Mantis - Gas or Electric???

I purchased a Gas Mantis this year and have problems starting it. Actually, I can't, my husband has to do it for me. And he has a hard time too. He says that is why he hates a 2-cylce motor, that they are fickle. Well with tendonitis in his wrists, he flared them up really bad this last time.

I am VERY surprised by the number of people that say it starts so easy. Is something wrong with ours? We followed all the instructions, mixing gas and oil as instructed, etc. Besides my husband is no dummy when it comes to motors.

Thinking of exchanging it for an electric. The obvious down fall is the cord to deal with. But I would love to be able to start it on my own whenever I feel like working in the yard. And I can't allow for my husband to get hurt, as a painting contractor, can't afford for wrists to burn.

Anyone got a take on the electric Mantis?? Is the cord issue worth the ease of starting?

All I know is that I have a lot of trouble with our weed eater that is a 2 cycle engine. I either hurt my wrist, fingers or back trying to get it going sometimes. I do prime it more than they say and that seems to help to get it going.
I am thinking of getting a tiller, but do know know how a Mantis would act in rock hard clay for me.

I have an electric mantis. I love it. I have the same problems with all my power tools. My neighbor has to start them all.The cord is not a problem.

When I bought my wife a Triumph M/C in 1979 the manual said you should weigh 160 lbs to start it. (kick starter) She did not and does not. She can start it if it's warmed up. I have to start the 2 stroke "brushwhacker" and the 2 stroke "flymow" I agree they should say, you have to weigh this much and be able to pull this hard. Although when DW wants me to start the whacker, that is the least amount of work involved. Frank

You should contact the company about this. Our old one was getting hard to start but the newer one I am buying from my brother starts very easily. If you got it from a local dealer there won't be the 1 year factory warranty there is on factory direct purchased ones. I do hope you get this taken care of because one dissatified customer can do a lot of damage to a company's reputation.

I have an electric Mantis and love it. The cord has never been a problem.

i just got the 4stroke and it strts easy n run mucg quieter than the 2 cycle
i have horrible carpul tunnel too

I have been wanting one of these for the longest time. If you don't mind my asking, how much does the 4cyl gas mantis cost? For some reason, the price seems to be a big secret with the manufacturer.

If say I get my husband (very good sport) to start one up for me, how difficult would a mantis be to use after that? When you use one, do you vibrate until your teeth chatter or anything?

Are there any other manufacturers of a similar product out there?

A Mantis is much like a typical front end till in the way it works. However, with a Mantis you hold it in place and/pull it backwards to get it to till properly. This little machine will dig a hold large enough to plant a tree if you just keep at it. The soil will be very fine and an excellent growing medium when you are thru. It is also very efficient at mixing in soil amendments like leaves, compost, etc.

We have a 12 or 13 year old 2 cycle gas model and a much newer(and little used before we bought it)model just like it. The old is hard to start and the new one has reminded me of just how easily they start when the engine is running properly.

An electric model wouln't work for us because much of my tilling is a LONG distance from any outlet and I often take it with me to places even less accessible to electric power. I did look into an electric one when I bought the first one but they didn't have one available at that time because the manufacturer of their electric engines has stopped making one. It took years for them to find one that met their standards.

I got a brand new one in the box with the edger and the warranties for 349.97 no tax and free shipping-off ebay!!!

Mantis company wants 369.99 plus tax and 25.00 shipping!

I just luv it and now i can use poor manty(2cycle)for spare parts!

Wow! Sounds like somebody got a great deal on a Mantis on eBay!

The retail price sounds pretty good for such a handy tool. I am sort of sick of lugging over the neighbor's huge commercial tiller that it isn't even funny. The last time, he delivered it to me in the bucket of a tractor because it is so big and heavy. When I use it I feel as if my entire body is on some sort of a weight loss program. Every part of my vibrates to the point that I want to go faster and faster to get it over with. I do need something lighter weight.

If a Mantis breaks down, do you have to send it back to the manufacturer for repair or do they have service sites that one can drive them to? Just curious. I do know that the small engine repair shop by me will work on them but that might void a warranty.

Does anyone know who Mantis' competitors are? There have to be other products out there on the market that are similar.

I am glad I got the 4 cycle tiller then. I couldn't start any power tool except that tiller. It is surprisingly easy.

Equilibrium, I got the Honda FG100 4 cycle mini tiller.

I got it online for less than $300. I also got an edger attachment. Love both of them. I cannot tell you how much time the tiller saves me.

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/ModelDetail.asp?ModelName=FG100

I can take mine to any local Honda powertool dealers for repair work.

Thanks for the information and the link on the Honda!

Thank you Toyel and Debby for your reply, sounds like an electric is the way to go for me.

Windy, I don't have rock hard clay to really answer your question, but I noticed when I was researching "mantis", someone in another thred said that the Mantis worked great on their rock soil. But I can tell you that I have always heard that mantis is the best. And I love mine, just don't have the strength anymore to continually pull that cord to start it. LOL

Equilibrium, you asked how difficult is it to manage using? I believe for a tiller, it is not bad. I am only 120 lbs and still young. If asked 8 years ago (pre-injuries) I would've said it is VERY easy to handle.

The problem for me is tendonitis, both my husband and I have in our wrists. You need to keep a firm grip on the tiller or you will have little success and it can bounce around. I can't grip firm with tendonitis but I have found away around that when using the Mantis. For those who mentioned they have carpel tunnel - you deal with the same effect from your injuries.

This is what I did:
My husband tied a strong cord around the middle bar of the handles, then I wear a belt with a metal hook in front (husband's patent hook for painting). While I till, I slip the cord on the hook. This way my body pulls the Mantis backward instead of my hands doing the pulling (Mantis tills best when you pull toward you). When I wanted to dig holes, my body pulled the Mantis back (using the attached cord) and I pushed almost down on the handles. It is GREAT leverage. I told my husband Mantis should come up with something like this, it makes it SO-O-O easy.

Anyway, thanks everyone. I will come back to this thred after I've tried an electric Mantis to let all know how it went. Hopefully it will be this season yet.

Hi YvonneL, I am almost your size but I am pushing age 50. Not that my age is an issue but as you are well aware, weight can be a detriment. I don't have tendonitis or CTS but I do struggle a little bit with DRA and so I don't always have the greatest grip. If it gets away from me, I'd probably go down for the count which is no big deal as I am used to being covered in mud from head to toe. I'm still sold on getting one of these products and am probably leaning toward the Honda because of the availability of service centers in my area otherwise I'd go for the Mantis. I told my husband I wanted one of these for the holidays and I suspect he will pick one up for me as a "surprise". I fully understand what you are saying about pulling toward you which would use other muscles taking the stress off one's arms. Actually, your husband's little accommodation is quite genius and makes this equipment totally usable for just about anyone. I am thinking those rock climbing belts with the safety thingies attached might work too.

I wore out one gas mantis and bought another one several years ago. I loved them when i could start them, which wasn't always easy. Then a year ago I bought an electric mantis and I love it. I have 2 1/2 acres of garden. Of course not all gets cultivated, but the cord has not been a problem. I am 78 and can easily use the electric model. Donna

Hi Donna, when I grow up can I be like you?

Donna, I agree with Equilibrium. I hope I'm still gardening at 78!!!

Glad to hear you like your electric. I'm convinced.
Yvonne

One more comment from the peanut gallery here :)
I absolutely love my electric mantis, and can't believe how quiet it is, and like the push button gears. I thought the cord would be a problem, but nope, just be a little more careful. This is my 3rd Mantis in 20? years, the first one lasted over 10, the 2nd had starting problems and when I contacted Mantis about it--they told me they sell a new part for it--but that's when I saw the electric...which reminds me, I still have my other one for sale.

Oh, and I have rocky red clay soil--no problem, it kicks the rocks right up and does an amazing job. I've never dug a hole since I got my Mantis and like others said, it's fantastic at mixing in your ammendments. Be careful of some of the wannabes, most won't till deeper than 4"!

To say I have clay sub structure would be an understatement. I was sold on the Honda but now I read what violabird wrote about clay. Here's a photo of what I deal with on my property and it isn't pretty. This is a hole I dug a few months ago to plant a Kentucky Coffee Tree that I germinated from seed. This is representative of my entire lawn. Not that I have any great love of lawns in general but it is what I have for at lest a few more years. After a few lousy few inches of topsoil, I'm in solid clay intermixed with nice rocks. I'm thinking I could go in business as a potter. Great potential for some nice earthenware vessels here but flower beds all need to be dug out and dug down about 2' to be able to enjoy success with much of anything. This was another reason I was interested in Mantis. Soooo, can the Mantis handle this?

Equilibrium, you would love a tiller. A tiller could help you work organic matter into the soil. I have the clay in Ohio. OK, yours is worse, you win. :-) I use my tiller to work mulch, peat, and other organic matters into the soil. What a difference! I used to do this by hand. Let's just say I love power tool.

You could also do a search under "tiller" on DG. I learned a lot from others' comments when I bought mine.

Boy, about all I can say is that I hope there aren't any more clay contestants out there as this type of a sub structure is beyond challenging. Why couldn't I have won any other type of contest? Interestingly enough, there are "clay buster" plants out there indigenous to my area that require no soil ammendments. How about that! Hope! Anyway, I have now gravitated back to the Mantis over the Honda. Thanks for all the great comments.

I'd never tried a Mantis. When I do my research, people raved about both Mantis and Honda. I am a spec person. When I compare their specifications, they are very similar. I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

Good luck.

Well, now I just flip flopped back to the Honda that has local service centers.

Well, it's spring and I finally got my "Electric Mantis".

The Final Word: LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!

Plus over the Gas Model:
Much Quieter
Like that I can easily turn off (if Husband needs my attention, ha ha)
Easier to hold the "on" lever while tilling
It doesn't pull as hard as the electric so it seems physically easier, yet it tills just as wonderful as the gas
The most obvious - SO EASY TO START, YEAH!!!!!

Nothing like the Mantis, especially the electric one.

Hope this thread is of help to others.

Happy tilling :-)