I got one of these for free when I was 16. Best friend's mom had it by the dumpster they had out front for their kitchen remodel. She said it was broken, dad confirmed it. I carried it home on my shoulder, drained the gas out of it, mixed new gas for it, sprayed a little carb cleaner into the carb, spritz of starting fluid in the cylinder, and it cranked right up & ran like a champ. I used it to till up what would be my grandmother's last garden. Wish I still had it, but my dad had a scrap metal craze years ago when I left for the Marines, and it ended up junked. And that's my neat story. Thanks for the videos.👍
CavemanJoe - from an old Marine (1969-73), Semper Fi, and thanks for standing on those yellow footprints for your country. So few people give back these days.
Thank You so very much. Ordered the carb kit off of eBay and followed your video. Had it running in under 2 hours! She’s back to work tilling my smallish garden 🎉🤗
Not a dead spider, just a shedding of the spider when it outgrew that skin, kind of like a snake. Thanks for the help. I have never worked on a small engine, my husband always took care of things like that. Look at me, old dog learning new tricks thanks to you.
Got the same kit ordered for my mother's old mantis. She bought it around the early 2000s when she was in her early 60s and still gardening. Now shes 83 and bedridden. I dont think it's been used in about 15 years,but it's still got spark and compression so I think it's worth fixin. I garden now with my grandkids and I feel safe about them using the mantis with a little supervision. Anything that makes it more fun and keeps them interested.
Thank you for the video. I have a Mantis. I love it. We do, however, have a dysfunctional relationship and occasionally we are not permitted within 10 feet of each other. However, when we are working in conjunction, it might be helpful to know that I have found a few "tricks" with the Mantis that you may not be familiar with, although my model is slightly newer. If the tines won't turn, see if there's crap coiled around the wheels, and remove the tines and clear it all out. Also, if the Mantis won't start, look here first, as it's an auto shut off to protect the motor, and the crud will nestle down into the crevice that goes into the worm gear housing, so be sure the check there too. This happens mostly when you're running it on grass or weeds. For the most expedient digging, rock it back and forth so it's constantly moving over the soil, and sometimes changing the direction to run perpendicular works well, as it's then digging it's own tracks out. My model, currently, has a get up and go on it's own attitude, which it is not supposed to have but I have been unable to fine tune the idles to be perfect when it's just idling, and without stalling when I'm running it, so.. since you know more about engines, it probably won't be hard for you, but I also don't know if the adjustments are the same on the old model as the new. Although.... if you wanted to do a video about how to fine tune the idle, I can tell you that the ones out there really don't explain it well, and I've watched about 30 of them. There really needs to be one on "this is how you take it back to basics and start all over again to find the proper idle speed". Thank you, again, for the video. I am likely going to have to replace my carb and fuel lines, and this will save me a couple of pennies.
Helpful video. I was working on a broken Mantis that someone gave me. The air filter was a mess but cleaned up nicely using a toothbrush. Gas tank was full of dirt and oil... Cleaned it out. Used carb cleaner on the carb. If I can get it running it will be worth getting some new parts. We will see, but it is a simple little engine to mess around with.
Yeah these are great little machines. Several years ago, I bought a dethatching kit for mine which replaces the tines with little rakes. The biggest thing on these is removing the tines once in awhile and making sure there is not any grass in the bearings on the shaft. Thanks for posting the video! -Nick.
Kill switch grounds to the bracket attaching it to the handle. The handle and the switch bracket are all rusted. Clean the contact and the switch should work
I got the kit, installed everything, pulled til my arm aches, once and only once it sputtered and then nothing. I replaced the brand new spark plug with an NGK and I checked, I do have spark, I am lost
The original carburetors come with a red and a white plastic cap I think they are limiters that go on the adjustment screws the replacement carburetor does not have these do you take them off the old one and put them on the new one is there any trick to doing this thank you for your help I wasn't sure what the plastic limiter things do or exactly how to use them I've used a mantis for years it really helps if you till with a big tiller after you do the little mantises all that you'll ever really need they consider them more of a cultivator than a teller I'm not saying you can't break ground with them you can but once you've used a big tiller to break the ground the Mantis does everything you need to do and in a much more controlled way.
I've just got a used one and put a new carb and tune-up kit on it. Can get it to go at full throttle every once in a while, but always stalls when in idle. Pull out the choke, it cranks and sounds like it should, close the carb, and it starts up for two seconds, then dies. I've also cleaned the spark arrest. What should I try next?
AlexMoto it’s an echo product so go to your local mower shop who sells their products and ask about it they should be able to get one if they don’t have any. Stihl also has a version of this as well I can’t comment on how it is though never messed with one
What do you clean the gas tank out? I'm not mechanically inclined. Wonder is the carbuerator included in a kit from the Mantis company? Yours looks pretty old, mine is about 10 yrs old & admittedly, the only tune-up I've done over the years is to check the fuel line & filter. Is it recommended to do all you've shown here? Thanks
In the past changing the carb kit my mantis would run fine, but recently changed it out and it wont run. It starts then quits , Im not very good at adjusting the gas mix.
We have an old BCS tiller that's very similar to this tiller. It has wheels on it so it doesn't take off like this one did for you. lol. The thing I don't like about this tiller is it vibrates and jumps around so much. To do serious tilling, you need weight that this little one just doesn't have.
Mine always starts cold. I pull the choke and crank it. Just when it appears to start I release the choke then it starts. The problem I have with it is afters its run a while and hot it will not start. Forget about it and wait to the next day and it will start. I'm afraid to mess with the needles as it may never start again hot or cold.
Mine is a 4 cycle and it stopped working for a while. I changed the carb and it did the trick but not for long. Now the mantis won't start unless I hold the trigger for the throttle and the tines won't turn unless I press the primer bulb. I left it alone since i got so annoyed at it smh
Brenda Parks you probably put the two fuel lines (one is fuel supply, the other is a fuel return) back on in the wrong places... so just reverse them, at the carb of course. I once did this after I rebuilt the carb on mine, and had the same problem, new bulb and everything on it, pressing the bulb over and over, wondering why no fuel would get into the bulb, then I reversed the mixed up fuel lines and the problem was solved.
Part numbers were from taking the model number of the tiller and putting in to ereplacement parts.com parts were then ordered from amazon as they were cheaper
I also have a 2006 toro recycler that I replaced the linkages in the right place it is revving very high and only starts on carb spray but runs high after gas hits in. It's non ethonal
My Mantis tiller is giving me problems. I changed out the carb, it ran fine for a while and it stopped. Every time I try to start it, I gotta hold the the trigger for the throttle till it starts and the tines won't turn unless I press the primer bulb, It's really confusing me at the moment.
Just a warning to potential buyers, be prepared to do this every year lol. It says it all that a tune up kit comes with a carb. Great machines when you can get them to run. The newer models are much more cheaply made with tines that tear and break and the whole thing will rust. I have an original also that's far superior so naturally mantis doesn't have parts for it.
Farmers no longer plow fields because it mixes the topsoil with the clay underneath. Then their field becomes less fertile. Plants are very strong and will grow fine without it. Just poke a hole in the ground with a sharp object and put in a seed or seedling. You don't want to use tillers either. They screw up your garden's fertility too. To loosen the soil water it heavily. But stop before puddles form. Then start planting.
mine runs properly but the Rotor-cultivator doesn't respond to the throttle at all, the engine runs but the Rotor-cultivator doesn't move at all what could be the problem
well i be damned, i cleaned it off and put it together and it fired off but then died.. didnt have much light to mess with it.. ill take it off tommorro when i got plenty of light and clean it real good.. i think that is it. thanks brother
I can never keep my Mantis running, put a new carb it each year, run for 5 minutes then stops, can’t get it to restart????? New carb, new plug, new gas, I need a new shoulder now. (Junk yard next)
Again, I put new gas lines on, new filter, check the spare at the wire and the plug (has spark at both), has gas in the primer bowl, chock on/ chock off. Looks like yard sale in 2 week. Plus 3 carburetors, 2 air and gas filters, gas lines. I should do TH-cam video on how a Mantis doesn’t’t work>>>>
Those things are such an aggravation! I hate two-cycle engines. I have two Mantis tillers that won't start, and an electric one (Troy, I believe) that I actually use. Even though the cord can be a hindrance, at least the electric one will always start when I need it. I'll follow this video and tune the gas ones. If I can get them damned things running, I'll sell them on Craigslist.
Bottom line is run the store bought ethanol gas/oil mix aft each/ b4 putting back in shed use if its gonna sit for over 30 days,or just use eth free all the time,
I got one of these for free when I was 16. Best friend's mom had it by the dumpster they had out front for their kitchen remodel.
She said it was broken, dad confirmed it. I carried it home on my shoulder, drained the gas out of it, mixed new gas for it, sprayed a little carb cleaner into the carb, spritz of starting fluid in the cylinder, and it cranked right up & ran like a champ. I used it to till up what would be my grandmother's last garden. Wish I still had it, but my dad had a scrap metal craze years ago when I left for the Marines, and it ended up junked.
And that's my neat story. Thanks for the videos.👍
CavemanJoe - from an old Marine (1969-73), Semper Fi, and thanks for standing on those yellow footprints for your country. So few people give back these days.
Thank You so very much. Ordered the carb kit off of eBay and followed your video. Had it running in under 2 hours! She’s back to work tilling my smallish garden 🎉🤗
Glad it helped
Not a dead spider, just a shedding of the spider when it outgrew that skin, kind of like a snake.
Thanks for the help. I have never worked on a small engine, my husband always took care of things like that. Look at me, old dog learning new tricks thanks to you.
Great little machine, use mine on my allotment all the time. Great to see you bring an old, dilapidated one back to life.
Got the same kit ordered for my mother's old mantis. She bought it around the early 2000s when she was in her early 60s and still gardening. Now shes 83 and bedridden. I dont think it's been used in about 15 years,but it's still got spark and compression so I think it's worth fixin. I garden now with my grandkids and I feel safe about them using the mantis with a little supervision. Anything that makes it more fun and keeps them interested.
Thank you for the video. I have a Mantis. I love it. We do, however, have a dysfunctional relationship and occasionally we are not permitted within 10 feet of each other. However, when we are working in conjunction, it might be helpful to know that I have found a few "tricks" with the Mantis that you may not be familiar with, although my model is slightly newer.
If the tines won't turn, see if there's crap coiled around the wheels, and remove the tines and clear it all out. Also, if the Mantis won't start, look here first, as it's an auto shut off to protect the motor, and the crud will nestle down into the crevice that goes into the worm gear housing, so be sure the check there too. This happens mostly when you're running it on grass or weeds.
For the most expedient digging, rock it back and forth so it's constantly moving over the soil, and sometimes changing the direction to run perpendicular works well, as it's then digging it's own tracks out.
My model, currently, has a get up and go on it's own attitude, which it is not supposed to have but I have been unable to fine tune the idles to be perfect when it's just idling, and without stalling when I'm running it, so.. since you know more about engines, it probably won't be hard for you, but I also don't know if the adjustments are the same on the old model as the new. Although.... if you wanted to do a video about how to fine tune the idle, I can tell you that the ones out there really don't explain it well, and I've watched about 30 of them. There really needs to be one on "this is how you take it back to basics and start all over again to find the proper idle speed".
Thank you, again, for the video. I am likely going to have to replace my carb and fuel lines, and this will save me a couple of pennies.
How is your jail garden?
9
Helpful video. I was working on a broken Mantis that someone gave me. The air filter was a mess but cleaned up nicely using a toothbrush. Gas tank was full of dirt and oil... Cleaned it out. Used carb cleaner on the carb. If I can get it running it will be worth getting some new parts. We will see, but it is a simple little engine to mess around with.
Yeah these are great little machines. Several years ago, I bought a dethatching kit for mine which replaces the tines with little rakes. The biggest thing on these is removing the tines once in awhile and making sure there is not any grass in the bearings on the shaft. Thanks for posting the video! -Nick.
hmmm interesting thx for the info
No problem. Glad to help out. I actually need to work on my tiller soon as I would like to have a vegetable garden this year.
Really appreciate the directions. FYI - don't forget lithium grease for the gear box between the tines.
Thank you for the video . I picked one up today . It has spark but wouldn’t fire 🔥
That little thing is a tiger! I'm going to go through it using this vid for reference. Thanks!
That tiller looks like it’s running in place! 😂
Thanks for the video, was able to do the same tune up on my mantis.
Kill switch grounds to the bracket attaching it to the handle. The handle and the switch bracket are all rusted. Clean the contact and the switch should work
I got the kit, installed everything, pulled til my arm aches, once and only once it sputtered and then nothing. I replaced the brand new spark plug with an NGK and I checked, I do have spark, I am lost
those are great little tillers, I use mine alot to weed my garden.
+Alan Marshall it seems like it has quite a bit of power for how small it is
The original carburetors come with a red and a white plastic cap I think they are limiters that go on the adjustment screws the replacement carburetor does not have these do you take them off the old one and put them on the new one is there any trick to doing this thank you for your help I wasn't sure what the plastic limiter things do or exactly how to use them I've used a mantis for years it really helps if you till with a big tiller after you do the little mantises all that you'll ever really need they consider them more of a cultivator than a teller I'm not saying you can't break ground with them you can but once you've used a big tiller to break the ground the Mantis does everything you need to do and in a much more controlled way.
Great video!
I've just got a used one and put a new carb and tune-up kit on it. Can get it to go at full throttle every once in a while, but always stalls when in idle. Pull out the choke, it cranks and sounds like it should, close the carb, and it starts up for two seconds, then dies. I've also cleaned the spark arrest. What should I try next?
When I screw those two screws in it always makes the choke plate stuck. How do I fix this?
There is a spacer that goes between the choke and the housing that allows the choke plate to swing open and closed
Very nice little tiller looking into buying one, could you send me a link of were I could buy it new and there cost? Please and thank you.
AlexMoto it’s an echo product so go to your local mower shop who sells their products and ask about it they should be able to get one if they don’t have any. Stihl also has a version of this as well I can’t comment on how it is though never messed with one
What do you clean the gas tank out? I'm not mechanically inclined. Wonder is the carbuerator included in a kit from the Mantis company? Yours looks pretty old, mine is about 10 yrs old & admittedly, the only tune-up I've done over the years is to check the fuel line & filter. Is it recommended to do all you've shown here? Thanks
I loved my Mantis. How do I order a tune up kit. Mine isn't working and I think I have a second one that I bought for parts.
I saw a kit at Lowe's last year. I'm gonna have to do mine this year, that's why I'm watching.
In the past changing the carb kit my mantis would run fine, but recently changed it out and it wont run. It starts then quits , Im not very good at adjusting the gas mix.
usually the carb is set when you receive it , but not always.
We have an old BCS tiller that's very similar to this tiller. It has wheels on it so it doesn't take off like this one did for you. lol. The thing I don't like about this tiller is it vibrates and jumps around so much. To do serious tilling, you need weight that this little one just doesn't have.
+Love2boat92 yea I dropped the idle speed a bit and it really doesn't do it now lol
Mine always starts cold. I pull the choke and crank it. Just when it appears to start I release the choke then it starts. The problem I have with it is afters its run a while and hot it will not start. Forget about it and wait to the next day and it will start. I'm afraid to mess with the needles as it may never start again hot or cold.
You may have a magneto/spark issue. When they go bad heat affects their ability to work properly
Mine is a 4 cycle and it stopped working for a while. I changed the carb and it did the trick but not for long. Now the mantis won't start unless I hold the trigger for the throttle and the tines won't turn unless I press the primer bulb. I left it alone since i got so annoyed at it smh
liked the video. just replaced my fuel line kit. replaced prime bub. My primer bulb won't fill what did I do wrong
you probably have the fuel lines on the wrong tubes on the carburetor, reverse them and you should be ok
Brenda Parks you probably put the two fuel lines (one is fuel supply, the other is a fuel return) back on in the wrong places... so just reverse them, at the carb of course. I once did this after I rebuilt the carb on mine, and had the same problem, new bulb and everything on it, pressing the bulb over and over, wondering why no fuel would get into the bulb, then I reversed the mixed up fuel lines and the problem was solved.
where did you get the tune up parts, ie carb for this?
Part numbers were from taking the model number of the tiller and putting in to ereplacement parts.com parts were then ordered from amazon as they were cheaper
I also have a 2006 toro recycler that I replaced the linkages in the right place it is revving very high and only starts on carb spray but runs high after gas hits in. It's non ethonal
+Farming simulator player2 try cleaning the carb out. if you have the linkages set right it may be a governor issue
My Mantis tiller is giving me problems.
I changed out the carb, it ran fine for a while and it stopped.
Every time I try to start it, I gotta hold the the trigger for the throttle till it starts and the tines won't turn unless I press the primer bulb, It's really confusing me at the moment.
Sounds like the carburetor needs to be tuned. Start with low idle first. You can find vids here on yt on how to tune carburetors on 2 cycle.
@@hanksgarage_ Mine is a 4 cycle with a honda GX 25 motor. Not too many vids on 4 cycles but I'll try looking for it and see if that works
@@hanksgarage_ Yea, there's nothing on here for the 4 cycle model. I'm just going to wing it and hope I figure it out.
Just a warning to potential buyers, be prepared to do this every year lol. It says it all that a tune up kit comes with a carb. Great machines when you can get them to run. The newer models are much more cheaply made with tines that tear and break and the whole thing will rust. I have an original also that's far superior so naturally mantis doesn't have parts for it.
Great video! You mentioned cleaning out the gas tank. Did you do anything special beyond dumping the gas out of the tank?
+Tommy Ryan dump gas and you can blow out with compressed air or a mild soapy water solution then blow out with compressed air.
Farmers no longer plow fields because it mixes the topsoil with the clay underneath. Then their field becomes less fertile. Plants are very strong and will grow fine without it. Just poke a hole in the ground with a sharp object and put in a seed or seedling. You don't want to use tillers either. They screw up your garden's fertility too. To loosen the soil water it heavily. But stop before puddles form. Then start planting.
mine runs properly but the Rotor-cultivator doesn't respond to the throttle at all, the engine runs but the Rotor-cultivator doesn't move at all what could be the problem
you would have to pull the whole bottom end off its possible the keyway sheared at the crankshaft
There good tillers when you pull them backwards...go forward, and mine bounces in the air
Yea you have to let them dig most of the time
Like the video but I still can not get tines to turn. Just bought it yesterday.
Bought it brand new? Does the motor start?
I haven't heard of Mantis in years. Do they still make them?
+SHAKA38 yup still do
I have an old 1995 ryobi string trimmer that runs for 10sec and dies can you help me
+Farming simulator player2 needs a carb cleaning and new diaphragm probably. Check the fuel lines for cracks.
It almost look sad, the little buddy trying to run away and go on an aventure but youre constantly pulling it back, yeah I had a lot to drink today
That would be kinda interesting to just let it go lol
And the cops chasing it on the highway
put new carb on mine and still wont run. usually dont have this much issues out of a small engine
Check spark arrester and exhaust port for excessive carbon buildup
@@hanksgarage_ thanks brother, ill check that our here in just a bit
well i be damned, i cleaned it off and put it together and it fired off but then died.. didnt have much light to mess with it.. ill take it off tommorro when i got plenty of light and clean it real good.. i think that is it. thanks brother
Had a feeling that’s what it was. 2 cycle engines naturally build carbon on the exhaust and arrester be careful not to scour the piston as well
That things looks like a pissed off autobot from Transformers.
Please link the carb kit
C1U-K54A Carburetor Repower Kit for 2-Cycle Mantis 7222 7222E 7222M 7225 7230 7234 7240 7920 7924 Tiller / Cultivator www.amazon.com/dp/B07174GXZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mmK8AbEBMTT7Y
Link is still good today. About $12 delivered Prime.
I can never keep my Mantis running, put a new carb it each year, run for 5 minutes then stops, can’t get it to restart????? New carb, new plug, new gas, I need a new shoulder now. (Junk yard next)
That’s weird man I don’t have any clue why it would do that. Maybe the arrester screen is clogged up
Again, I put new gas lines on, new filter, check the spare at the wire and the plug (has spark at both), has gas in the primer bowl, chock on/ chock off. Looks like yard sale in 2 week. Plus 3 carburetors, 2 air and gas filters, gas lines. I should do TH-cam video on how a Mantis doesn’t’t work>>>>
Nice vid
Those things are such an aggravation! I hate two-cycle engines. I have two Mantis tillers that won't start, and an electric one (Troy, I believe) that I actually use. Even though the cord can be a hindrance, at least the electric one will always start when I need it. I'll follow this video and tune the gas ones. If I can get them damned things running, I'll sell them on Craigslist.
its usually carb or fuel line issues that plague all 2 stroke equipment, that said the parts are cheap enough, this one I have since sold on CL
Bottom line is run the store bought ethanol gas/oil mix aft each/ b4 putting back in shed use if its gonna sit for over 30 days,or just use eth free all the time,
I have one. Too hard to crank for regular use. Get a regular gas tiller. Save your time.
Those black fuel hoses are crap, they might last 3 years
Just paint those handles black , probably better than buying a new pair .
My dog digs faster then that thing lol He’s half way to China since you started this video lol
If you give him half a key of coke he will do it twice as fast
@@hanksgarage_ Thats funny