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Tiller/Cultivator
OWNER’S MANUAL
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WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF MANTIS GARDENING! Here’s your new MANTIS Tiller . . . the lightweight wonder that “Makes Gardening Easier.” Unlike big tillers, your MANTIS Tiller weighs only 20 pounds. So it lifts easily, handles smoothly, tills and weeds precisely. And, unlike other small tillers, it features serpentine tines that churn soil to ten inches deep. It creates a soft, smooth seed bed, even in problem soil. Once you know how to use your tiller correctly, we guarantee you’ll love it. So first
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SAFETY RULES & WARNINGS You will notice throughout this Owners Manual Safety Rules and Important Notes. Make sure you understand and obey these warnings for your own protection. I. Special Safety Information ! ! WARNING • DANGER ATTENTION: THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT OUR IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. ! WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, HEED IT’S WARNING!! STAY ALERT!! ! ! WARNING • DANGER TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS, COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY
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III. Safety Decal Information An important part of the safety system incorporated in this tiller are the warning and information decals found on various parts of the tiller. These decals must be replaced in time due to abrasion, etc. It is your responsibility to replace these decals when they become hard to read. The location and part numbers (P/N) of these decals are illustrated on Page 27. P/N 400620 CUTTING HAZARD; KEEP DO NOT CARRY THE READ OWNER’S MANUAL DON’T FUEL, REFUEL, FEET AND HANDS
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Don’t work on excessively Don’t operate while under V. Warnings - Don'ts steep slopes. the influence of alcohol or drugs. Don’t use tiller with one hand. Don’t attempt to clear tines Don’t attempt to repair this Keep both hands on handles with while they are moving. Never try tiller. Have repairs made by a fingers and thumbs encircling to remove jammed material qualified dealer or repairman. the handles, while tines are before switching the engine off See that only original Mantis moving, and en
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ASSEMBLY ! ! 8,7,42 WARNING • DANGER 27 26 IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THIS TILLER CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. 1 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS 2 CONTACT OUR FACTORY AT 5 1-800-366-6268 3 OR AN AUTHORIZED MANTIS DEALER 39 29 40 Your MANTIS Tiller comes partially assembled. You must install only the handlebars, the carrying handle, and the Quantity Description *Key # tines. This will take just a few minutes if 1 Upper Handle Assembly 2 you follow the directio
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ASSEMBLY (continued) handle onto the 3-inch bolt. HOW TO ASSEMBLE (Picture 3.) Fit the other clamp LOWER HANDLES onto this other handle’s short leg. To identify part numbers, see Add a nut and tighten finger tight. pages 6 and 27. 6. Locate the worm gear 1. Use the protective housing. It starts just above — and cardboard sleeve to stabilize extends down through — the your tiller. Stand the engine tiller’s red fender guard. You’ll assembly (#8) up. notice that there’s a recessed 2. Lay the handle
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ASSEMBLY (continued) (#39) (Picture #2). Be sure 6. Now install the Handle HOW TO ASSEMBLE you have proper throttle Brace. Line it up with the holes UPPER HANDLES & movements and that the on the upper handles. Then PLASTIC CARRYING throttle cable is not wrapped insert a Cap Screw (#34) and a or twisted around the handle Lock Nut (#35) on either side HANDLE. bar. Squeeze trigger and let go. (Picture 5) 1. Lightly squeeze the lower The triangle must click in both 7. Use a wrench to tighten handles
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1 gallon ASSEMBLY (continued) Assembling the Tines Mixing Fuel Your MANTIS Tiller is powered by for Tilling a commercial two stroke, air cooled 1. Remove the cardboard engine which requires a fuel mixture from around your Tiller’s base. of gasoline and lubricating oil. 2. Slide the tines onto the Use a mixture of 50 parts unleaded 2.6 oz. bottle of axle shafts. The “D” hole goes Mantis 50:1 2-cycle engine oil regular gasoline and 1 part two-stroke on the outside. MANTIS oil (50:1.) Use branded
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STARTING ! ! WARNING need to pull at least three or To Start Your Tiller for AVOID ACCIDENTAL four times before the engine the First Time: BLADE ENGAGEMENT fires. 1. Fill the fuel tank with the NOTE: When the choke is DO NOT SQUEEZE THE proper oil/gasoline mixture. closed, never pull the cord more THROTTLE TRIGGER (See previous section.) than four or five times. WHEN STARTING. 2. Hand tighten the gasoline Overpulling may cause flooding. cap just until it’s snug. Also, bear in mind that, when M
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STARTING (continued) procedure on page 10. Starting a Warm 6. With engine running, and Engine both hands on the handles, 1. Push ignition switch to “I” press the throttle lock out position. button (Picture 1), then squeeze 2. Push choke button in to the throttle lever gradually to the RUN (open) position. increase the engine speed and 3. If there is no fuel in the engage the tines. Picture 1 clear return line, push primer NOTE: Once the throttle bulb 3-4 times or until fuel is lever is squeezed,
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WHAT TO DO JUST IN CASE If you follow the normal and remove plug. Use a paper starting procedure, you should towel or a clean rag to dry the have no problem starting your spark plug, then, with the tiller. But, just in case you do spark plug out of the engine, have problems, here’s what to do. pull the starter cord several times. Next, replace the spark Make sure the “o/I” switch is plug. Use the wrench to tighten on “I”. You’d be surprised how it and replace the cap. Next, put many people forg
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WHAT TO DO JUST IN CASE (continued) 2. Push in the choke button 6. After the engine sputters, IMPORTANT NOTE: to open the choke. push the choke button in. Then Never use starting fluids. pull the starter cord. The engine 3. Press the plastic bubble a Starting fluids will cause should start and run. few times. permanent engine 7. If the engine still does not damage. Using them will 4. Give the starter cord a few start, repeat steps 2 through 6. void the warranty. short, quick pulls. The engine sh
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TILLING ! ! WARNING • DANGER THE OPERATOR OF THIS TILLER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS OR HAZARDS OCCURRING TO HIMSELF, OTHER PEOPLE OR THEIR PROPERTY. Now You’re Ready to You Can Even Control Depth. Use Your MANTIS Tiller. If you’ve seen other tillers, For Deeper Tilling: your MANTIS Tiller may surprise Move your Tiller slowly back Picture 1 you. It tills best when you pull it and forth, as you would a vacuum backward! You see, when you cleaner. Work the same area over pull your MANTIS Tiller an
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TILLING/CULTIVATING ! ! WARNING • DANGER IF YOUR TINES GET JAMMED OR ENTANGLED, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AT ONCE. REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE THEN REMOVE THE OBSTRUCTION WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF. NEVER TRY TO REMOVE AN OBSTRUCTION WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. SERIOUS INJURY CAN RESULT. How about a family-size vegetable garden? Nowadays many gardeners prefer small gardens — especially in the suburbs, where space is at a premium. But, if you’re fortunate enough to own a large lot, you can create a bigg
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CULTIVATING Now You’re Ready to Cultivate or Weed. Guide your Tiller where you want to weed and start it up. Pull your Tiller backward slowly, then let it move forward a bit, in a gentle rocking motion. Watch it slice, shred, and bury those weeds! Got tough weeds? Lighten your pressure on the throttle to slow your Tiller down. Then work back and forth until your Tiller chops up the weeds. It’s easy and effective! Remember, any tiller will Tilling Position tangle in tall grass, stringy Your Manti
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MAINTENANCE 4. If the air filter needs IMPORTANT! Make sure Check the Air Filter Often cleaning or no longer fits filter is “seated” properly A wet or dirty air filter can properly, remove it. Just lift an in the cover. The filter affect the way your engine starts, edge carefully and “peel” it out. performs, and wears. So, it’s a must fit snugly inside the (Picture 3) good idea to check your air filter rim that holds the filter in 5. Use a brush to remove once a month. place. debris from the pad
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MAINTENANCE (continued) How to Check the Grease Level Inside the Worm Gear Housing When we built your MANTIS Tiller, we lubricated the worm gear housing thoroughly. It is imperative that you inspect the grease level once a year. Simply remove the cover plate on the worm gear housing. (Picture 1) Then check to make sure the grease comes almost to the top of the housing. If it doesn’t, add lithium #0 grease (Item M9985.) This is the only way to add grease to the worm gear housing. (Picture 2) To P
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MAINTENANCE (continued) Then stop the engine after it What to Do if Your ! WARNING•DANGER ! reaches operating temperature. Engine Runs “Rough” Now, turn the RED, high- REMOVE TINES BEFORE If your engine runs “rough” speed screw counter-clockwise STARTING ENGINE AND or stalls, you may need to adjust all the way to stop…Then turn MAKING ADJUSTMENTS the carburetor and idle screws. the WHITE, low speed screw If you remove the air-cleaner halfway between the counter- cover, you’ll see the two clockwi
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MAINTENANCE (continued) To fix this, loosen the flange How to Reseat the bolt. Take the engine off the Flange worm gear housing. Notice At some point, you may find the hex head on top of the that the tines won’t turn when drive shaft (Key #9, Page 27). you press the throttle. This Inside the clutch case, you’ll may mean the engine isn’t find the clutch drum (Key sitting all the way down on the #31, Page 29). Make sure the worm gear housing. hex head lines up with the Perhaps you’ve been using cl
