New VERTICAL TINE rototiller...anyone have one?

5030 · May 15, 2016

I suspect I'll keep the RT, loping engine or not. I works well and it's easier to control than my Troy-Bilt Horse. The 'egg beater' tines looked interesting though.

BukitCase · May 15, 2016

Another thing to check, preferably BEFORE you change any adjustments - if you're using ethanol it may have already pooched your fuel line. That could easily cause pulling air into the fuel, leaning it out a bit.

2 years ago I stopped using ANYTHING but straight, no alcohol gas in ALL my small engine stuff - lot less irritation/bad/no starting, crappy running, etc - of course, all the precautions you already mentioned are important too.

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

And yeah, Honda's GX series are the better ones, I read somewhere that the GC's were made in china - may as well buy a predator and save some $, if it's gonna come from the same place... Steve

5030 · May 15, 2016

I read a load of bad press (reviews) of the CC RT concerning the transmission. Mine is 3 years old and no issues but then I loaded the gearcase with premium EP grease before I ever turned a tine. I had read that MTD skimps on gearcase lube so I added at least a pint of high qualiity synthetic EP grease.

I also read bad press about the difficulty of shifting gears, from forward rotation to reverse to neutral to forward and reverse with no tine drive. They are straight cut gears with no syncromesh so changing gears is a matter of jogging the unit a bit and it goes right into whatever gear you need.

My TB Horse isn't any better actually.

5030 · May 17, 2016

JRobyn said:
That lopping is due to being too lean on a governed engine. If your carb has a main jet adjustment, try opening it just a bit. If you have no adjustment, the leanness is probably because of a bit of trash in the carb that is partially blocking the main jet.

Little Mantis tillers have had both "regular" and straight (vertical) tine sets for a long time. The regular tines are best for stirring and mixing soil, the straight ones are excellent for cultivating weeds from between existing planted rows.

I pulled the bowl and main jet and blew it out with an air hose. Nothing in the bowl at all but must have been something in the jet because it don't lope now.

I had no idea where the motor was made. I 'presumed' it was China because it's the cheap Honda. Certainly cheap pot metal castings.

Scooby074 · May 18, 2016

Looks like Cub at least slightly based their design on the Berta Rotary Plow or a Power Harrow (not really a "totally new" idea like they say. The Bertas seem to work very well in videos, almost too well

If I had a BCS walking tractor (or similar) Id love to try one. I think that Gravely offered something similar at one time as well.

sixdogs · May 18, 2016

That does a surprisingly good job. I wonder how it does in harder ground or conditions with rocks.

JRobyn · May 18, 2016

5030 said:
I pulled the bowl and main jet and blew it out with an air hose. Nothing in the bowl at all but must have been something in the jet because it don't lope now.

I had no idea where the motor was made. I 'presumed' it was China because it's the cheap Honda. Certainly cheap pot metal castings.

Very glad that fixed it! :cool2:

JRobyn · May 18, 2016

We have the little Mantis tiller with the 4-cycle Honda engine. Wife went to use it last weekend; it wouldn't start. I verified that the choke was on, asked her how many times she had pulled the starter (wondering if it was flooded). Pulled it myself a few times. Checked the "international icon" kill switch (I or O) which I can never remember which is which. Tried it the other way. Fixed!!

Scooby074 · May 18, 2016

sixdogs said:
That does a surprisingly good job. I wonder how it does in harder ground or conditions with rocks.

The fellow in this video says they can handle rocks the size of basketballs

and no problem dealing with sticks etc "less violent than a tiller" he said.. All the BCS Ive seen have the traditional tiller, never seen one with the Berta plow in person, wonder why?? I wonder if its because it doesnt work as well in an established garden as a traditional tine tiller?