Seems to be a difference of opinions and thoughts here. Yes, the tines are on backwards. Yes, you do pull backwards on these types of tillers in order to actually till. Yes, you do leave the wheels on as the height of the wheels control the depth of tilling performed. The gardener used the Mantis to break up the crust on earth that had earlier been tilled. Then he ran the Honda over that same small patch of earth and naturally it performed better. Then with the Stihl he started a new area and merely broke up the crust. With these small tillers you absoloutly have to pull backwards in order to actually till.
Carb'd motors do prefer to be given some throttle when you start them from cold. Also sounds like you didn't use premium gas, it's pinging. The Stihl's motor won't rattle like that with premium gas.
LoL, supposed to be pulled not pushed. I rather have a Honda motor but the Mantis is expensive. Think I'll get this since it comes with all the attachments needed.
I have the Honda, get it you will have no regrets, I've had it for about a year and have used it to spread compost into existing beds and prep new beds, which for a smaller tiller I was quite impressed has a lot of torque for being such a small unit, easy to use and quiet. Yes it is more money than many tillers in the class of small units but worth every bit of what you pay for it.
Gardening is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable. I couldn't imagine listening to 110 decibels while tilling a field. Why can't they put on a real muffler?
