I would check out mantis also, a dealer will probably demostrat one or go to mantis.com and watch the video's. there a little more, but they will last atleast 20 years if you take care of them IMO. As for pre-ventive maintenance you need to keep the air filter clean, change the oil once a year if 4 stroke, and keep fresh gas in the tank or drain it when it in storage for over a month.

2 strokes models are cheaper in price. you don't have to change the oil in the crankcase cause it don't have one that takes oil, but you have to properly mix two stroke oil in with the gas, keep the air filter clean, and occasionally clean and gap the spark plug.

Thanks for your help--it doesn't sound too bad with the maintenance. From the posts I had found, all the "gray oil from shavings" and "dirt in the engine" were making these machines sound temperamental. Especially when the person seems to be keeping up with the filter cleanings, etc.

I originally was looking at the Mantis because it is the most widely advertised and the first brand I thought of. I've gotten the impressions that they don't work as well with clay soils. I may be wrong.

Thanks again for responding!

Go with Mantis, Buy direct from Mantis. Go do a search on Mantis in this forum, I put very detail info on my experience.

I purchased a 2 cycle Mantis from Amazon (I think it was cheaper, or had free shipping, and I trust Amazon) about three years back. It is the only tiller I have so it does the whole garden once a year and then some weed control. The garden is only 25' by 15' (approximately). It came with both the tiller and the weeding blades. The blades are easy to change.

The little machine has a lot of power and I think when using it a smaller person (a woman) may have trouble handling it. I'm 6' 6" and 240 pounds, so I make a good anchor and guide for the tilling. I find pulling it toward me works best.

The only problems in my soild are rocks that seem to keep coming up from the depths of the earth, as it seems I would have removed them all by now. Small rocks can get caught in the tiller blades.

Maintenance on the small 4-cycle engines isn't all that intensive. You would most likely have to change the oil once a year, and make sure the air filter is clean. I have a Honda FG100 tiller that is about 10 years old now. I have not ever taken the spark plug out of the engine on it. The engine on that tiller is my favorite engine on any of my power equipment, and simply runs excellent.

The most labor intensive maintenance involved with the tillers likely would be lubricating the transmission. It is recommended to lubricate it once a year also. That will likely take you 30 minutes or so to do.

Good luck.

I have bad experience with Honda warrantee. I read a lot of people in different forums have problems getting warrantee repair from Honda. If I were you, I won't get the FG110 even though it is a good little tiller.
I have the Mantis with the same Honda engine. I bought direct from Mantis. They have very good service. Read my long post on this. I talk a lot about dealer warrantee, Honda deny warrantee that turn out itÂs a defect from factory:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tools/msg041910586798.html?49

I have to replace major components on the Mantis. They sent the part to me, no question asked. Very nice to deal with over the phone, quick, and arranged to pick up the old parts. Pay a little more and buy direct from Mantis. You get one year return policy, no question asked. I donÂt think you can get the same warrantee if buy from dealer or Amazon.

Thanks again to everyone. I think the maintenance sounds doable; I'm hoping the instruction manual is clear. As long as they don't assume I know too much, I'll be good. Do they specifically tell you how to lubricate the transmission? I can handle the oil changes and filter cleanings--don't know about the transmission part.

Yungman--I've read your posts and they have been helpful. I think you took every precaution and got treated poorly. I am definitely keeping it in mind, especially because my husband is going to be very upset if this becomes a problem for him! I'd rather know that I can just take it back to the dealer and have them figure it out. I also like the return policy because my husband is also not sure this is going to work as well as I think it is. He has brought up exactly what Jerry_nj brought up as far as being able to handle it.

jerry_nj--I'm only 5'2" and 110 pounds. Right now I muscle around a Craftsman 19" 7hp rear tine. I am REALLY hoping that the mini tiller is easier, but I could be entirely wrong. Sometimes I am practically sitting on the thing to keep it in one place long enough to dig in. I'll still use the big tiller in the open garden, but getting that thing in between the raised beds is a PAIN and obviously impossible between permanent plantings. I'm tired of the mess of weeds that win every August because I can't keep up with hoeing (40 x 40 garden, plus all beds around the house). We have rocks that the big tiller brings up. It doesn't break anything on the Mantis--just jams in the tines?

Not sure what to do--I'm going out today to look at them in person. The Mantis would be a first choice if price were not an issue. My husband about choked when he heard prices. Wish the gardening bug would bite him too, but at least he likes to eat what the garden ends up producing. That's helpful!

Anyone have a Craftsman mini tiller to offer their experience with it? We are really happy with our big Craftsman--it has been a workhorse. We put in our own lawn (about 1 1/2 acres) with it and the garden every year after for 9 years now. Just never sure who is making the parts for each individual Craftsman model.

Thanks again to everyone!

I did not mention the Craftsman because I don't think it has the attachments that Mantis has. I don't even use the Mantis for tilling, I mainly use it for dethatching. It worked beautifully. I can't say enough about that. If you have a lawn, it is a must. Don't get the craftsman.

I have a big front tine tiller similar to the Craftsman front tine. It is a very good tiller, but the small one is different. The engine is a halfcrank which you can tell the pull start is at the front of the the engine, not at the back like the real commercial engines. If that break, you pretty much done. With the pull start at the back, you can change it by removing 4 screws only. Don't try to save $50 and get that, it's a big mistake.

Go look at the Mantis but order from Mantis direct. It is still goning to be cheaper than dealers, about $20 more than Amazon but you'll get a much better warrantee. I can tell you from my own experience. Their support is the best bar none!!!!

You can save $100 getting the Mantis 2 cycle. It is an Echo engine that is well proven in the commercial world. Less manitenance work just as good. Just louder. I got the Honda engine mainly because it is so quiet.