Customer Reviews

Atom ATTILH6 13-Inch 6-Tine Honda 25cc 4-Cycle Gas Powered Tiller

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We needed a small ,light tiller. This fit the bill. Easy to handle and starts easily. No mixing gas. We weren't familiar with the Atom brand as it's an Aussie import but the website provided a lot of information. The Honda motor is small but turns the tines very well. Digs better than I ever expected. Leaves the ground like powder. My husband likes to run it backwards! Says it digs even better.
I was very skeptical of buying this type of tiller and waited a few months to write a review to see if we liked it. I have found myself quite happily surprised with this purchase. I would recommend for small gardens and for someone unable to use those big heavy tillers.

I was really excited about this tiller, but ultimately, it was very disappointing. The first time I used it, the tiller blew smoke like crazy and spit hot oil droplets out of the exhaust. Then the exhaust deflector fell off and it spit the smoke and oil right in my face. I might have just got 1 bad lemon, but it is not safe.

Then when I tried to return to Amazon, I found out that since it is considered a "hazardous item" because it uses a flammable liquid, it can not be returned. I emailed Amazon with the "Contact Us" button on the help screen. I am not awaiting response from them on what to do with my unsafe/defective item.

I've purchased the ATOM tiller, but haven't received it yet. I obviously don't know how the unit will work at this point, but will provide an update upon receipt. However, let me share with you the absolutely incredible experience that I had with the U.S. ATOM distributor (I was actually able to talk with a real honest-to-goodness professional warm body in the Internet shopping world - almost unheard of!!) Before my story, let me give you some background.

I was primarily interested in an affordable effective lawn dethatcher. For my purposes, that limited me to a mini-tiller with a dethatcher attachment. In considering the ATOM tiller, I was impressed with the award-winning status of the machine and overall construction (heavy steel frame, ball and roller bearing construction, and Honda commercial quality engine, for example). Second, I noticed that the ATOM tiller had an option for dethatcher/aerator blades. Turns out, that these blades can be purchased from the U.S. distributor (ATOM Industries website) for around $40 bucks! Compare this with the price of dethatcher attachments for the Mantis or similar units. The Mantis dethatcher attachment will set you back at, or north of, $150; the Mantis has tines, not blades - blades are much more effective at dethatching plus they are reasonably effective at aerating as well. The made-for-TV Mantis unit will set you back north of $320. Do the math and comparison for what you get with what you pay. A little more for the ATOM, but . . .

BTW, I looked at a Mantis at Sears a few days ago. Took me about 5 seconds to decide that I would NEVER buy one. The handles on the Mantis were flimsy, wobbly, cheap, thin-gauge tubing - not the type of structural strength that you'd want and expect on a unit where sizable force and torque would be continually applied. Also, the top halves of the handles were "secured" to the bottom halves with cheap plastic twist-on female connectors and bolts.

Back to my story. Amazon was selling the ATOM Tiller for an incredible sale price. While this sale was going on, I immediately contacted the U.S. distributor for ATOM Industries to inquire about the availability of the aerator/detacher blades. I told him that my purchase of the tiller was contingent on the availability of the aerator/detacher blades - I had no use for a tiller alone. I shared the incredible Amazon price of the unit with the owner (a very thoughtful, pleasant, accommodating, knowledgeable, and professional person), and emphasized that I needed information about the aerator/dethatcher blades quickly before the sale ended. In the mean time, Amazon raised the price to the retail level. Because he wasn't able to get information for the aerator/dethatcher blades before the sale ended, long story short, after validating with Amazon that the sale price was real, let's just say he treated me extremely well!

That my friends is customer service and integrity!!!! While I haven't actually used the product yet, I know that the U.S. distributor behind this product can be trusted. Trusting the people behind the product goes a long way in trusting the product itself. Updates to follow . . .