Mantis mini tiller review

15 years ago

Special thanks to all who answered my post about mini tillers a few days ago. Here is what I ended up buying and I thought I would put my experience out there for anyone looking into this tiller.

I bought a Mantis 4 stroke with the Honda engine. I got it at a Napa shop that carries the Mantis brand and it was the best price that I found at $389. It came with none of the extras (no "kick stand", edger, etc.). I hope that I don't come to regret not purchasing it direct from Mantis. I did not realize that the warantee was different. If you want to read about warantee problems with other tillers, please do a search on Yungman here at Gardenweb.

I have only used the tiller for about an hour and a half so far, but I know I am going to be using this a lot in my 40x40 garden and various flower beds. You definitely have to pull the machine toward you while you walk backwards. Let it walk itself to the next spot forward and then have it dig in as you walk it backward again.

It is a great machine! Having said that, there are a few problems that I have with it. I am 5' 2" so I am well below the height of the "average male" that the world seems to be designed for. The handles are not adjustable, so in order for the tiller to work best (in an upright position rather than tilted back toward me) I have to run the thing with my hands held above my shoulders. Try doing that for any length of time! I am never going to have to lift weights during the growing season. It seemed to me that it should work the same whether tilted or upright, but it just dug in better upright.

Another thing is that my hands are not the size of the "average male" either. To keep the tiller's tines in motion, you have to keep your hands on the throttle and grip the handles at the same time. This would not be a big deal if you have larger hands. My hands must be held higher up on the grip which just happens to be right next to the switch that turns the entire machine off. One tiny bounce and my hand turns the whole blessed machine off! I wish that you could set the throttle to a certain speed and then be able to hold the machine further back on the grip.

Which brings me to this problem with the machine. The throttle speed depends on how much you are pulling the trigger on the right handle. As you are pulling back on the machine (at least in my heavy soil) you can't help but pull harder on the trigger, which in turn throttles it up, etc. One more reason to be able to set the throttle at a set speed.

My last issue is that in some of my garden, it didn't bite down into the soil as much as I'd have liked. This was cleared soil, but had not been tilled since last summer. This may become a non-issue once I go through the entire garden with my larger, rear-tine tiller once and use the Mantis to keep it up the rest of the season. However, it may be an issue if anyone is considering this tiller as their only tiller. You could see where the tines were digging into the soil, but it wasn't breaking it up. This soil is also not amended because it is the path between my raised beds. If you have nicer soil, disregard this!

One problem that someone with "average male" hands will have that was actually an advantage for my small hands (finally an advantage!) was clearing out the tines. I have not used the tool they sell for cleaning out the tines, but I can see the advantage. I did cut my thumb cleaning them out, so even if you have small hands you may want to invest in the tool.

This machine is also not built for removal of larger weeds in heavier soils. It clogs the tines pretty quick in that situation. Lighter soils would probably not have that issue. Others have posted that the mini tillers work best if you remove sod for a new bed. Keep this in mind if you want this to work on an overgrown existing garden as well or if you are looking for something to till in a green cover crop. I don't know if anyone would expect this to work in that capacity, but just trying to cover all the bases!

I am hoping that some of these issues resolve as I become more used to the machine and learn how to better control it. It will also depend on your soil. This machine would be phenomenal in lighter soil!!

Overall I am really happy with this purchase and it looks like it will work beautifully for my intended purposes. I look forward to using it this summer! I may try to modify it for my height, but I will contact Mantis first to make sure it doesn't nullify the warantee.

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Comments (8)

yungman
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am glad you bought the Mantis. The different between buying direct is if you buy from dealer, Mantis want you to go through the dealer for warrantee repair. If you have a good dealer, you have no problem. If you have dealer like me, you'll be in trouble.

The on/off switch has always been a problem regardless of the size of the hand. I learn to hold the handle as far back as possible while still able to pull the throtle.

I did not talk about the Mantis not able to till untilled soil because you said you have the big rear tine. Mantis is good for a lot of things, not fot tiller untilled ground!!! It did take me a while to get use to the Mantis. At the begining, it jump so bad it even bend the handle bar a little. But it'll get better as you get the hand of it. Now my Mantis hardly jump at all on me.

If you have a lawn, seriously consider the dethatcher tine. I like the edger and the kick stand. I don't use it as edger, I put the regular on one side instead of the edger tine. This way, I can till a very narrow path. I use it between the hedges and cement side walk. Weeds grow in between and it is only about 6 inches wide. Too narrow to till unless I put wheel on one side and till with one tine.

You'll get better handle of it in no time. Remember, do not store the tiller with engine cylinder sideway or upside down. Honda engine can run in all position but it cannot be stored in side or upside down because when engine not running, oil drain to the lowest spot due to gravity. If sit side ways, oil can sip pass the ring and get into the cylinder. It make the engine hard to start and smoke a lot until the oil is all burnt up. It will also soak the air filter.
growing_in_oh
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Just used it again--I love this thing! I was able to maneuver it around some established sedum and spring bulbs in the front of my vegetable garden. I wasn't sure how well it would work for this, but it went really well! I didn't run over anything. I was also able to get right up next to the boards of my raised beds and get everything that was growing right next to them

Also was able to control unintentionally turning it off a little better this time. I went over the whole garden with my big tiller first, and did clean up in the tight spots with the Mantis. I hope that with it tilled first I'll be able to maintain all the rows with just the Mantis over the summer.
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growing_in_oh
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yungman--thanks for the info about the warrantee. I did ask the guys at Napa what I needed to do for repairs if it would need it and they have someone they use there. Hopefully I won't have any problems...

I'm glad that for once it isn't my "smallness" that is the issue with something (the switch). That was a lot better when I used it today.

What a great idea you have using the edger wheel and the regular tines for a narrow area. Does the edger work well as an actual edger? We've used my mom's edger before and loved it (it isn't the Mantis--just a regular power edger). I read a review that said it didn't work that well--ate up the ground rather than creating a nice edge. I had hoped to eventually get the edger attachment.

I'll keep the dethatcher attachment in mind for the future. We've really not taken the best care of our lawn in the recent past. It could really benefit from some TLC.

Thanks also for the advice about storing the Mantis. I love that it can be hung on the garage wall! I was a little disappointed that I couldn't just dig in with the Mantis on the ground that hadn't been tilled since last year. But it worked so well after, I'm over that now!!

Thanks for your help with everything!
yungman
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You are welcome. I am surprised that it took me quite a few times to really get use to the Mantis. But once I get the hand of it, it really behave. I have a front tine tiller so I never have to use it on the untilled ground. Infact I bought it mainly for dethatching, everything else is bonus far as I concern and I am truely surprised how useful it is.

I never try the edger. I don't think it will work very well because it turn too slow.( they have reduction gear to gain the torque for tilling, so it only spin about 200rpm max. It is not going to give a very clean cut.)

I forgot to say. It is perfectly ok for the motor at hanging position, no worry about smoke and all.

One more thing you might know already but I just going to repeat. When you are going to put it away for a few months during winter:
1) Empty the gas.
2) Position the unit so the primer bult facing up and prime to empty all the gas out inot the gas tank. Pour any excess gas out of the tank.
3) Close the choke and try starting it. It should start and run for a few second. This will empty most of the gas within the carb.
4) If you can, keep the choke close, squeeze the throtle all the way and pull a few more times to such the remaining gas out of the carb.

With that, you can store the unit. Gas is the single thing that can clog the carb if left inside for long period. This apply to all other equipments also. I am a home owner and don't use my stuff all year long. I need to do this also.

YOu should add StaBil gas stablizer( get it in Home Depot) in gas to keep it fresh. Change oil half the recommended period. Also check the gear case to make sure it is full of greese. Mantis forgot to put greese in my gear box and it jam 8 months down the road!!!! That is the time I really got good service. They just sent me a new gear box, no question asked!!! Recieved in 5 days and they arranged to pick up the old gear box few days later!!! I don't have to do anything and don't have to pay shipment.

Don't be scare of the gear box, everyone is entitled to make a bobo!!! It is the support that matter. I would check the greese level in your gear box anyway. Easy, just 4 screws.....read the instruction.
growing_in_oh
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks again--I'm going to print your end-of-year instructions so I have them handy. They mentioned greasing the gear box in the instructions, but I didn't check it out of the box. I'll do that and make sure I stay on top of that. I read about the gas stabilizer in some of the posts, but haven't gotten any yet--next trip into town!
yungman
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Glad you like it, enjoy.

Keep us update in the future so we can all learn.

Cheers
smokey362
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The last place I worked was a STIHL dealer. We sold Mantis as well. the Stihl yardboss MM-55 is a lot better machine than Mantis. the attachments are great. I bought one and wouldn't trade it for ANY mantis. They're both good machines, but I would rather have my Yardboss.
yungman
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yardboss looks good too. It has the brush attachment that I really hope Mantis have. Two reason I did not go for Yardboss is first I never actually see one in stores. Secondly I want a very quiet engine and Honda fit the bill. Also the Yardboss use the Homescaper engine that used in the low end trimmers and hand held blowers.

I don't know whether it is relavent or not, I buy a lot of used engine on ebay to open and learn. I have a Homescaper engine also. The connecting rod is unusually thin in the middle. Don't know whether it is a problem or not. Just an observation.

On the side note, I have a FS110 engine also, I like the idea the carb have all the adjustments.

Mantis mini tiller review

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Mantis mini tiller review

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