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(More customer reviews)This is my twelfth season for using this tiller. To prepare my garden I use an ancient Troy built that has been going strong for about 18 years now (I bought it used) and it looks as if this Mantis two stroke is going to last just as long. To be honest, I am a rather lazy gardener and the job of all jobs I hate most is cultivating and weeding. This little machine has taken away almost all of the excuses I have for not having a neat, well tended garden. There are a couple of things you should know though before purchasing this little gem:
First, this is not a machine that is suitable for breaking up new ground or ground that has not been tilled for several years. It simply is not built for that.
Secondly, you should not let your mind wonder when using this cultivator. It can take out a garden plant in a flash if you loose control over it and indeed, if you are extremely inattentive, it certainly has the capability of taking off a toe or two.
Thirdly: I would strongly recommend you use gloves when using this for any extended period of time. They give you protection of course, but they also allow for a better grip, ergo, more control.
Forth: Try to avoid running in through bailing twine, wire or even vines if possible. Getting the stuff untangled is truly a odious task.
Fifth: Perform the preventive maintenance on it as recommended and then double the timing on it. Keep the tines sharp and keep them replaced as needed. (Yes, the tines are guaranteed against breakage, but I promise you that they will bend if bounced off enough rocks...hey, I live in the Ozarks, rocks I know!)
Sixth: Watch out for larger rocks. Not only can the bend tines, but they can cause the machine to go out of control.
Seventh: Watch and take great care with your gas/oil mix and at the end of the season follow the directions as to winter storage.
Now that being said, this thing is a snap to use. As a matter of fact it can easily be handled by a knowledgably and trained child with very little supervision. It can go into places a larger tiller cannot possibly go. It is light and is very easy to maneuver once you get the hang of it. Now I admit that I am a complete and absolute klutz when it comes to fixing anything mechanical (well, truth be told, non-mechanical things too), but I have had to take this into the shop only once in the years I have owned and used it. Everything else I was able to fix myself using only the manual provided, and over the past couple of years a few sites on my computer. No fancy tools are needed; only the ability to read and a smudge of common sense. Hey, trust me, if I can do it, then just about anyone can. I mean we are talking here about someone so inept that my wife use to have to put the children's Christmas toys together as I could not manage it.
I am like another reviewer here. I doubt if I would still be gardening, vegetable and flowers, if I did not have this cultivator. If and when it finally goes belly up (which will probably be long after I go first), I plan to purchase another. I do wish I could give this one more than five stars.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
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Mantis 7225-00-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator (CARB Compliant)You'll be ready to garden all year round with the Mantis 7225-00-02 Two-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator. With a powerful engine, durable tines, and compact profile, the Mantis Tiller/Cultivator is ideal for creating new gardens, tilling in narrow rows and raised beds, or along fences. Whether you're a first-time gardener breaking through new ground or a veteran green thumb, the Mantis Tiller/Cultivator will help you maintain a bountiful garden for years to come.
Powerful but Easy to ControlDon't be fooled by the small, compact design of the Mantis Tiller/Cultivator. Though it weighs a mere 20 pounds and has a width of only nine inches, the Mantis is powerful, thanks to its two-cycle, commercial-grade gas engine.
A reliable push-button primer will get you started, but the tines won't move until you squeeze the throttle. Once you've activated the throttle, the patented serpentine tines spin at up to 240 RPM to break through sod--even hard clay--tilling down to a depth of 10 inches.
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator makes it easy to maintain your garden. Simply reverse the tines to shallow-cultivate depths of up to three inches--it's much faster than using hand tools. And because it tills a nine-inch-wide path, this tool is especially useful in tight spaces and hard-to-reach areas. That's a real advantage for raised-bed gardeners.
Convenient, Versatile, and DurableThe Mantis Tiller/Cultivator features folding handle bars which make it convenient to store in a garage or tool shed.
And with optional attachments (sold separately), the Mantis Tiller/Cultivator can be used beyond the confines of your garden. Its lightweight design and convenient carrying handle make it portable, so adding an accessory such as a border edger or hedge trimmer could potentially keep you busy all summer and into the fall.
The tiller/cultivator's durable one-piece cast gear box is designed to last. Additionally, the tines are guaranteed against breakage for the lifetime of the tool.
What's in the BoxGas-powered tiller/cultivator with serpentine tines.
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