Little Wonder Tiller/Cultivator manual

Tiller/Cultivator OWNER’S MANUAL[...]

Here’ s your new MANTIS T iller . . . the lightweight wonder that “Makes Gardening Easier .” Unlike big tillers, your MANTIS T iller weighs only 20 pounds. So it lifts easily , handles smoothly , tills and weeds precisely . And, unlike other small tillers, it features serpentine tin es that churn soil to ten inches deep. It creates a soft, sm[...]

3 SAFETY RULES & W ARNINGS Y ou will notice throughout this Owners Manual Safety Rules and Important Notes . Make sur e you understand and obey these warnings for your own protection. I. Special Safety Infor mation W ARNING • DANGER A TTENTION: THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT OUR IMPORT ANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, HEED IT’S WA[...]

P/N 400620 P/N 4043 DON’T FUEL, REFUEL, OR CHECK FUEL WHILE SMOKING, OR NEAR AN OPEN FLAME OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCE. MIX UNLEADED GAS WITH 2 CYCLE 50:1 OIL. INCORRECT ASSEMBL Y . CAUTION: WHEN ASSEMBLING THE HANDLES, MAKE SURE FUEL T ANK F ACES OPERA TOR. THIS IS THE REAR OF THE TILLER, REFER TO ASSEMBL Y INSTRUCTION ON PAGE 7. CUTTING HAZARD; KE[...]

V . W ar nings - Don'ts Don’t use tiller with one hand. Keep both hands on handles with fingers and thumbs encir cling the handles, while tines are moving, and engine is running. Don’t overr each. Keep a good footing at all times. Don’t run with the machine, walk. Don’t work on excessively steep slopes. Don’t attempt to clear tines w[...]

6 Y our MANTIS T iller comes partially assembled. Y ou must install only the handlebars, the carrying handle, and the tines. This will take just a few minutes if you follow the directions. First, take all items out of the carton. But do not remove the car dboard from ar ound the Tiller’ s base. The list at the right, shows the parts that come wit[...]

7 ASSEMBL Y (continued) HOW TO ASSEMBLE LOWER HANDLES T o identify part numbers, see pages 6 and 27. 1. Use the protective cardboar d sleeve to stabilize your tiller . Stand the engine assembly (#8) up. 2. Lay the handle parts within easy reach. Y ou’ll need one of the handle clamps (#38) and one of the lower handles (#3). Note that the lower han[...]

8 ASSEMBL Y (continued) W ARNING • DANGER REMOVE TINES BEFORE ST AR TING ENGINE AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS. ! ! HOW TO ASSEMBLE UPPER HANDLES & PLASTIC CARRYING HANDLE. 1. Lightly squeeze the lower handles (#3) toward one another so that they line up with the two smaller holes on the carrying handle (#29). Then slide the carrying handle over and [...]

9 ASSEMBL Y (continued) W ARNING • DANGER FUEL IS EXTREMEL Y FLAMMABLE. HANDLE IT WITH CARE. KEEP AW A Y FROM IGNITION SOURCES. DO NOT SMOKE WHILE FUELING YOUR EQUIPMENT . Assembling the Tines for Tilling 1. Remove the cardboar d from ar ound your T iller’ s base. 2. Slide the tines onto the axle shafts. The “D” hole goes on the outside. 3.[...]

10 Never use starting fluids as they will cause per manent engine damage. Using them will void the warranty . Before you use the tiller , read the Safety & W arning rules on pages 3-5. W ARNING A VOID ACCIDENT AL BLADE ENGAGEMENT DO NOT SQUEEZE THE THROTTLE TRIGGER WHEN ST AR TING. MAINT AIN PROPER IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT (2500-3100 RPM) ! ! Pict[...]

11 Starting a W ar m Engine 1. Push ignition switch to “ I ” position. 2. Push choke button in to the RUN (open) position. 3. If there is no fuel in the clear return line, push primer bulb 3-4 times or until fuel is visible in the line. 4. Pull starter r ope using short pulls, 1/2 to 2/3 of the rope length. 5. If engine fails to start in 4 pull[...]

12 If you follow the normal starting pr ocedure, you should have no problem star ting your tiller . But, just in case you do have problems, her e’ s what to do. Make sure the “ o/ I ” switch is on “ I ”. Y ou’d be surprised how many people for get to push the switch into the “start” position. If the switch was on “ o ” when you [...]

13 2. Push in the choke button to open the choke. 3. Press the plastic bubble a few times. 4. Give the starter cor d a few short, quick pulls. The engine should start and run. 5. If the engine does not start, then pull out the choke button to close the choke. Pull the starter cor d four to five times. The engine should sputter or cough. 6. After th[...]

14 Now Y ou’re Ready to Use Y our MANTIS Tiller . If you’ve seen other tillers, your MANTIS T iller may surprise you. It tills best when you pull it backward! Y ou see, when you pull your MANTIS T iller backward, you give extra resistance to the tines, so they dig deeper . (Picture 1) What’ s more when you go backward, you erase your footprin[...]

15 TILLING/CUL TIV A TING How about a family-size vegetable garden? Nowadays many gardeners prefer small gar dens — especially in the suburbs, where space is at a premium. But, if you’re for tunate enough to own a lar ge lot, you can create a bigger garden — a half acr e or more. Her e’ s how: 1. First, hire someone with a tractor or big ti[...]

16 Now Y ou’re Ready to Cultivate or W eed. Guide your T iller where you want to weed and start it up. Pull your T iller backward slowly , then let it move forward a bit, in a gentle rocking motion. W atch it slice, shred, and bury those weeds! Got tough weeds? Lighten your pressur e on the throttle to slow your T iller down. Then work back and f[...]

17 MAINTENANCE Check the Air Filter Often A wet or dirty air filter can affect the way your engine starts, performs, and wears. So, it’ s a good idea to check your air filter once a month. If you work in dusty soil, or if you want to be on the safe side — then check your filter more often (for instance, before each use). But be sure to r eplace[...]

18 How to Check the Grease Level Inside the W or m Gear Housing When we built your MANTIS T iller , 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 gr ease comes almost to the top of the h[...]

19 What to Do if Y our Engine Idles T oo High What if your engine runs too fast … or if the tines turn the instant you start the T iller? Y ou may need to adjust the idle screw (Key #19 under Carburetor on page 28) by itself right below the H and L screws. Gently turn it counter - clockwise. Y ou’ll know you’ve adjusted it correctly when the [...]

Cleaning the Muffler Screen 1. T ake out the spark plug. 2. Remove the red cylinder cover , (Key #32) which is held on by 1 phillips-head screw , (Key #33) and 1 hex-head screw , (Key #34) which you will need an allen wrench to remove. 3. Y ou will see the metal exhaust guide, held on by 3 more phillips-head scr ews. (Key #26) Remove the exhaust gu[...]

21 STORAGE Each fall — or before you store your Mantis T iller for any long period — be sure to take these measures: 1. Do not store your T iller with fuel still in it. Even under ideal conditions, stored fuel containing ethanol or MTBE can start to go stale in 30 days. And, since stale fuel has a high gum content, it can clog the carburetor , [...]

22 STORAGE (continued) Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 11. Check the grease level in the worm gear housing, as described on page 18. 12. Order new par ts to replace any that ar e badly worn or broken. Just call 1-800-366-6268 and ask for a local authorized Mantis dealer . 13. Store your T iller , in an upright position, in a clean, dry place. Y ou ca[...]

23 TROUBLE SHOOTING 1. T ines don’ t turn when throttle is depressed • Engine is not seated properly on the gear housing. • Re-install engine following the instructions on page 20 (How to re-seat the flange). 2. Engine fails to start • o/ I switch is in “ o ” position. • No fuel in tank. • Fuel strainer clogged. • Fuel line clogge[...]

24 7. Engine lacks power . • Air filter clogged. • Carburetor out of adjustment. • Muffler clogged. • Clogged exhaust ports. • Spark Arrestor Clogged. • Poor compression. • Clean or replace air filter . • See “Carburetor Adjustment”. • Clean carbon from muffler . • Remove muffler , rotate engine until the piston is at top of[...]

25 SER VICE MAINTENANCE GUIDE Area Maintenance Frequency Air Filter Clean Daily or every 4 hrs. use Replace Every 3 mths. or 90 hrs. use Fuel Filter Inspect Monthly Replace Spark Plug Clean Every 3 mths. or 90 hrs. use Replace 6 months or 270 hrs. use Carburetor Check / Rebuild 6 months or 300 hrs. use Replace Y early or 600 hrs. use* Cylinder Exha[...]

26 Y our MANTIS T iller has been designed and built to accept a wide range of MANTIS T iller Attachments to increase its usefulness in your lawn and garden. And, all MANTIS T iller Attachments have been designed for quick and easy attachment to the T iller or Engine. The Border Edger (Item #3222) The most popular attachment, the Border Edger can be[...]

27 P/N 438LA P/N 438RA DIRECTION Raised Hub T eeth point in a Clockwise Direction DIRECTION Raised Hub T eeth point in a Counter Clockwise Direction When you look at a T ine with the raised hub facing you and the teeth are pointing in a CLOCKWISE rotation, you have a LEFT HAND TINE . When you look at T ine with the raised hub facing you and the tee[...]

28 A IR C LEANER , M UFFLER ,& T HROTTLE SV -5C/2 ENGINE P AR TS ASSEMBLIES C ARBURETOR BOLD Indicates New P art ITEM P ART # QTY . DESCRIPTION / REMARKS 1 90052800005 1 WING NUT 2 13032611522 1 CO VER, AIR CLEANER 3 89012147530 1 LABEL, CHOKE 4 13031004560 1 FIL TER, AIR 5 90024205057 2 SCREW 5X57 6 13041005360 1 BRA CKET , AIR CLEANER 7 17851[...]

29 SV -5C/2 ENGINE P AR TS S T AR TER , P AW L C A TCHER & C LUTCH B LOCK F UEL T ANK ITEM P ART # QTY . DESCRIPTION / REMARKS 1 90016205022 2 BOL T 5X22 2 A130000550 1 CYLINDER  3 V100000160 1 GASKET , CYLINDER 4 P021007712 1 PISTON, KIT / INCLUDES ITEMS 5-8 5 A101000090 1 RING, PISTON 6 10001311520 1 PIN, PISTON 7 10001504630 2 CIRCLIP , P[...]

30 EP A PHASE 2 / CALIFORNIA TIER III EMISSION CONTROL W ARRANTY ST A TEMENT YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGA TIONS The Environmental Pr otection Agency (EP A) and the California Air Resour ces Board (C.A.R.B.) and The Equipment Manufactur er are pleased to explain the emission control system warranty on your EP A Phase 2 / C.A.R.B. T ier III model year 2005[...]

31 NOTES[...]

LIMITED W ARRANTY INFORMA TION FOR MANTIS TILLER Specifications, descriptions, and illustrative material in this literature are as accurate as known at the time of publication, but are subject to change without notice. P/N 401710 © MANTIS 10/05 Printed in USA MANTIS extends this limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship for a pe[...]