Hi All,
I have a mantis and a Honda tiller, Both are 4stroke and both about the same age and been used about the same.
My question is which one should I keep, I do not need two, but both were a good buy second hand.
Thanks
Tracie
Honda vrs Mantis
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Honda engines tend to be better, when I worked in horticultural engineering a long time ago, many were having Honda engines put on/in their equipment, lost count of the number of football clubs and cricket clubs that did it to their grass cutting gear.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
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I've often thought of buying one of these lightweight cultivators for breaking down dug ground but as I have never got round to it I can't advise. Agree that Honda engines have a good reputation but if they are both the same as Robo suggests it is really down to your own experience - have they been equally reliable? - are they equally effective and easy to use?
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People on my site who have them tend to drag them backwards and get a trench of very finely minced soil.
Often the intend is potato planting, but also just breaking down unwintered clods.
Often the intend is potato planting, but also just breaking down unwintered clods.
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.
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I have a Mantis which for several years was great for earthing up the spuds if the rows were a bit further apart, it would just throw fine soil on top of either side & they were covered in a blink. It has died but it was not 4 stoke & we obviously didn't get the mix right. They kindly offered me £30 to upgrade in an e-mail recently, but cost of return if I took that offer would have been more than that & it cost soo much more even back then! I have killed our savings on the Keder so it will be trenching up for me for a few years while Mr gets over the shock of the tunnel!
I'm not sure I'd bother replacing it though, as that was it's main attraction for me. Even though my soil is reasonably sandy I just don't have enough land to justify the cost of either option.
I'm not sure I'd bother replacing it though, as that was it's main attraction for me. Even though my soil is reasonably sandy I just don't have enough land to justify the cost of either option.
Westi
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Westi if I ever decide to get shut of mine you can have it ,one of the guys on our plot bought a two stroke one it lasted around two months I can't remember the make of the engine but they are still made I was asked to have a look at it which I did I phoned the firm up and explained the position to them they were not very interested
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tracie wrote:Hi All,
I have a mantis and a Honda tiller, Both are 4stroke and both about the same age and been used about the same.
My question is which one should I keep, I do not need two, but both were a good buy second hand.
Thanks
Tracie
Hi Tracie. Me and a fellow plot holder have shared one for some eight years, so far no trouble. One bit of advice [ from HONDA factory ]
Always use a filter when filling machine, [moister in petrol ] and always switch of the petrol, and let it run until it runs out of juice. [ very tiny carb]
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