Your choice in tillers (or mini-tillers)?

steve-in-kville · #1 02/21/08, 01:02 PM

I was drooling over the Honda mini-tiller at my local lawn & garden store. 4 cycle for the same money as the Mantis, and the Honda has wheels. I also noticed that Echo makes a Mantis wanna-be.

Does anyone have experience with the Honda?

mammabooh · #2 02/21/08, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-in-kville

I was drooling over the Honda mini-tiller at my local lawn & garden store. 4 cycle for the same money as the Mantis, and the Honda has wheels. I also noticed that Echo makes a Mantis wanna-be.

Does anyone have experience with the Honda?

I would think wheels would get in the way with a mini tiller. My mantis digs way down if I let it. If it had wheels, I'm sure it wouldn't be able to do that.

I have the mantis for little jobs and an 8 horsepower Honda for big jobs.

steve-in-kville · #3 02/21/08, 01:33 PM

Never gave that a thought... good point, though.

cesium · #4 02/21/08, 05:05 PM

I have had a Mantis, and I currently own the Honda mini-tiller that I think you are referring to. The wheels are only used to ease moving the tiller from place-to-place. When you start tilling you need to remove the wheels and put the piece of metal that determines tilling depth in the slot the wheel bracket came out of.

As for the Honda - I like it, but if I had to choose between the Mantis and the Honda, I am not sure which one I would choose. I feel that the Mantis, though light, is stronger than the Honda, as I tend to use the tillers to their maximum potential and beyond. But then again, the Honda does everything I ask of it - so either choice is a good one.

JGex · #5 02/22/08, 11:00 AM

The new Mantis 4 strokes are built with a Honda motor... just in case anyone was interested.

mammabooh · #6 02/22/08, 11:45 AM

I forgot to add that my hubby installed a 5-pound weight plate on the front of my mantis (near the engine). NOW it digs like crazy...it used to jump around a lot more.

steve-in-kville · #7 02/24/08, 03:16 AM

I had heard somewhere that the Echo and Mantis are the same machine... Echo makes the Mantis or at least parts??

mammabooh · #8 02/25/08, 08:06 AM

I was asked about the weight plate installation by PM, so I thought I'd post pics here too.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h/P2250359.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h/P2250358.jpg

tyusclan · #9 02/25/08, 11:05 AM

I thought tyusclan papa would post but since he didn't I will.
We have a BCS tiller that we bought in 2002. We have used it heavily and still enjoy this tiller. We also have a smaller version. It's a Red Ox (simular to a mantis I think). The Red Ox is a great help for small areas and for tilling in between rows.
The BCS was pretty high $$$, the red ox about $350. We had a fairly large layout but like I said we REALLY use these two tillers, and have been very well pleased with the results. Also, I can run both of these, which is nice when " papabear" is at work.
tyusclan momma

CJ · #10 02/25/08, 11:50 AM

It's been a few years since we used them, but we have both, to be honest I don't see much difference between them, and unless you have great soil to begin with, well...

In rocky soil, they're not very good, rocks get stuck in the tines about every 3 seconds. You need the patience of a saint to use one.