Mantis FastStart Owner's Manual

Mantis FastStart Owner's Manual

Tiller/cultivator

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Tiller/Cultivator
OWNER'S MANUAL

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  • Page 1 ® Tiller/Cultivator OWNER’S MANUAL...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF MANTIS GARDENING! Here’ s your new MANTIS Tiller . . . the lightweight wonder that’ s “Changing the Way Americans Garden.” ® 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.
  • Page 3: Safety Rules & Warnings

    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.
  • Page 4: Safety Decals

    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.
  • Page 5: Engine & Fuel Warnings

    See that only original Mantis moving, and engine is running. and making sure the tines have parts are used. Don’t overreach. Keep a good stopped completely.
  • Page 6: Assembly And Mixing Fuel

    The bag of hardware is in the plastic bag containing the Owner’ s Manual. Cap Screws Lock Nuts To assemble your MANTIS Tiller, you’ll Bolts (3” long) need two 7/16” wrenches or two Tine Retaining Pins adjustable wrenches. We suggest that you Handle Clamps install all nuts and bolts only “finger...
  • Page 7 ASSEMBLY (continued) HOW TO ASSEMBLE handle onto the 3-inch bolt. (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.
  • Page 8 ASSEMBLY (continued) HOW TO ASSEMBLE with the handle knob (#53). You 5. Use the clip (#13) to secure can attach this upper handle to the throttle cable and wire in UPPER HANDLES & whichever lower handle you place on the lower handle. PLASTIC CARRYING prefer, depending on which (Picture 4)
  • Page 9: Assembling The Tines

    Mantis 50:1 2-cycle engine oil regular gasoline and 1 part two-stroke on the outside. MANTIS oil (50:1.) Use branded 89 octane (R+M+2) unleaded gasoline 3. Make sure you’ve installed or gasohol (maximum 10% ethyl alcohol, or 15% MTBE, no methyl the tines properly for tilling.
  • Page 10: Starting

    (Picture 4) until INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS engine fires or 2 to 3 engine MANUAL OR SEE YOUR engagements. MANTIS DEALER, 5. After engine fires or 2 to 3 OTHERWISE SERIOUS engine engagements, move PERSONAL INJURY MAY choke (Picture 5) to RUN RESULT.
  • Page 11: Additional Information

    STARTING (continued) NOTE: When the choke is closed, long, forceful yank. And, do not remain at idle position for starting. never pull the cord more than let the cord snap back into the four or five times. Overpulling starter housing. 2.
  • Page 12: What To Do Just In Case

    Use the special wrench that spilled fuel. comes with our optional If fuel does not drip from the MANTIS Handy Item Kit (Item Picture 2 line, check the line for any bends #1422) or a 3/4 inch spark plug or pinches. (Picture 3). Kinks in wrench.
  • Page 13: Getting To Your Garden

    AS THE PERSON IN PICTURE 3 Carry It. You can easily transport your IS DOING. IF YOU DO, YOU MANTIS Tiller to a friend’ s or Make sure the engine is off. WILL SUFFER SERIOUS relative’ s house. Just empty the Then use one hand to grasp the INJURY.
  • Page 14 Even Control Depth. If you’ve seen other tillers, Picture 1 For Deeper Tilling: your MANTIS Tiller may surprise you. It tills best when you pull it Move your Tiller slowly back backward! You see, when you and forth, as you would a pull your MANTIS Tiller vacuum cleaner.
  • Page 15: Tilling/Cultivating

    As a tiller, your MANTIS of soil or sod. Unlike a tractor off. Tiller works the soil down to or big tiller, your MANTIS Tiller 10” (25.4 cm) deep. But, as a 2. Remove the retaining pins is a precision tool. It will cultivator, it gently cultivates from the tines.
  • Page 16: Tine Positioning

    Furrower attachment raised beds; in wide rows; even (Item #62222.) in very narrow rows. Your Mantis Tiller weeds six* to nine Cultivating Position inches wide. So you can run it Tine teeth point in the in a tightly planted garden...
  • Page 17: Maintenance

    Authorized MANTIS Dealer. fall. Clean or change it as needed. It is recommended to 8. Tighten the wing nut to 7.
  • Page 18 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.
  • Page 19 MAINTENANCE (continued) wrench or an adjustable “FLASH” the choke several WARNING•DANGER wrench.) Then, slide the cable times during the warm-up to down until you close the gap clear any air from the Fuel REMOVE TINES BEFORE between the triangle and the system.
  • Page 20: Maintenance

    MAINTENANCE (continued) How to Reseat the To fix this, loosen the flange 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 #22, Page 27).
  • Page 21: Storage

    WHERE FUEL FUMES MAY ACCUMULATE AND REACH A FLAME OR SPARK. Each fall — or before you store your Mantis Tiller for any long period — be sure to take these measures: 1. Do not store your Tiller with fuel still in it. Even under...
  • Page 22: Storage

    9 & 10 to refuel and worn or broken. Just call restart your Tiller. 1-800-366-6268 and ask for a local authorized Mantis dealer. Again, Check the 12. Store your Tiller, in an Carburetor. upright position, in a clean, dry place.
  • Page 23: Trouble Shooting & Specifications

    TROUBLE SHOOTING Problem Cause Remedy 1. Tines don’t turn when throttle Engine is not seated properly on Re-install engine following the is depressed the gear housing. instructions on page 20 (How to re-seat the flange). 2. Engine fails to start Start/Stop switch is in Stop Move switch to start.
  • Page 24 32.2 mm (1.268 in.) Stroke 26.0 mm (1.04 in.) Spark Plug NGK BPM8Y Fuel Premixed two stroke fuel Fuel Oil Ratio 50:1 ratio with MANTIS oil Gasoline Unleaded (see page 9) Displacement 21.2 cc (1.294 cu. in.) Exhaust System Spark arrester muffler Carburetor...
  • Page 25: Service Maintenance Guide

    SERVICE MAINTENANCE GUIDE Area Maintenance Frequency Air Filter Clean Daily or every 4 hrs. use Replace Every 3 mths. or 90 hrs. use 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.
  • Page 26: Using The Border/Edger Attachment

    USING THE BORDER EDGER ATTACHMENT Your MANTIS Tiller has been Some areas of your yard may 3. Slide the wheel onto the designed and built to accept a harbor roots and other left axle. wide range of MANTIS Tiller underground obstructions. In 4.
  • Page 27: Mantis Tiller Assembly Layout

    MANTIS TILLER ASSEMBLY P/N 438LA DIRECTION Raised Hub Teeth point in a Clockwise Direction When you look at a Tine with the raised hub facing you and the teeth are pointing in a CLOCKWISE rotation, you have a LEFT HAND TINE.
  • Page 28: Engine Parts Assemblies

    SV-5CI ENGINE PARTS ASSEMBLIES ARBURETOR KEY PART QTY DESCRIPTION KEY PART QTY DESCRIPTION 12520013124 1 Carburetor C1U-K54A Includes 17 12532715130 1 Clip Items 1-32 18 12531342030 1 Spring, Throttle Return 19 12531713310 1 Shaft, Throttle 1 12534405360 4 Screw 20 12532713930 1 Clip 2 P005000620 1 Ring 21 12537242030 1 Swivel...
  • Page 29 SV-5CI ENGINE PARTS & C TARTER ATCHER LUTCH LOCK KEY PART QTY DESCRIPTION KEY PART QTY DESCRIPTION 1 A051000640 1 StarterAsy Includes Items 2-14 1 A130000420 1 Cylinder 2 P022004610 2 Spring, Pawl Return 2 90016205022 2 Bolt 5X22 3 P022004620 2 Pawl, Starter 3 V100000080 1 Gasket, Cylinder*...
  • Page 30 EPA / CALIFORNIA EMISSION CONTROL IMPORTANT WARRANTY STATEMENT If the diagnosis reveals no defect, the emission defect warranty does not apply. YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS WHAT PARTS ARE COVERED BY THE EPA PHASE II AND C.A.R.B. 2000 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources &...
  • Page 31: Notes

    Notes:...
  • Page 32: Limited Warranty Information

    DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, from date of purchase. This warranty INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY AND covers all portions of the MANTIS Tiller. FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IS LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THE MANTIS will repair or, at its option, EXPRESS WARRANTY.

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