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The most helpful favorable review
The most helpful critical review
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
Mantis Tiller
I purchased this item as a gift for someone else. I did assemble and test run the tiller and watched the operation of it in the hands of the new owner. The tiller performed very well both in tiller mode, and with the edger attachment which was included. Engine runs great, and everything functions as it should. I did not give a 5 rating, as the powerhead arrived crooked...
Published on August 8, 2006 by S. Roomian
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38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
Disappointing tiller
I purchased the tiller a couple of years ago and have been largely disappointed by it. Yes, it is light weight and can churn up soil, but I agree with another reviewer who found that it drags. Also, getting it started is a matter of trial and error and has nothing to do with the amount of choke. However, my main problem is with the way it handles weeds. I have a lot of...
Published on April 8, 2007 by A. Dasgupta
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29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
Mantis Tiller, August 8, 2006
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I purchased this item as a gift for someone else. I did assemble and test run the tiller and watched the operation of it in the hands of the new owner. The tiller performed very well both in tiller mode, and with the edger attachment which was included. Engine runs great, and everything functions as it should. I did not give a 5 rating, as the powerhead arrived crooked (which I adjusted) and there should be a better way to attach the control cables to the handle bars. Also, I agree with another reviewer on the subject of the choke knob. A little too tight a fit within the engine shrouding to easily grasp the knob. Overall though, the Mantis works great, and the Amazon price could not be beat.
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38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
Disappointing tiller, April 8, 2007
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I purchased the tiller a couple of years ago and have been largely disappointed by it. Yes, it is light weight and can churn up soil, but I agree with another reviewer who found that it drags. Also, getting it started is a matter of trial and error and has nothing to do with the amount of choke. However, my main problem is with the way it handles weeds. I have a lot of weeds in my yard in Louisiana and what attracted me to the tiller was the promise that it would chop up the weeds. In fact the misleading advertisement claimed the machine to be almost a substitue for a weed eater. Well, not only does it not do that but the weeds entangle in the tine shaft so that within minutes the tines have ceased to run. This usually means stopping my work; taking apart the tine pins; and then untangling the weeds manually. By the time one is done, one has spent more time on untangling than in tilling. Incidentally, this is also a perfect opportunity for loosing the pins {note: Mantis is no longer selling the pins by themselves as they used to do, but one has to buy them as a part of a (mostly) unnecesssary kit}
I am sure it would work very well in a location where the only job requirement is to break up the soil...but lets face it, that's not a real life situation, is it? There are usually weeds and grass in those locations one wants to till.
All in all, this is a very disappointing product. I wish I had sent it back when I had the chance.
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47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
Disappointed, September 27, 2006
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
The Mantis arrived fine and was shipped promptly by Amazon. I have about 1/4 acre and was attracted to it's durability, handyness, and easy storage. The first time I used it, I hit a small piece of crab grass which got tangled up in the gear area so I had to stop, take it apart and remove the grass. No matter how I adjust and operate, weeds get wound around the gear drive. The Mantis is also not easy to operate. The video shows by pulling back on the Mantis it actually works better but it pulls [...] your arms. I am disappointed and I think that the ads over promise. I am sorry that I purchased this product.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
No Mantis in my butterfly garden, I guess., April 26, 2008
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I bought a new Mantis from our local hardware store today. I was so excited, as I am doing quite a bit of work in the yard this year and was ready to prep a butterfly garden. Here's how it went:
The Good =
1. It was light, as promised.
2. No problem starting up.
The Bad =
1. No-go on the tines at ALL. We read the troubleshooting section of the owner's manual, followed the directions under "tines won't engage," with no results. That puppy was NOT going to go.
The Ugly =
1. We were in the parking lot of the hardware store to make an exchange or return (depending on if they had another one available) when the man who runs the power equipment rental aspect of the store called across to us, "Trouble with that one?" My husband and I walked it over to where he was and explained the fact that the tines would simply not engage. The man told us this: "Those things are infamous for giving people problems where the drive shafts are concerned. We used to rent them out here. Had five of 'em. But you go look on our shelves now and you won't see a single one. I just said I wouldn't rent them no more. The drive shafts kept going out on 'em. The folks at the register won't like me for telling you this, but I wouldn't recommend that to anybody. We've sold brand new ones and the drive shafts just go completely out in no time. You just give that to me, and we'll go in and get your money back." And that's what we did. He's dealt with a substantial number of these machines and apparently had more trouble with them than not, so I'll be looking for something else.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
Awesome! I just regret I hesitated so long, September 23, 2006
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
This little machine is GREAT! I needed something to help me clear out my overgrown yard in Michigan. I read so many reviews about the Mantis Tiller but just couldn't believe it would work that great. My yard is pure clay and hasn't been taken care off for 7 years. They offered a good deal with a one year satisfaction warranty (or full refund). So I tried it and, believe me, I wouldn't take the refund! This is a great little workhorse. I am an average-sized woman and I have absolutely no problems maneuvering this tiller. It starts fine if you don't set the choke too high. It is very light and not very hard to move since you basically pull it back and forth like a vacuum cleaner. It turns compact soil much better than my neighbor's big equipment. I've owned it for two years and really think it is one of the best purchases I've ever made!
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
The secret to using the Mantis Tiller, May 24, 2007
I have owned two Mantis Tillers. The first one was stolen from my shed before I ever used it. Now I am putting in over 200 feet of 4-ft wide mulch beds - breaking new ground and I've discovered the secret after doing 80 feet of it. Many people complain about these type of units hopping around on hard soil. Once the ground is broken they work very well, indeed. The secret is this: They are designed with the handles in too high of a position relative to the angle of the engine and tines. I quickly learned by trial-and-error that if I leaned over at the waist and lowered the handle grips down to the level of my knees the hopping around stopped IMMEDIATELY. In fact, the tines then feel as though they want to burrow into new ground, rather than trying to skid across it. However, that leaning over is uncomfortable for my lower back. So I simply disassembled the two handle extensions where they join in the middle, exchanged their positions and flipped them over so the hand grips face upward. This is an easy one minute process. I then rerouted the control wires to the gas lever -- which was not very difficult. My unit now cuts AMAZINGLY WELL in new ground. I just wrote Mantis to inform their Engineering Dept. Whether they test this or not will be up to them. But I can swear to you it improves the cutting proficiency by -- dare I say it? -- leaps and bounds. Ha! I am now cutting into rock-strewn hard-packed soil like never before. Highly recommended in this configuration.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Nice little tiller, May 1, 2007
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I have had this little thing for about 5 years now. This little puppy likes for the dirt to turned here and there so that it has something to bite into. If this is done, it absolutely pulverizes the soil. Small roots will get wrapped around the gears, but this seems to be an issue with a fresh plot. Mow or trim the weeds to ground level if possible. Doesn't seem to be an issue after that. If you have a huge plot, or fresh sod, a regular tiller is your best bet, but for small gardens and flower beds, I think this thing is great. So do my friends and family since they seem to use it more than I do. The dethatcher works pretty well too. Basically, everyone really likes this thing!
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Terrific tiller!, April 4, 2006
I own 2 Mantis tillers, 1 is about 12 years old and still works great. No, they are not for breaking up virgin ground, but for tilling out weeds and getting real close to established plants without cutting root systems, it can't be beat. Easy to control. Parts and accessories are expensive. (felt air filter - $[...])
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Recent purchase unreliable, April 17, 2008
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I purchased a Mantis 2-cycle tiller about 18 years ago and got a good 15 years of use out of it. I purchased a replacement last year and got one year of service. I have experienced so many frustrating problems I have given up on it and am looking for another manufacturer. Typical problems: hard to start, loss of power, running rough and quitting. I suspect newer models are subject to shoddy manufacturing and/or materials.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent little cultivator/tiller/edger, August 13, 2007
This review is from: Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
It was easy to set up and use, the DVD was very informative and well laid out. I use it regularly to cultivate garden beds and till a small garden. My only complaint is that the on off switch is in a good place for easy access but it is too easy to accidentally turn off while really going to town on a rough spot. Be ready to get dirty or by the hook to get roots and grass out of the prongs and unwrapped from the shaft. I found the easiest was to just take off the blades (which is very quick and easy) rather than trying to fight the unraveling of what got wrapped up in it.
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