It seems there are several 2-cycle and several 4-cycle mini tillers. I think Mantis may also offer an electric mini tiller if you would prefer that.

I haven't looked much in several years, but I have a 6-7 year old Honda FG100 that I have been very pleased with. The current model for the Honda mini tiller is the FG110. I have seen them at Home Depot. The Honda has a 4-cycle engine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Honda FG110

If you go to eBay, you can find brand new Mantis tillers for much less than at the Mantis website. About $270.00, I believe and that includes the edging attachment and free shipping.

I just used an older Mantis loaned to me by a friend. I found it to be an amazing tool for cleaning up my flower beds. Powerful, fast and it will dig deep too. I am a big Honda fan but apparently you have to change the oil in the Honda religiously every 10 hours or it will self-destruct.

For that reason alone, I am going to buy the Mantis with the Echo 2-stroke engine.

Just got a Mantis for my birthday and it is an amazing little machine. I highly recommend it.
Mike

I have not heard of changing the oil in Honda mini tiller every 10 hours or it will self destruct. You are speaking of the crankcase oil and not the grease in the tine casing?

Yep. I am speaking about the miniscule amount of oil that is in the crankcase of these 4-strokes.

Below is a link to an old GW thread that might interest you.

Here is a link that might be useful: OLD GW thread

I also haven't heard anything about having to change the oil every 10 hours. The oil level should definitely be checked more often than that, but in the use of the Honda GX31 mini 4-cycle on my tiller, I don't believe I have ever added any oil between my planned oil changes. I change oil every year or two, and most changes have probably had less than 10 hours use on the engine between them, but I don't think my engine would have grenaded if an oil change wasn't made. By the way castoff, I looked at the "OLD GW thread" link, and the only person that mentions anything negative about the oil in that thread is again you. So, I didn't get the point. The quantity of oil is small, but it has never been an issue with my tiller engine, which in correction to my first post in this thread, I have owned for 8 years now.

I would not avoid a product with this type Honda 4-cycle. Quite the contrary. The Honda mini 4-stroke engine is my favorite engine on any of the OPE that I own. So, I would look at the use of the similar GX25 or GX35 as a positive on any equipment.

To the original poster (vinnie_s) You stated, "I was not going to use it all that often, but often enough where renting is not cost effective." The oil change intervals wouldn't be a factor at all to me in the decision based on that. From the Honda manual for the FG110 tiller, it states you should check the oil before each use, change the first time at 10 hours, then every 50 hours following that. So, you should be safe following the recommended maintenance interval. If you were running the tiller 25 hours a week, and talking a 5-10 minute oil change every two weeks, then I could at least see a point where that might get old. (But so would premixing 50 hours worth of 2-cycle fuel if you had a 2-cycle instead.) Good luck in your decision.

adkinsca,
I suggest you go back and read the old thread once more. I never posted in it. Canguy is the one who spoke about the ten hour oil changes and he is a long-time dealer in OPE. As such, I have a tendency to trust the word of someone who sells and services these items everyday.

If you want to know his reasoning, then I suggest that you email him and ask directly. If he erred in that thread, I am sure he will fess up.

As for me, I have pre-mix around for my line trimmer and chainsaws anyway so going with the 2-stroke Echo engine means one less tool that I have to change the oil in, regardless of the interval period.

castoff, Sorry for the confusion on my part.

No problemo, adkinsca.

I've owned a Craftsman mini-tiller (and used a Troy-Bilt) and tho' half the price of a Mantis (which I now own), they are nowhere near the machine that the Mantis is.

I have a Troy-Bilt mini tiller that is now in its 4th season of trouble free operation, I like it better than the Mantis for a few reasons: for one thing it has wheels an a carry handle handle over the engine so it is convenient to transport. It also has the familiar lawnmower style wrap around handgrips not those bicycle grips like the mantis. Not knocking the Mantis though.

Mine has a 2 stroke Tecumsah 2 HP engine that uses the same mix as my Echo string trimmer. It has been totally maintenance free I haven't had to even change the sparkplug. I have cleaned the air filter and that's it. The engine has a deeper tone than the Echo on my trimmer so it is a bit less annoying.

"I was not going to use it all that often" ...

Vinnie, once you get a Mantis, you'll be looking for ways to use it. They're FUN.

I've had a Mantis Tiller for about 15 years and it is still running strong. The biggest problem I had was what to do with unused fuel with the oil mixture. The kit that came with the tiller made up alot of fuel and it doesn't use much. I used to throw it into my old Subaru without a catalytic converter to get rid of it, but no more. I bought a syringe set up at WallMart that allows me to make up a small amount of appropriately mixed 2 cycle fuel so that problem is solved. The tiller is a workhorse and I use it more than I thought I would. If you buy one I don't think you'll be disappointed.

love my Honda