Mantis tiller vs Stihl yard boss

[jinman]

People must love the Mantis tillers, though, because I been looking for a used one for a few years now, and I've only seen one. That one was sold before I could even make the phone call.

I think you are right. My FIL had one when he lived in the country. As he was preparing to have a big garage sale, his BIL stopped by and saw the tiller. He bought it before the garage sale even started.

I borrowed one many years ago and loved it. I bought a non-mantis clone (tiller only) for $149 and used it over 15 years. It still runs, but is getting a bit ragged. This year we were at Lowes and they had a similar one that was returned. They are priced at $219 new, but they sold me this one for $149 since I told them my story about the previous one. Using mine, I can hoe my garden and do a better job in a tenth of time it would take me to hoe. Actually, for tilling and doing close work to my plants, I use a 4-tine fork mostly.

 

[J35]

I like the Mantis,have had one for many years.

They really shine in small tight areas like flower beds, inside chicken coops to loosen and turn the soil, also planting shrubs and small tree's.

They will bury their selves if you remove the loose soil every so often.

Have fun

 

[ccsial]

We have a Mantis tiller,honda 4 stroke,it starts second pull every time.coobie

I have a late model Honda. Some of the early model Honda's had problems with gears stripping. I love the Honda 4 stroke.

I didn't know Mantis had a Honda powered version. That would be the cats meow for me.

These things are much easier on the hands and arms than a hoe. I used the hoe until two years ago until my hands started to cramp.

 

[Bird]

I agree that the Honda powered Mantis would be my preference, but I really can't complain about the 2 stroke Mantis that I have. I mentioned a week ago today that I had ordered the "weed reducers" online and they arrived via UPS yesterday afternoon.

 

[Iowa2305]

A couple of years ago I had a mantis and loved it. It was the two stroke and the local dealer didn't carry any 4 strokes. About a year later, I asked him if there was any way to get the Stihl attachments to work for the Mantis. After finding out that it wouldn't work, I sold it for a new Stihl. Personally, I think that the Mantis did a better job tilling than the Stihl I have right now. However, I typically only till up a very small area every year. I went with the stihl to get the bristle brush and rubber "broom" to clean up the lawn and pavement. I rented the thatcher attachment once and it did an excellent job but on a lawn of any size, plan on taking your whole weekend to get the lawn done. I also purchased the edger for both (they both work) and the aerator for the Mantis- works wells but don't use on whole lawn. I would still have the Mantis if it weren't for the need to have the two "broom" options that Stihl carried. C

 

[Charlesaf3]

interesting.

Thoughts on hoes - I find sharpening them to an axe edge on the grinder makes life easier. And the shuffle hoe is a lot easier than the regular one, though it only works on new small weeds, like between hoes.

Much as I like the idea of small engines, I think I'm starting to suffer from small engine overload - seems like half my time is spent on repair and maintenance, not work.