Mantis tiller-not your every day tool!-UPDATED MAY 2009
Written: May 10 '06 (Updated May 18 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, inexpensive, works hard
Cons: Doesn't always start the first pull of the cord, not meant to last forever.
The Bottom Line: I totally recommend this to anyone with fairly strong upper body-it WILL give your arms, neck and back a workout.
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| reginahitch's Full Review: Mantis Tiller |
Below is the original review I wrote on the Mantis 2-cycle tiller. The next few lines are the updated opinions I have of this little monster.
I've since learned that the Mantis 2-cycle tiller can cause me to curse loudly and frequently. I had this tiller for 3 full summers before everything went to crap. First, the carbeuretor decided to take a dump. The tiller would not start, and on the rare occasion it did start, either it would not idle, or it would not throttle. I could squeeze the trigger and it would cut out and die, as if it were flooded. I bought a new carb, it worked quite well for about a month. Then it just would not start. Then the pull cord broke. So we put it all back together, and the idle was still screwy, so you had to always keep the trigger all the way down, which is extremely dangerous when you are first starting it or any time you have to move it. Then the pull cord broke again. This time, it is too short to fix, and I am going to have to get a new one. I spent over $200 the last two summers making this thing run again (it isn't, by the way) and now Mantis is offering both the 2-cycle and the 4-cycle with a 5-year warranty. I stand by what I originally said; this sucker will work harder than a tiller three times its size. But be prepared to buy a new one every couple years, or keep pouring money into it for parts. I cannot live without my tiller and even with all the crap I've had to put up with the last two years, it is still worth it. I think I"m going to go ahead and get a new one with a longer warranty...if it craps out on me in 3 summers this time, I'll just have it replaced--for free!
I have to say I was incredibly skeptical when I first heard of this thing. I have owned a HUGE 10HP rear-tine gas-powered rototiller for many years, that costs nearly $3,000. Wait, let me back up...
I live in Arizona. We don't have soil, we have what is commonly referred to as hard-pan or caliche. Actually, they are different things, but let's not get all technical and stuff. Anyway, it is 90% clay, which if you know ANYTHING at all about gardening, you know it dries out hard as a rock and is super sticky when wet. Anyhoo...It is really hard. I don't mean the shovel takes a minute to dig down into the soft layer, I mean I dug a 30 foot long water line by hand, going down 28 inches, and it took three weeks, working 6 hours a day. That is what I mean. When putting in fence posts, a hole has to be soaked every 6 inches or you will get nowhere.
That is not an exageration.
Anyway, so this bug monster Troy-bilt had a hard time going through this hard-pan. (check out my article on amending hard-pan in the December 2005 issue of Fine Gardening magazine) We would have to water the soil, till it when it was drying, water it again, add amendments, water some more, and then let it all sit for a day before we could finally reach down a whopping 6 inches. This procedure would be repeated several times over the next week until we finally could have decent soil 18 inches deep, what is recommended for most perennials with permanent root structure...
A lady on the gardening club website asked on the board whether any of us had ever used a mantis tiller and wondered if it would work hard clay. Now, she was from West Virginia, so I kinda wondered why she was going to haul in hard clay, but she claimed that was what she had. Hmph! Try Arizona for a while... Anyhoo...So I had never used one but briefly stated that I felt about tiny tillers like the mantis the same way I feel about electric or battery-powered yard tool. It just isn't anywhere near as strong or useful as the real thing. (I.e. a gas-powered monster) I just didn't believe it. I thought it would be perfect for my already wonderful raised beds, when I added compost or manure...
So for my birthday this spring, my husband said he wanted to get me a mantis. I agreed because lets face it, I'm not stupid...
First thing, I took it out in the corn patch. We had troubles with this area for a while and it was the only planting area that was not a raised bed. It was still incredibly hard. But let me tell you, that Mantis dug right in. It was even better in my raised beds, where it turned the soil all fluffy like a pillow.
The Mantis works on the back stroke, meaning you pull it toward you as it digs instead of walking behind it. That was nice since I could much more easily control it then that big monster I had.
It runs on 2-cycle gas, which I wasn't all that crazy about, but it works. I like things I can stick in the back of the truck and fill up with gas at the station. It just isn't safe to have big old cans of gasoline, whether straight or mixed, just lying around in 130º temps. Call me crazy.
The tines are reversible and carry a lifetime warranty. When the tines are out, the Mantis really digs in and mixes the soil. When they are reversed, they dig weeds very efficiently. They are way easy to run around, it just requires the removal of a kotter key and you flip them around and stick the key back in. Same goes for attaching other accessories, too...The lifetime warranty on the tines is awesome, and that includes dulling. I was impressed.
The engine is pretty powerful and sounds like a chainsaw. If you are looking for something quiet, better stick to your shovel, since this thing is pretty loud. I don't mind however.
IT only comes with the regular tines, but you can buy a lawn aerator, a grass edger, and all sorts of other accessories.
It cost about $350, including shipping, has a carrying handle, is easy to start, "walks" its way to the dig site (once it has been started) and even has a safety feature so a small child could not engage the throttle and hurt themselves.
All in all, I am truly sold. I take back every bad thing I ever said about this tiny treasure. It is truly a marvel and I am so glad I have it!
I still think electric garden tools are stupid!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
reginahitch
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Member: Regina Hitchcock
Reviews written: 116
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
Plain old country gal with a hundred complicated interests.
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