Why don't we have a section for tools and equipment, we have one for pets, recipes and computers??
anyway.....................
I am thinking seriously about buying a Mantis Tiller for John. He left all his heavy stuff in the UK and has no toys. Our new lottie group has rotavaters on site we can all use, but a small one might be ideal for him now as the new lottie is so small I doubt if it is worth the bother of dragging a big one from the communal shed.
On offer here in Canada is the 2 stroke, the 4 stroke and the electric one which is not much good to us.
I don't know anything about them and I am confused when I read the stuff I have.
It reads.2 cycle.Echo 21cc engine,20 pound weight,240 rpm. 4 cycleHonda 22cc engine 21 pound weight 240 pm. One takes an oil/petrol mix and I takes straight petrol.
Now maybe Honda is better than Echo and I know the Honda one is a little quieter with less emissions but Mantis back both up equally..doubt very much if 1cc difference would matter much, mixing oil and gas is not much of a chore, both are the same rpm so why such a differs in price
Quoting in Canadaian Dollars. 2 cycle Echo is $495, 4cycle Honda is $649, both plus taxes. Both come with free Border Edger and kickstand.
I don't want to buy the expensive one if the other is as good but on the other hand I don't want the cheaper one if it is inferior in some way.
I can't really ask John.
Can anyone help please?
XX Jeannine
I purchased the 4 stroke mantis last January. It is an excellent tool and has amazed me to the fact that I wished I had purchased one sooner. It digs down to a depth of 10 inches or so depending on your soil. I also like the multi tools available as an option. I opted for the 4 stroke so I did not have to faff about mixing additives with leaded fuel. Mantis also offer a full 5 year warranty on their product for all parts and labour which is sound peace of mind. I paid around £480 for all what you mentioned plus the plough and one other attachment. If I had to choose again, then I would select the same product without hesitation.
At those prices I would be inclined to hire one as and when I needed it. There would be no rip off purchase price and your maintenance would be done for you. It would be five or six years before you broke even and a new mantis tiller would be scrap before then.
I only have experience of the two stroke, which has been superb. I think it is about 8-10 years old and still going strong. It has its limitations, in what it can tackle and the depth it digs to, but for your soil conditions and size, I would have thought ideal. It really makes a beautiful seed bed in minutes. I find it fab to turn over my raised beds and gives a great finish. It can be a little messy with soil spilling over the sides a little bit.
They are expensive, but I've never regretted buying it, I don't seem to use the attachments much but mine were pretty basic, and I can't remember what off hand!
According to the UK website you get a year's free trial with the 4 stroke and money back during that time if not completely satisfied.
http://mantis-uk.co.uk/home.asp# (http://mantis-uk.co.uk/home.asp#)
Don't know if that deal is available in Canada though.
Bought my 4 stroke mantis last year. Agree with Jayb and k/l. The deal grawrc mentioned gave me confidence to buy it so hope this offer is open to you.
I do not know anything about the Echo one.
For me the easy start is also important. Years ago we had petrol mowers and they were difficult to start. The Mantis is great. Good luck.
We bought a two stroke one which we have now sold. My John found it difficult to use. Maybe it was our soil here with all the stones but he really struggled with it and he is 6 ft tall and fairly strong. He also had a job to get it going each time.
I agree with ACE, it might be better to hire one to see how your John gets on with it.
GBP prices would work out to 322 for the 2 stroke and 422 for the 4 stroke..we do have the same I year guaranteed return it clause as well.
I really want to know if anyone knows the working difference between the two.
My soil here is good.
XX Jeannine
the 2 stroke is good if you buy the hedge cutter attachment as it can be used on its side which you cant do with a 4 stroke cos the oil will drain out, its no messing with oil ./petrol mix if you get a mixing bottle and you wont have to change the oil every year. the 4 stroke has a wee more power than the 2 stroke, i have 2, 2 stokes and they start first time every time.
i have and howard 350 rotavator but wouldn't be with out the mantis.
Current UK price, 4stroke £339 and electric £289, no mention of the 2stroke.
I've not used the 2 stoke version but most 2 strokes suffer from the problem of difficult starting when "between heats" (neither hot nor cold). Although the 4 stroke version is more expensive, I think it is worth the extra.
A fellow plot holder has a 2 stroke and says it can be difficult to start.
Jeannine..does your OH read instructions...as I have 2 stroke and 4 stroke rotavators/tillers and after I read instruction and forced my OH do as it says in the books about maintenance etc..both have been "doing as it says in tin"...before I used to leave all that for him ::)..and we allways had trouble with starting etc..I finally purchased new ones, now these will have to last me for years..
Sorry boys..but it has to be said...if it says in instructions change oil after....do this and that every so often...etc..if there is no petrol left in tank over winter etc..
it all matters.... ;)
Now that I'm keeping situation under my watchful eyes machines run smoothly...we've had them now couple of years..not a hick up... ;)
Oh...got out of the topic and forgot what to say... ::)
In UK (most of the Europe too,,I think) there is a plan to replace all 2-stroke engines with 4..eventually...this is already in motion within "industry"..eg..greenkeeping, gardeners..etc..
A lot of professional machines are not sold anymore with 2 strokes...
...personally..I don't think there is that much difference between each engine as perfomance point of view..it is more convinience and environmental..4 stroke should run cleaner and easier maintenance and re-fuel..yes..engine power said better...but in "home" use should not be noticable...
I would say to you...if you have spare money to spend 4 stroke and prefer little more ease of use..4-stroke..
but if you just want machine that gets job done..and don't mind a little more looking after you machine and mixing fuel..2-stroke
I asume you are not going to sell you machine in near future anyway..4-strokes will fetch a bit more if you were to sell it in future...
Your choice..... ;D
..and another one... ::)
I have other machine 4-stroke as it is bigger one too..I have got larger area which is still hard work so I found justified to dig out extra "pennies"..this is were the power issue is more relevant..and after few years when this machine should become redundant...I'll just sell it off anyway...
Tillers are really "surface soil cultivators"...not for large surface areas nor that heavy soils or deep cultivation. neither.
So the power between 2- and 4-strokes are not noticable if they are not going to get "hammer"...raised beds and small areas are light work.. really... ::)
John is one of those folks who reads all the instructions very carefully, keeps them for future reference, everything gets it's regular check wether tires on the car, fliters in the cooker hood,oil checks etc,or smoke alarms, he is very picky about them and very thorough.
If I tell him he will tell me not to buy it because it 's for him, if I wanted it for me he would say go ahead.
Thank you so far for the help.
XX Jeannine
I have finally ordered one, the 2 stroke model..but am wondering will it go OK in my wooden raised beds, they are only 6 x3 1/2 feet x 10 inches high,are they too small for the tiller to work please
XX Jeannine
I think it should be fine...once up and down..and job done.. ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qekhAMcO5I
this one is a honda fg 110 £307 new from lings
I've used mine in 8'x4' beds, which are not much bigger, works just fine. Mantis are light and manoeuvrable so I think will be ideal. Sometimes a little arkward not treading on another bed but very doable.
Thank you for the video but I can't buy from Lings. thank you also for the reassurance, I was getting cold feet while waiting for delivery, I feel fine now thanks to you both XX Jeannine