| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - Mar 25 2006 : 10:20:11 AM
My old TroyBilt tiller is in the shop getting a facelift. New tires, new tines, plugs and points, among other things. It'll be ready to go soon, and I can hardly wait.
But for the smaller beds, I'd like to consider a smaller tiller. Something little like the Mantis, but maybe with an electric start? I had a small TroyBilt once, and I ended up throwing it away; it was so hard to start I'd end up cursing and too tired to do anything with it if it ever did start. I dislike having power tools that are so hard to pull that it actually pulls the implement off the ground to make it go.
Before someone complains about the use of gasoline engines to do these chores, I share your concern. This is mainly to be used in spring and fall, and the rest would be hand cultivated. My beds are pretty big, and it would help me get it done. (Too many back, hip, and shoulder injuries from being a dirt dart off of young horses.
Do any of you have one of these small tillers? What are your likes and dislikes? Would you get the same one again, or would you try something else? And is there anything else I need to know about it?
Thanks, girls! You're the best. |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Eileen |
Posted - Mar 27 2006 : 3:35:27 PM
Mary Ann, I have had a mantis for 15 years now. I used it every spring when we lived in town but only a few times since we moved out here to the country. Where we live the ground is growing potatoe sized rocks all winter long and when I begin the tilling job the mantis causes more trouble that a turning fork. Those rocks get stuck between the tines and the shaft and stall the motor. Once stuck they seem to take a crow bar to remove so I spend more time with a crowbar and the mantis upside down than I do tilling. Even in the well worked soil. The rocks come up out of the deep I think pushed by the freeze thaw. It is a workhorse during the summer though in the clean soft soil rows between the plantings to keep things aerated.
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - Mar 26 2006 : 04:54:20 AM
*sigh* Anna, I was afraid of that. The idea of doing all those beds by hand just wears me out to think about! But I guess I will.... Thanks for the heads up. You saved me some $$$.
Michele, you're a hoot! I responded to you above, and I also sent you an e-mail. You absolutely made my day.  |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Mar 25 2006 : 1:20:00 PM
Hi Mary Ann, Im sorry I can't help w/ tillers, not enough space to till! BUT when you can, go to the barnyard forum. Major shift in Horseback riding for me, went back to my first love w/ riding & I want to share, you know so much about this.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| Annab |
Posted - Mar 25 2006 : 10:57:25 AM
Think about a Mantis and if you have never seen on in the flesh, don't bother spending hard earned $$. They are good if your soil is already loose and airy. But for compact post- winter ground, the tines aren't beefy enough. Not sure what else is out there other than a smaller front tine tiller. Can't help with regard to pulling so hard. Wish there was a market for girly type things but with the beefiness of man's stuff too.
and yes, nevermind the gas and stink, sometimes a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do |
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