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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

mantis tiller

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tim, ohio

04-16-2007 17:58:10




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Hey Everyone,

Just wondered if I could get a little advice
on getting my Mantis tiller to run properly.
I can get it started, but when I go to use
it there is no power. So far, I have:

-removed old gas, replaced with new 50:1
-removed plug, cleaned and checked gap
-sprayed carb cleaner in carb, kept it throttled up
-adjusted carb screws as described in manual

I am just frustrated with this thing. It
was an old one I bought used and it worked
well first couple of years. Now I can't do
anything with it except exercise my pulling
arm trying to get it started.
Let me know if anyone can help before I send
to the garage sale.

Thanks,

Tim, Ohio

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CRUSADER

04-17-2007 09:06:22




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
Like others that have replied to your post, I think that you may want to check the owners manual to make sure your using the correct fuel mix. Also, the exhaust/muffler seems to get clogged up sometimes and if this is the situation you will get it to run, but won't have any power. When/if you replace the fuel line and or filter, make sure you do so that your filter reaches the bottom of the tank. I replaced the fuel lines on a weedeater a while back and didn't realize that the fuel line wasn't installed correctly. As a result I had a weedeater that would start and run but wouldn't stay running as soon as I picked it up to work with it. Good luck with your tiller. I've never operated one but have heard mixed reviews on it. Most of them were good. One older couple with a large garden swear that they wouldn't be able to keep gardening their small plot (approx. 3 acres possibly 4) if they didn't have it to cultivate with. This garden is their hobby, but with the amount of produce that they sell and give away they could supply a fruit stand and make a profit.

Jim

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IH2444

04-17-2007 05:28:51




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
I have another brand of 2 cycle mini tiller and it uses a 25:1 mix or something like that. Is 50:1 correct for the Mantis ?



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Vern-MI

04-17-2007 04:45:15




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
Get a piece of wire and reach into the tank and pull out the suction line filter. Once you have the filter outside of the tank clean it real good with some spray carb cleaner or replace it entirely. Than add Chemtrol B-12 to the gas oil mix to keep the carb circuits clean of varnish. Start it up and allow the Chemtrol to go to work and it should be fine. That's what I do to mine and it has been running just fine. I also removed the exhaust spark arrester screen on the exhaust outlet as others have recommended.

You may also want to clean out the grease on the lower gear drive and replace it with the fresh '00' grease. It is the same consistency as corn head grease. I also added STP oil treatment to the gearbox. Those worm drives tend to wear the brass driven gear.

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Tim, Ohio

04-17-2007 06:15:21




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to Vern-MI, 04-17-2007 04:45:15  
Vern,

Who sells Chemtrol B-12?

Thanks,

Tim, Ohio



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Vern-MI

04-17-2007 09:27:09




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to Tim, Ohio, 04-17-2007 06:15:21  
Autozone or Walmart @ about $3 per can.



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Paul from MI

04-17-2007 03:50:07




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
Check the spark arrester screen in your muffler. Mine plugs up about every two years. No power, won't rev up like it should when plugged. Great little tiller, I've had mine for about 5 years and it is one of my best garden tools. I wouldn't want to till up five acres with it, bvut it's the best thing forweeding and cultivating I've seen. No other problems with it so far.
Paul



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Don-Wi

04-17-2007 00:23:05




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
we go through this about every 3 or 4 years with ours, it's always the gas line is collapsed and the exhaust is plugged up a little bit. The gas line is the main problem.

Donovan from Wisconsin



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old

04-16-2007 19:14:18




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
Well if your unlicky you got one of the first ones made and they where 100% junk. I have one and it lasted just till it was a year old and the warrenty was out. From then on it never ran as it should. I still have it laying around but all its good for is a boat achor and that would be a small boat



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Davis In SC

04-16-2007 20:52:23




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to old, 04-16-2007 19:14:18  
I bought an older one at an auction, used it a few years... carb messed up.. I finally just tossed it in the scrap bin...



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old

04-16-2007 21:06:32




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to Davis In SC, 04-16-2007 20:52:23  
The first year they came out my dad got one and it lasted just under a year then stopped running he waited just a day or 2 to many before he called the factory and they told him to bad. It was a piece of junk from day one and he had nothing but trouble out of it. But he also got a troy built one a few years later and it will not run after 2 years so I think just about all of the little ones are junk.

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Earl-IL

04-16-2007 18:27:53




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to tim, ohio, 04-16-2007 17:58:10  
Have you cleaned the exhaust (muffler) . Mine has a screen that gets plugged with carbon. No power & won't rev up.Put in a new plug . Earl



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Wayne,Az

04-16-2007 19:44:45




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to Earl-IL, 04-16-2007 18:27:53  
Had one,used it for years & years weeding large garden. the only problem I ever had turned out to be decayed? fuel line & I think there was a small filter on the end of line inside the little fuel tank.Great little machine for what it was made to do. Wayne



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Earl-IL

04-16-2007 20:01:45




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to Wayne,Az, 04-16-2007 19:44:45  
Wayne,Old must have driven a tractor over his first. LOL. I don't brag much ,but I would agree it is one of the best tools I have ever purchased. Most people don't read the book and try to run it like a regular walk behind . It's fun to watch someone that does that. It will jump 2 feet straight up in hard ground. Do it right and that 20 lb machine will dig up clay . I have a friend that bought a Honda want to be MANTIS. He said that thing is a piece of junk. LOL I said I guess I will have to come over and give you a lesson. He couldn't believe it would work that way. Earl

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Don-Wi

04-17-2007 00:26:35




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 Re: mantis tiller in reply to Earl-IL, 04-16-2007 20:01:45  
OUrs is another good one- We've had it for a good 7-8 years now for sure and it's still a strong runner. Does need a new gas line once in a while but that's expected with pretty much anything... It replaced an older 5 HP walk-behind that was a peice of crap. Works faster and gives better results.

We will rent a monster rear tine tiller once in a great while though if we need to do a really large area and a tractor can't get to it...

Donovan from Wisconsin

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