I am glad you bought the Mantis. The different between buying direct is if you buy from dealer, Mantis want you to go through the dealer for warrantee repair. If you have a good dealer, you have no problem. If you have dealer like me, you'll be in trouble.

The on/off switch has always been a problem regardless of the size of the hand. I learn to hold the handle as far back as possible while still able to pull the throtle.

I did not talk about the Mantis not able to till untilled soil because you said you have the big rear tine. Mantis is good for a lot of things, not fot tiller untilled ground!!! It did take me a while to get use to the Mantis. At the begining, it jump so bad it even bend the handle bar a little. But it'll get better as you get the hand of it. Now my Mantis hardly jump at all on me.

If you have a lawn, seriously consider the dethatcher tine. I like the edger and the kick stand. I don't use it as edger, I put the regular on one side instead of the edger tine. This way, I can till a very narrow path. I use it between the hedges and cement side walk. Weeds grow in between and it is only about 6 inches wide. Too narrow to till unless I put wheel on one side and till with one tine.

You'll get better handle of it in no time. Remember, do not store the tiller with engine cylinder sideway or upside down. Honda engine can run in all position but it cannot be stored in side or upside down because when engine not running, oil drain to the lowest spot due to gravity. If sit side ways, oil can sip pass the ring and get into the cylinder. It make the engine hard to start and smoke a lot until the oil is all burnt up. It will also soak the air filter.

Just used it again--I love this thing! I was able to maneuver it around some established sedum and spring bulbs in the front of my vegetable garden. I wasn't sure how well it would work for this, but it went really well! I didn't run over anything. I was also able to get right up next to the boards of my raised beds and get everything that was growing right next to them

Also was able to control unintentionally turning it off a little better this time. I went over the whole garden with my big tiller first, and did clean up in the tight spots with the Mantis. I hope that with it tilled first I'll be able to maintain all the rows with just the Mantis over the summer.

Yungman--thanks for the info about the warrantee. I did ask the guys at Napa what I needed to do for repairs if it would need it and they have someone they use there. Hopefully I won't have any problems...

I'm glad that for once it isn't my "smallness" that is the issue with something (the switch). That was a lot better when I used it today.

What a great idea you have using the edger wheel and the regular tines for a narrow area. Does the edger work well as an actual edger? We've used my mom's edger before and loved it (it isn't the Mantis--just a regular power edger). I read a review that said it didn't work that well--ate up the ground rather than creating a nice edge. I had hoped to eventually get the edger attachment.

I'll keep the dethatcher attachment in mind for the future. We've really not taken the best care of our lawn in the recent past. It could really benefit from some TLC.

Thanks also for the advice about storing the Mantis. I love that it can be hung on the garage wall! I was a little disappointed that I couldn't just dig in with the Mantis on the ground that hadn't been tilled since last year. But it worked so well after, I'm over that now!!

Thanks for your help with everything!

You are welcome. I am surprised that it took me quite a few times to really get use to the Mantis. But once I get the hand of it, it really behave. I have a front tine tiller so I never have to use it on the untilled ground. Infact I bought it mainly for dethatching, everything else is bonus far as I concern and I am truely surprised how useful it is.

I never try the edger. I don't think it will work very well because it turn too slow.( they have reduction gear to gain the torque for tilling, so it only spin about 200rpm max. It is not going to give a very clean cut.)

I forgot to say. It is perfectly ok for the motor at hanging position, no worry about smoke and all.

One more thing you might know already but I just going to repeat. When you are going to put it away for a few months during winter:
1) Empty the gas.
2) Position the unit so the primer bult facing up and prime to empty all the gas out inot the gas tank. Pour any excess gas out of the tank.
3) Close the choke and try starting it. It should start and run for a few second. This will empty most of the gas within the carb.
4) If you can, keep the choke close, squeeze the throtle all the way and pull a few more times to such the remaining gas out of the carb.

With that, you can store the unit. Gas is the single thing that can clog the carb if left inside for long period. This apply to all other equipments also. I am a home owner and don't use my stuff all year long. I need to do this also.

YOu should add StaBil gas stablizer( get it in Home Depot) in gas to keep it fresh. Change oil half the recommended period. Also check the gear case to make sure it is full of greese. Mantis forgot to put greese in my gear box and it jam 8 months down the road!!!! That is the time I really got good service. They just sent me a new gear box, no question asked!!! Recieved in 5 days and they arranged to pick up the old gear box few days later!!! I don't have to do anything and don't have to pay shipment.

Don't be scare of the gear box, everyone is entitled to make a bobo!!! It is the support that matter. I would check the greese level in your gear box anyway. Easy, just 4 screws.....read the instruction.

Thanks again--I'm going to print your end-of-year instructions so I have them handy. They mentioned greasing the gear box in the instructions, but I didn't check it out of the box. I'll do that and make sure I stay on top of that. I read about the gas stabilizer in some of the posts, but haven't gotten any yet--next trip into town!

Glad you like it, enjoy.

Keep us update in the future so we can all learn.

Cheers

The last place I worked was a STIHL dealer. We sold Mantis as well. the Stihl yardboss MM-55 is a lot better machine than Mantis. the attachments are great. I bought one and wouldn't trade it for ANY mantis. They're both good machines, but I would rather have my Yardboss.

Yardboss looks good too. It has the brush attachment that I really hope Mantis have. Two reason I did not go for Yardboss is first I never actually see one in stores. Secondly I want a very quiet engine and Honda fit the bill. Also the Yardboss use the Homescaper engine that used in the low end trimmers and hand held blowers.

I don't know whether it is relavent or not, I buy a lot of used engine on ebay to open and learn. I have a Homescaper engine also. The connecting rod is unusually thin in the middle. Don't know whether it is a problem or not. Just an observation.

On the side note, I have a FS110 engine also, I like the idea the carb have all the adjustments.