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#1
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Mantis Tiller
I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier,
has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth |
#2
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Mantis Tiller
On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 22:23:30 -0000, "ruth todd"
wrote: I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth I'm considering a Mantis or Honda tiller too (both have Honda engines). There are two Mantis models, one 2-cycle (requires a fuel-oil mix), the other 4-cycle (separate oil). I suspect the 4-cycle is not as noisy, the 2-cycle fewer moving engine parts (maybe less repair). Any recommendations for online companies with discounted prices? I know the Mantis comes with a free border edger, but I'd rather have a discount. I've used my Weedeater string edger for border cuts for years and it works exceptionally well when the string is tilted in the vertical position while walking backward. |
#3
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Mantis Tiller
"ruth todd" wrote in message ... I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth I've had the same Mantis for twelve years, and it's still going fine. I had to replace the tines last year after five years of Arkansas rocks wore them to nubbins. There are many pluses for a Mantis including durability, portability (one hand carries it), handling ease, and ability to be used in small spaces. Two negatives include the fact that they get roots tangled in tines (remove tines for removal) and starting unless you know the formula. If you're still interested I'll tell you how to start one. It's my favorite gardening tool. John |
#4
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Mantis Tiller
On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 22:03:50 -0600, "B & J"
wrote: "ruth todd" wrote in message ... I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth I've had the same Mantis for twelve years, and it's still going fine. I had to replace the tines last year after five years of Arkansas rocks wore them to nubbins. There are many pluses for a Mantis including durability, portability (one hand carries it), handling ease, and ability to be used in small spaces. Two negatives include the fact that they get roots tangled in tines (remove tines for removal) and starting unless you know the formula. If you're still interested I'll tell you how to start one. It's my favorite gardening tool. John John, I'd be interested in knowing any tricks in starting your Mantis. Is yours a 2 or 4-cycle engine? The LIT-7222 is a 2-cycle and the LIT-7260 is a 4-cycle. I understand the tines are guaranteed for life. Did you get yours replaced free? |
#5
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Mantis Tiller
On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 22:03:50 -0600, "B & J"
wrote: "ruth todd" wrote I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments I've had the same Mantis for twelve years, and it's still going fine. I had to replace the tines last year after five years of Arkansas rocks wore them to nubbins. There are many pluses for a Mantis including durability, portability (one hand carries it), handling ease, and ability to be used in small spaces. Two negatives include the fact that they get roots tangled in tines (remove tines for removal) and starting unless you know the formula. If you're still interested I'll tell you how to start one. Ah, the arcana I never mastered. If the mystery of starting had been revealed to me, I wouldn't have given it away after 3-4 frustrating seasons and many futile trips to lawnmower shops that *promised* satisfaction, but were oddly reluctant to be on call to start the critter when I was ready to work. I agree entirely with John's assessment. I used mine for a community garden plot, and it was easy to transport in the back of my (compact) car and maneuver it. What is it -- 19lbs? Sturdy as the dickens. Never any time that it couldn't/wouldn't attack anything from hard clay to established sod. Yes, roots winding around were a problem, but not *too* fussy to clear the clog. I miss my Mantis. But not standing in a field on a 93F (plenty humid, too) afternoon pulling a starting cord and swearing for 20 minutes at a time. |
#6
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Mantis Tiller
John---
I don't use mine more often due my inablility to start it easily. Have big project co9ming up, so anything you can tell me to help me to start it more easily wold be greatly appreciated. TIA On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 22:03:50 -0600, "B & J" wrote: If you're still interested I'll tell you how to start one. It's my favorite gardening tool. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
#7
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Mantis Tiller
I rented a Mantis for 2 projects and then read about and bought a Honda.
What a world of difference. It is easy to start, it is quieter, it doesn't jump out of the ground when it hits a rock, etc. I highly recommend the Honda over the Mantis. "ruth todd" wrote in message ... I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth |
#8
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Mantis Tiller
On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:13:28 -0500, "Betsy" -0 wrote:
I rented a Mantis for 2 projects and then read about and bought a Honda. What a world of difference. It is easy to start, it is quieter, it doesn't jump out of the ground when it hits a rock, etc. I highly recommend the Honda over the Mantis. All Mantis tillers have Honda engines. What you probably noticed was the noise/power difference between a 2-cycle and 4-cycle engine? |
#9
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Mantis Tiller
On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 22:03:50 -0600, "B & J"
wrote: small spaces. Two negatives include the fact that they get roots tangled in tines (remove tines for removal) and starting unless you know the formula. If you're still interested I'll tell you how to start one. I's had one for about as long as you. What's your secret to getting it started? I've found that if you take the needle valve screws out and squirt carb cleaner in the jet holes each spring, it makes it easier to start and runs better. In a different group I follow, there was a long thread about ways to get small gas engines like weed whackers and chain saws to start. The two best sounding ones were to spray WD-40 in the carb, or to "spray" propane from an unlit torch in the carb to get it going. RWL ******* Remove _NOSPAM_ to reply via email ******* |
#10
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Mantis Tiller
ruth todd wrote:
I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth I have one. It's horrible. The engine is supposedly the same as an Echo trimmer or chain saw, but I have no problems with my Echo chain saws or trimmer. The Mantis has been almost impossible to start since about 2 years after I bought it. I had it in the shop a couple of years ago and they put on a new carburator, and that helped for a few months. Buy a Honda, or some cheap Chinese knock-off tiller. Don't buy a Mantis unless you intend to sell it after at the end of the first season you use it -- before it quits working. You pay a premium for the Mantis, but it's a crappy machine. BTW, the Mantis does a good job if you can get it started and keep it running, and if you have sandy soil. They don't work all that well in clay. Best regards, Bob |
#11
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Mantis Tiller
I purchased a Honda Harmony FG100, 4 cycle. It started the very first pull,
I have never seen a engine start so well. Gary New to the north country "ruth todd" wrote in message ... I'm thinking of buying a Mantis Tiller to make gardening a little easier, has anyone got one of these? I would be very grateful for any comments good or bad, that you could pass on to me. Thanks in anticipation. Ruth |
#12
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Mantis Tiller
zxcvbob expounded:
I have one. It's horrible. The engine is supposedly the same as an Echo trimmer or chain saw, but I have no problems with my Echo chain saws or trimmer. The Mantis has been almost impossible to start since about 2 years after I bought it. I had it in the shop a couple of years ago and they put on a new carburator, and that helped for a few months. I've had one for four years, and I always forget to drain the fuel, yet it starts, every single year for me, following the procedure John (B&J) wrote about. I've found it very reliable and easy to use. I think you really have to do exactly what's recommended in the manual for it to run properly (not knocking anyone, everyone forgets from year to year). -- Ann, Gardening in zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA ******************************** |
#13
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Mantis Tiller
zxcvbob expounded:
I have one. It's horrible. The engine is supposedly the same as an Echo trimmer or chain saw, but I have no problems with my Echo chain saws or trimmer. The Mantis has been almost impossible to start since about 2 years after I bought it. I had it in the shop a couple of years ago and they put on a new carburator, and that helped for a few months. I've had one for four years, and I always forget to drain the fuel, yet it starts, every single year for me, following the procedure John (B&J) wrote about. I've found it very reliable and easy to use. I think you really have to do exactly what's recommended in the manual for it to run properly (not knocking anyone, everyone forgets from year to year). -- Ann, Gardening in zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA ******************************** |
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