Why won't my tiller start—it has been stored away for a few months?
You may have to clean the carburetor of old fuel or replace
the gaskets and diaphragms. If the tiller is stored with
even a small amount of old fuel (older than 30 days) in
the tank, it can clog the carburetor and cause deterioration
of the gaskets and diaphragms.
Drain out the old fuel and dispose of it properly. Once
the fuel tank is empty, push the primer bulb on your tiller
7 or 8 times to clear out any fuel in the carburetor.
Empty the fuel tank again. Next, mix fresh fuel in the
correct ratio and fill the fuel tank. Push the primer
bulb 11 or 12 times to pull the fresh fuel through the
carburetor and let the tiller sit for about thirty (30)
minutes. Then press the primer bulb an additional 11 to
12 times to flush out any residue. You should now be able
to start your tiller using the standard starting procedure.
If parts are needed, they are available factory-direct
by calling 1.800.366.6268.
Note: DO NOT USE CARBURETOR CLEANER. Doing so will void
Echo engine manufacturer warranty.
Why don't I see a spark on my spark plug when I test it, I think my coil
is bad?
Most likely the coil is not bad on your machine. It is
rare that a coil can fail because it is completely sealed
and electronic. The coil is a very low sparking one and
can only be properly tested with a 3-point ignition tester.
You will not see or feel a spark by grounding the plug.
We recommend having the coil tested by your local Mantis
dealer.
Why is my engine bogging down when I give it full throttle?
Your air filter or your spark arrestor (muffler screen)
may be clogged and not allowing the engine to breathe
properly. This will cause it to act as if the choke is
on and bog down under a load. Replace your air filter
and check the muffler screen to make sure it is clean.
You may not have enough oil in your gas mixture to properly
lubricate the engine. Always make sure you use the proper
50:1 mixture ratio; that is 2.6 ounces of oil to 1 gallon
of 89 octane or higher gasoline. Convenient, pre-measured
bottles of premium 2-cycle engine oil are available via
our online shopping. Also, there may be a buildup of dirt
or debris on the cooling fins of the engine; make sure
they are kept clean.
Most likely the engine has come unseated properly from
the transmission. Check the base of the engine to make
sure it is sitting all the way down on the transmission
and the gold colored bolt is secure.
My rope pulls out with no resistance, why won't it turn the engine?
There may be some dirt or debris in your pawl catcher
assemply causing them to stick. Remove the 4 screws on
the starter assembly and lift it off the tiller. Looking
down on the tiller, on top of the flywheel, you will see
a gold-colored dish with 2 black levers inside.The levers
are called pawl catchers. Use a piece of 80-grit sandpaper
and slide it under each pawl. Move the pawl back and forth
10-12 times. This will clean the debris out and smooth
the pawls. Replace the starter assembly.
No, you cannot; you must use lithium 0 weight grease,
double-zero weight is too free-flowing and may not lubricate
the gears properly. White lithium is the same way.
After each use, remove and clean the tines. Then spray both the tines and the tine shaft with WD-40 or some other light lubricant to protect them from rust. This will also prevent the tines from "freezing" onto the tine shaft.
How do I get replacement tilling/cultivating tines?
Tilling/cultivating tines are guaranteed for life against
breakage. If your tines are broken, please package them
up and send them to us at: Mantis, 1028 Street Road, Southampton, PA 18966. Be sure to include a note that says
you want your tines replaced according to our warranty.
Also include your name, address, city, state, zip code,
and telephone number.
If your tilling/cultivating tines are bent or worn and
you wish to replace them, call us toll-free at 1.800.366.6268
to purchase new ones. The item number is 1622.
Should I replace the air filter on my Mantis Gas Tiller?
Clean air filters will assist in ensuring optimum performance for your Mantis Gas Tiller. The filters do not clean very well and once dirt infiltrates the fibers of the air filter, the possibility of your engine seizing from dirt ingestion increases Two styles of air filters are available for your Mantis 2-cycle Gas Tiller. Our Standard air filters are available in a package of six (Part Number M9994). Our Premium air filters are available individually (Part Number 9118).
