The Garden of Oz

Mantis Tillers

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4-cycle Tiller	Electric Tiller	2-Cycle Tiller

Mantis Tillers are known for their lightweight design that makes them perfect for everyday gardening. The Mantis 2 Cycle Tiller/ Cultivator’s patented, reversible serpentine tines till a 9” path that is suitable for preparing the ground for gardens and edge lawns. In fact, the Mantis Tiller tines come with a lifetime guarantee. The powerful serpentine tines rotate up to 240 RPM, digging through 10 inches of soil. This tiller comes fully assembled with a free Border Edger Attachment and Kickstand. The one-piece gearbox construction ensures its durability, extending the wear of the tiller even through arduous tasks such as tilling dense, clumpy soil.

The Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller

The Mantis mini-tiller was the first and is the most popular mini-tiller on the US market. Originally manufactured for professional landscapers in the late 70’s, the Mantis Tiller really took off when it was offered to home gardeners via mail order. Mantis has sold over 1,000,000 gas tillers!

Full page ads in Organic Gardening magazine and many other popular gardening magazines positioned the Mantis Tiller as an alternative to “big tillers.” For years, Mantis ran ads proclaiming “Don’t buy a BIG tiller for a small job.”

Although minor changes have been implemented over the past 30 years, the current 2-cycle Mantis Tiller is very similar to the original. What distinguishes the Mantis Tiller from almost all other mini-tillers is the patented “serpentine” tines. The clever design of the hardened steel Mantis Tiller tines enable the Mantis Tiller to dig through sod and hard - even rocky - soil surprisingly well in spite of its light weight.

Weight: 20 pounds
Tines: Serpentine, Reversible
Engine: 2-cycle, 21.2 cc Echo
Horsepower: .9
Fuel: Gas and 2-cycle oil mix (40 to 1 ratio)
Tine Speed: Variable, up to 240 rpm
Tilling Depth: 10 inches
Tilling Width: about 8 inches
Optional Attachments:
Border Edger
Planter/Furrower
Lawn Dethatcher
Lawn Aerator
Crevice Cleaner
Wheel Set
Hedge Trimmer Bars
Plow

Availability: Direct from Mantis, Mantis Dealers, Sears
Warranty: 5 years for consumer use
Tines: Guaranteed for life against breakage
Mantis Promise: Products purchased directly from Mantis can be returned for a full refund within 1 year from purchase date.
Price Range: $349 – $379
Notes: Direct purchases include FREE Border Edger, FREE kickstand, and FREE Shipping in USA. May be purchased fully assembled, or ready to assemble. Direct offers may vary from time to time. Dealer offers may also vary from dealer to dealer.

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The Mantis 4-cycle Tiller

For many years, virtually all mini-tillers, as well as line trimmers, chain saws, and other “hand held” outdoor power equipment, used 2-cycle engines. The reason for this is simple; no one had created a 4-cycle engine that was both small enough and properly designed to power hand held equipment.

4-cycle engines don’t require a gas and oil mixture; but, they do require oil for engine lubrication. Some early attempts at developing a small 4-cycle engine for mini-tillers failed because the lubricating oil didn’t do its job when the engines were tilted or rotated from side to side. Those days are history.

The Mantis 4-cycle Tiller works every bit as well as the old original 2-cycle Mantis Tiller. The primary differences are as follows … the 4-cycle Mantis Tiller is:

a little bit heavier
somewhat quieter
a little more expensive
easier to start
has an oil reservoir

Weight: 24 pounds
Tines: Serpentine, Reversible
Engine: 4-cycle, 25 cc Honda®
Horsepower: 1.1
Fuel: Gasoline (no oil to mix)
Tine Speed: Variable, up to 240 rpm
Optional Attachments:
Border Edger
Planter/Furrower
Lawn Dethatcher
Lawn Aerator
Crevice Cleaner
Wheel Set
Plow

Availability: Direct from Mantis, Mantis Dealers, Sears
Warranty: 5 years for consumer use
Tines: Guaranteed for life against breakage
Mantis Promise: Products purchased directly from Mantis can be returned for a full refund within 1 year from purchase date.
Price Range: $449 - $479
Notes: Direct purchases include FREE Border Edger, FREE kickstand, and FREE Shipping in USA. May be purchased fully assembled, or ready to assemble. -Direct offers may vary from time to time. Dealer offers may also vary from dealer to dealer.

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The Mantis Electric Tiller

The Mantis Electric Tiller was first manufactured and marketed in the early 80’s. Interestingly, the Mantis Electric Tiller in those days was powered by a motor manufactured by Briggs & Stratton, the company best known for production of gasoline engines used on lawnmowers. The original Mantis Electric Tiller weighed 26 pounds and was a little “top heavy” compared to the 2-cycle gas tiller.

A few years ago they redesigned and reintroduced the Electric tiller and current Mantis Electric Tiller is every bit as powerful as the original but it weighs a few pounds lighter (now weighing a mere 21 pounds).

The Mantis Electric Tiller is extremely quiet and easy to use. It starts with the push of a button, and requires none of the maintenance (minor, as it is) associated with gasoline engines. The Mantis Electric Tiller uses the same patented serpentine tines, which are reversible for tilling or cultivating. The throttle control allows the user to select one of three speeds.

The optional Cord Management Kit includes a clever recoil cord mechanism that keeps up to 30 feet of cord (included with the kit) taught, reducing the likelihood that it will get in the way of your tilling or cultivating.

Weight: 21 pounds
Tines: Serpentine, Reversible
Motor: 115V, double insulated, 540 watt
Horsepower: .75
Tine Speed: Variable, up to 240 rpm
Tilling Depth: 10 inches
Tilling Width: about 8 inches
Optional Attachments:
Border Edger
Planter/Furrower
Lawn Dethatcher
Lawn Aerator
Crevice Cleaner
Wheel Set
Plow

Availability: Direct from Mantis, and from Mantis Dealers
Warranty: 5 years for consumer use
Tines: Guaranteed for life against breakage
Mantis Promise: Products purchased directly from Mantis can be returned for a full refund within 1 year from purchase date.
Price Range: $349 – $379
Notes: Direct purchases include FREE Border Edger, FREE kickstand, and FREE Shipping in USA. May be purchased fully assembled, or ready to assemble. Direct offers may vary from time to time. Dealer availability and pricing may vary.

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