that tiny MANTIS tiller "as seen on TV" is pretty badarse! gardening fun.

vash · vash's Garage

call me crazy, but gardening seems more fun, when a two stroke motor is involved.

just got done helping a good friend rebuild turbo brakes (FUN!)..had some extra motivation leftover, so i fired up a loaner MANTIS. i did a quick test run in my raised beds...holy! it almost yanked me off my feet. i have some composted horse crap coming from a buddy, my own compost pile..i am gonna plow it all together...and lay down my veggies soon.

simple metal post fence to keep the damn chickens out...i'm feeling pretty good about this year's garden!!

tomatoes, peppers, the usual suspects..PLUS some crazy asian veggies that get the old ladies in my life crazy with envy..

the MANTIS ROCKS!

vash · vash's Garage

also; when did i become my parents??? gardening? wtf?

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

My wife got a Mantis (freinds that moved gave it to her) about 3 years ago.
I laughed when i first saw it, but they do pack a lot of power in that little motor.

Worked great, but every spring would require some fiddling with the carb to get it running right.
Last spring i tried everything to get that thing going, but never did get it started.
I think the coil is toasted.

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

Not sure on the parents thing.
Do a search.

poorsche930 · 04-10-2010, 05:09 PM

Even with the Honda 4 stroke engine that little guy kicks ass.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I just did part of my yard with my Dad's Honda motored Mantis. Stirred up my compost heap while I was at it. That thing is awesome. Took me about 15 minutes to till three wheel barrows full of compost a few bags of chicken and steer manure into a few hundred square feet. I have used that thing on every bit of my yard that does not have grass growing on it.

I like fresh produce, what can I say?

Seahawk · 04-11-2010, 03:26 AM

We still have the two stroke Mantis my wife, then GF, bought in 1988...runs great!

It is a frickin' hoot to use.

mattdavis11 · 04-11-2010, 04:47 AM

They pull their weight for light duty.

MBAtarga · 04-11-2010, 06:07 AM

I bought a used Mantis, along with a 6HP Craftsman tiller (with auto-reverse!) from a widow when we lived in Texas - about 20 years ago. Both are still going strong. The Mantis is also great for planting trees and shrubs. Just hold it in place and let it dig the hole for you.

Westy · 04-11-2010, 07:35 AM

That little thing would run with fear if it saw my DG base. Oh and by the way...'You're crazy'.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

They just bounce in the air on my acreage, my rock/soil ratio is way out of balance. Not that something like a TroyBuilt would do much good either.
Jim

silver912e · 04-11-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete3799

My wife got a Mantis (freinds that moved gave it to her) about 3 years ago.
I laughed when i first saw it, but they do pack a lot of power in that little motor.

Worked great, but every spring would require some fiddling with the carb to get it running right.
Last spring i tried everything to get that thing going, but never did get it started.
I think the coil is toasted.

They make a rebuild kit for the carb. It's really cheap, less than 20 bucks. The diaphragm in the carb goes bad if you leave gas in the carb over the winter, but the rebuild is very easy.

I've gotten a lot of use out of mine.