Rusty, does your distaste for Honda engines stem from a bad experience? No disrespect, but I think your opinion is a little out of the mainstream. Honda definitely has two series of engines -- "homeowner" engines and "heavy duty" engines, but so does everybody. And there are problems throughout the industry with cheap clones that aren't what they first appear to be. Over the course of the last 30 years, I've had two Honda lawnmowers, a Honda tiller and a Honda snowblower. I love them all, especially for the reliable, torquey engines. I've never had a major engine problem. The engine on the first lawnmower smoked pretty badly (after 20 years or so) when the transmission gave out and I had to replace the coil on the tiller. Apart from that, oil changes and filters are all that the engines have ever needed. I've never -- and would never -- bought one of their "big box store" mowers. They use the less durable engines and are generally less well built than their "professional" line. Here again, they are no different from other manufacturers in that regard. As you can tell, I'm pretty much hooked on Honda power equipment based on solid performance over long term usage. IMO, most of it's due to basic quality, but certainly there's also an element of luck. Cheers, Fred

I would "echo" the previous comments about JD or Kubota, you've got the $$ don't buy cheap!! Sears is good for the ''weekend" gardener, not "commercial," which from your description you are. About "extended warranties," I'm sure the "kid" who sells you this will sell you the warranty, the first time you have a service call and the tech sees you're using it "commercially....." e.g. Most warranties have comments like "2 years residential, 30 days commercial." You might ask wherever you end up buying. The links to the sears site show a "reasonable" Garden Tractor and would probably hold up just dragging a tiller at "cultivate" mode which is the shallowest depth setting. The tiller on the other hand is a belt drive and IMHO would not last routinely being used on a two acre plot. Don't know if Sears offers extended warranties on "non powered" equipment? Being old, cranky, and opinionated, (not necessarily in that order :-) ) I still think a good rear tine tiller would work well. Actually buy two since you have $$ and volunteers. I have a rear tine MTD which I've used for 11 years for soil prep and cultivating in a 50 X 70 garden. In that time, other than air filters, plugs, and oil changes have done nothing to it at all. I don't consider that a "good" tiller, but "adequate" for the price point. In "tines forward and depth gauge at 1" it gets rid of weeds and moves right along. If you really want the sears unit, go to www. my tractor forum . com have to spread it out like that as these two sites don't like each other. Look for the Sears or Craftsman forum and post your question including the links. You'll get responses from folks who actually have these units and can provide input based on "seat time." Let us know what you end up getting and why. Good luck, Ev

I've had a gas 2 stroke Mantis (older model) for years. Some days it starts and runs great; some days not. I aerated half my lawn one day. Went out to finish the next and the 2 stroke engine started to cough sputter and die. Tried of buying new spark plugs and fiddling with the carb. Went out and bought an electric. Marvelous! We have a large property and I'll need the gas in spots but having a Mantis now that I know will just work is great. The lack of noise is also a big benefit. Some of my jobs are more than 2 hours. I probably should buy a bigger machine but I don't wan to be taking up space storing large machines that only get used once or twice a year. Renting is a hassle because of having to load and unload. Plus, it never seems to fail that the day you want to do something everybody else does too and you miss your window. I have the dethacher and the aerator. The dethacher works great. MUCH better than the type you put on a rotary mower. It doesn't destroy the lawn an gets out more of the thatch. The aerator also works as a dethatcher. the problem is if you have a lot of thatch in the lawn it quickly gets clogged with the thatch. Another reason I like the electric. No problem at all just stopping it (engine off), clearing the thatch and then just squeeze and you're off again. Managing the cord was no problem. You're working backwards so your legs/waist keep the cord away from the tines. If I was buying new and could only have one I'd get the Honda hands down. Mixing 2 stroke fuel is for the birds. What's worse is my McCulloch gas weed whacker takes a different fuel mix; isn't that always the way? Even with the small Mantis bottles of oil it seems I'm always dealing with how to get rid of fuel that's gone bad. If it's straight gas, like the Honda you just dump it into you cars gas tank.

Thanks formerboybill! Good Info Known/Unknown by small time gardeners. 1. The garden was initially broken with a tractor, added compost etc before he used the small tiller. 2. Many people do not know or care about the importance of quality equipment and maintenance cost less IMO. 3. My challenge has been replacing 70's equipment that's wearing out, knowing quality has changed (advantages and disadvantages). I'll usually go with the middle grade with the oldest good reputation if possible (for my home use with fair to good satisfaction). 4. Passing tools down was the good way of life, which has changed with technology and grade of tools.