Help!!!! Im thinking of buying a 4stroke MANTIS ???

[DawnF]

Hi Im pondering wether or not to buy one of these ???
Are they any good ???
Pros + Cons please

Regards

Dawn

[DawnF]

[Buster54]

I bought one last year haven't had a problem with it so far,just remember it is a small tiller and so will take longer to do what a Rotavator can do,dug my plot over and then went over with the mantis a bit at a time ran it for a good half to 3 quarts of an hour no prob,fits nicely in the back of my car.Always make sure you keep it topped up with oil if you get one,and it was hard work for my OH so I banned her

[kt.]

I purchased one last year and wished I got one sooner.  I also purchased the plough attachment but have only used it once.  With hind sight I reckon I could of saved the money and got by without as the mantis digs deep enough for spuds anyway.  I purchased from the mantis website and got a 5 year warranty.  Some retailers only offer a year so shop around.

[Ninnyscrops.]

Going to be shot down in flames I just know it!

I would have liked one of those years ago but had second thoughts.

How many worms do they chop up, and those worms do the job for you for free.

Ninny

[Buster54]

Yes that may be true but you end up with 2 or 3 times as many

[chriscross1966]

You might also look at the smaller end of the "proper" rotavators that Howard did, the Bantam, Bulldog/Bullfinch, 200 and 220 are all pretty small machines, the last three. The Bantam is a bit bigger but there are a lot more "bits" for it that can make it more useful. Also being driven wheel rear rotor machines, a lot of the time you just follow behind it keeping it generally heading in the right direction, so there's less physical effort involved in using it than a bare-rotor machine, also at a heady 2mph flat out they're never likely to "get away" from you.... that said the added weight makes them a lot less wieldy in tight spaces than a Mantis or its equivalents

chrisc

[growmore]

I have used both models of the Mantis. The 2 stroke and the 4 stroke .
I find the 2 stroke lighter and it seems better balanced  than the 4 stroke . But the 4 stroke is quieter and you don't  have to mix the fuel for it.

Mantis do,or did a 12 month buy back if you weren't satisfied with them. I don't  think many would have taken them up on this offer.
Once you got used to a Mantis, I think you wouldn't want to be without it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Going to be shot down in flames I just know it!

I would have liked one of those years ago but had second thoughts.

How many worms do they chop up, and those worms do the job for you for free.

Ninny

That's exactly what makes me hesitate. I never dig routinely, only to lift roots and get weeds out. I'd get a rotavator if I had a very large area to manage, but that's all and I can't see it happening!

[birdman20uk]

Hi Im pondering wether or not to buy one of these ???
Are they any good ???
Pros + Cons please

Regards

Dawn

hi dawn
i have had a mantis tiller for 10 years, i know it's the 2 stroke i have but i will never be without it in the 10 years that i have had it  i have only changed the spark plug 3 times .

if you go to mantis you can et a 4 stroke with a 5 year warranty and if you ain't happy with it after a year you can send it back and get your money back straigh away

keith

[nilly71]

I thought they were well out of my price range, but after reading the above about 12m money back and 5yrs warranty i had a look on their site.
They also do 4 payment option that works out at £84.75.

I might get one now ;D

Neil

[.]

Item No.   290412744566    on ebay     Tempted ?   ;D                     

[nilly71]

I've just ordered mine direct from Mantis using the 4months payments ;D

Neil

[worldor]

Keep it at home. Just lost ours to theives.

[Amazingrotavator(Derby)]

I bought an expandit from Screw Fix, it has a tiller attachment which is as good as a mantis and half the price.You can also buy other attachments to go with it.It's a 2 stroke and now comes with electric start.

[Columbus]

Hi Dawn, Hi all,  :)

I`ve got a four stroke Mantis. I used it lots last year and I love it.
I still get some pain from digging from a rib injury before Christmas I`m hoping the Mantis will be less painful. I will be using it for most of this weekend.

If you search the archives you can see what I`ve written about it before.

Col

[Columbus]

Hi dawn,  :)
To find old posts click on search at the top of the page.

In the form that pops up type mantis in the subject area
and columbus where it says by user.
You will find my old posts pop up with the word mantis highlighted in yellow.:)

I managed lots of work yesterday before the rain stopped play. The mantis started first time after being neglected all winter.
I can`t comment on other tillers and rotovators as I have very lttle experience with them I`m sure they all get the work done in the end. (After buying all my flooring from screwfix direct I`ve  never shopped with them again but thats another story  >:()

The small size and weight of the mantis are important to me because I have no transport and little storage space. I`m also not heavy enough to manage a full size rotovator.

Let us know how you get on, Columbus

[Busy Bee]

I love my Mantis. Have really bad knees and after digging half the plot decided to make it easier for myself.  Used it last week  and it started first time after overwintering. The size  means it can fit in the boot of the car. Once you get used to it, it becomes quite easy to use. As i have quite a walk to get my plot once i've parked i just strap it onto a sack trolly and wheel it there. I wouldn't be without it now.

[nilly71]

Came today ;D

I'm at work all week, so won't get time to use it until next week :'(

Neil

[Columbus]

Hi all,

Busy Bee: I have a trolley for mine to take it off site but on the site I start up the engine and let it walk itself from my number one plot up to my top plot, this way I don`t have to lift it and it doesn`t dig in. But I do feel a twit. I always take it down to my No1 plot with me when I `m having a break.

Nilly, remember to watch the dvd or online video before you use it.


Col

[nilly71]

Thanks.

Neil