweight electric or battery tool to turn my compost. Mantis tiller or something else?
Thanks,
Susan
Susan, Mantis Tiller for sure!
I don’t have a mantis. I have a battery operated tiller. It was perfect for tilling in between rows of my fall garden. My gas power tiller was too wide. I used it on some harder ground. It bounced at 1st, then made progress after holding it a bit. The battery held up as long as I did.
I love it. I’m a 52 year old guy from north east Texas.
Ronnell,
Thanks for sharing that. These small tillers really are great!
My husband bought a mantis tiller for me when they first came out we had it for a long time then after I had a torn rotator cuff I couldn’t start it anymore. Then when the electric one came out I got one, I love it but it would be nice to have a cordless one.
Anna,
The cordless one is awesome!
Hi. Mike,
I’m recovering from two strokes and I’m trying to get back to gardening.
I’m doing a lot better and the Dr. said too do things I enjoy.
I enjoy gardening more than anything else. Thanks for allowing someone to win the Tiller
Hey Mike,
I live in the Texas HIll country where our soil is hard and rocky. I never know when I’m digging if I’m hitting a group of smaller stones or one big rock. Would a tiller like this work and be able to survive?
Thanks!
Jennifer, these are small, light weight tillers. Typically they bounce off of large rocks which tends to not damage the tiller. ?????
Hey MIke,
I live in the Texas hill country where we have very rocky soil. When I dig. I never know if I’m hitting a group of smaller stones or one large rock. How would this tiller handle that?
Thanks!
Mike
I saw the video of the tiller. Would it work in clay soil?
Jan,
In the spring and the fall when the clay is not concrete hard I would think it would work. In the summer when clay is as hard as a rock it would be a challenge. But if you worked the garden in early spring a tiller like this would easily keep it cultivated as long as you till once a week or so.
Hi Mike,
Hope you are well. And I am amazed by your great job. Gardening is my passion and I want to take it to the next level.
I have few questions because I live in Canada and my winters goes below negative 35, would it be possible to grow things here over winter?
And I saw your videos on buying rooted cuttings from USA, is it a possibility for shipping to Ontario Canada.
I rooted spirea from my yard and it’s all successful, thanks for your directions.
Thanks,
Anitha.
Anitha,
Any plants that do well in your climate can be grown by you. We do have some Canadian members that you can buy from in the members area, http://backyardgrowers.com/join
Hi Anitha,
We live in smoky California (big fires near Yosemite) There is a big market here for native, drought tolerant plants. We shopped a chain store called Summer Winds and found small Redbud (cercis) for $50! Needless to say, we did not buy it. I think you would do well to propagate manzanita and other native species.