Reviews:

Mantis is a great little Work-Horse!

The first Mantis mini-tiller lasted 10 years & I wore out the original set of tines. The 2nd set of serpentine tines had one tine to break. Mantis replaced the tines with a new pair. I had a part on the tiller that was wearing out & needed replaced & decided to buy a new one after I thought of how much work this tiller had done. The Mantis tiller does not have electronic ignition. I usually till the garden with my 6HP Troybilt Horse tiller at the first of every season. The first year I used the Mantis to break up & till new dirt for the garden because my Troybilt tiller needed the carb to be rebuilt. I was surprised to find that the Mantis did till up the soil for it's size.
I recently got the Echo mini-tiller at a local dealer who sells them; (same identical machine except for some changes); does not have the fold down handlebars like on the Mantis, the color is different, has a better air filter element on the carb., a different choke set up, an electronic ignition with a lifetime warranty on this part, a 5 year factory warranty, a kickstand, already put together, & got the new spring assist starting system which is very easy to pull the starter rope. These tillers are great when having to weed the garden; you just reverse the tines & it won't till as deep.
I was looking for the serial number when I noticed in tiny print; assembled in China. We got our money's worth out of the first one. I sure am glad I found a local dealer who services what they sell & a 5 year warranty! (That kickstand sure is a handy accessory to have!)I have had great results with the Mantis & I recommend using STABIL in the unleaded plus fuel. (89 Octane)
The engine is made by Echo anyways! The Mantis & Echo mini-tillers use the same gas & oil ratio as my Echo weed eater. The Echo tiller also uses the same air filter as on my Echo weed eater. This Echo tiller seems to run alot stronger than when the Mantis was new.
The Mantis & Echo tillers are highly recommended by me!

best investment

This unit is one of the best investments I've made in years. I watched my son use one of these in his all clay yard and was impressed with the performance. It may not look it, but it is a very sturdy tiller. I used it to till my garden and mix sand, clay, and manure prior to planting. A real back saver! I now use it control weeds between vegetable rows. It is ideal for preparing flower beds.

Mantis tiller/cultivator

Good power for a smaller machine - so far been great for tilling smaller portion of hillside project - try manhandling a large machine on slopes! Dethatcher/aerator combo work really great too. The assembly instructions/manual could use some improvement - some steps in assembly have only very small pictures illustrating how things are supposed to go together, and instructions aren't as thorough as they should be on all of the controls. The deficiencies in the manual are the only thing keeping me from giving a 5 star review. Buy it, and once you figure out the rest (left out of the instructions) you will be very happy!

Mantis 2-cycle Tiller

I purchased this tiller from Amazom and received it two days later using the free shipping method! Can't complain about shipping speed.

I assembled the tiller and used it to till my entire garden. In the past, I have rented a larger tiller for this. The Mantis handled the work like a trooper. The only drawback is that the weeds get tangled and I had to stop periodically to clean the tines. Since I need to stop to rest my back too, this was no problem. Also, if I had kept the weeds out last season, they wouldn't have been a problem. Now that I have my own Mantis, I can keep the weeds at bay.

Another reviewer commented that the Mantis pulls on your arms when you operate it. While that is true, I don't find it any more difficult to operate than a larger tiller. In fact, I think it is easier due to it's light weight. I can maneuver the Mantis much easier than heavier tillers.

I hold back one star because I think that the weed reducers and weed removal tool, sold seperately, should be standard equipment for every Mantis shipped from the manufacturer. Otherwise, this is an excellent machine.

Easy Tilling

I had purchased my first Mantis 7225 -15-02 (or whatever its model number then) nineteen years ago. When I decided on a new one I naturally thought Mantis because of ease of use and service. I like the improvements of the new model and the addition of the kickstand. It is the perfect tool for my small garden and flower beds. TPM