mantis tiller

hi , i had both the mantis model,s 2/4 stroke they say that they are great for working on allotments but i found out the hard way its only if you use them on soft ground which has been dug first .on hard ground after a fair bit of use the engine sounds like its fell to bits . i have just tried to turn over my neice,s plot with my 4 stroke (4 yrs old ) when it started to rattle a bit ,i stoped it and checked it in case i had picked up a stone in the blades when i tried to restart it it sounds like its all in bits so ill send it back for a check up but after the first one did it i dont think ill b paying out £ 350 for another one ill go for a larger heavy duty one ,at least i know its going to last me more than a couple of years. good luck bob

My problem is the weight, I had a alko rotovator it was very heavy trying to take it home every night, lifting it into the boot of the car and out when I got home. So I left it at the allotment for a few days taking the wheel off for safety but one night some one got into the locked shed put the alko into my wheelbarrow and stole it and wheelbarrow as well.

hi .you have no probs with a mantis i ride a 250cc m/cycle and i can put the handles down one side of the bike with the acc,s in my topbox and the body in my shoulder bag slung over my shoulder in a car you can fold the handles in half and lay it on the the floor of yr boot also you can hold it in one hand its so compact hope this helps out .regards bob

thanks bob great help. Had a word with some of the lottie holders who own a mantis tillers and they are all happy with them, after looking around on the internet I found one which had 2 extras bits £25 cheaper than most of them all, and includes free oil and free delivery.
Hope to get it this week. Will let you know how I get on.

tiller has arrived. i put it to gether, topped up with oil and petrol and it started second pull, very Quite, great dvd on how to put it together, hope to give it a try tomorrrow if its not raining

I used my Mantis Tiller for the first time today, I had to cultivate a piece of land 6m x 5m, first making sure the tines were in the correct way round for tilling, yes it does go down a good 10” but I had to stop every 2 minuets to clear stones from the tines as they jammed and stopped them spinning. But after a while this was not a problem as I tried to clear any stone before tilling. After tilling I turned the tines around and cultivated the plot trying to make a fine surface for planting my onion sets. All in all I am very happy with the mantis its is very quiet, did not use a lot of petrol and did a good job.

Hello splodgeit
I've had a mantis for more years than I can remember its still in perfect order and serves me well. I always pull mine backwards then I'm not walking over freshly tilled ground and also the tiller digs deeper
If ever you need any spares plugs filters oil etc the service center at Stockport provide an excellent postal service.
Happy gardening
Lottyman