Buying cultivator / tiller

We are comptemplating buying a small cultivator / tiller or rotavator mainly for doing the veggie patch every year. It needs to be small, reliablecheap and do the job. Although the soil is clay in appearance, as it will have compost added we are hoping that a small lectric one woudl suffice. Are these tillers any good or will I be wasting my money? Thanks.

 

look for Mantis tiller in thread about 6 mos ago.

 

I have a Mantis Electric Tiller which has been in use for two years, very satisfactory. Compacted clay soil would need something bigger to loosen it up, but the Mantis will make a fine tilth when the soil is in the right moisture level. Unfortunately I lent mine out and the borrower managed to burn the motor out (but he has paid for a new motor). I shall be ordering it tomorrow afternoon. There is a world of difference between the Mantis Electric and the one you linked to. The Mantis has 40 blades where the other has 16, although the motors are the same 750watt rating. With the Mantis, you pull the machine towards you while stepping backwards, which causes it to dig in to the maximum depth. The Mantis Electric costs £280.

Edit: I sent for a new motor, it arrived this morning. BUT the replacement is only 520watts, I shall have to phone them tomorrow, as a 520 watt motor is hardly powerful enough for our clay soil. I definitely need a 750watt.

2nd Edit: I phoned them but that is the only motor they do now so I have installed it and shall have to check if it's OK on the clay.
If it's not then I may sell it and get either a Wolf Gartem C30E Electric 1600 watt (£179) or I may go for the Einhell BMH 33/ 36 Petrol Tiller (£229.95)

3rd Edit: I've bought the Einhell Rotavator, a very well made machine. Much easier to use than my Merrytiller.

 

I have just got a mantis SV-4 tiller free off the freegle site the chap has osteoarthritis in this hands so cannot grip well enough to use it.

He said it needs a service but it was working last year.

Got the service kit which included 6 bottles of the oil needed for £22 and after a good clean and service it works fine.

 

Hi Surfer. This may be outside your budget but a guy I work for asked me to research a new rotavator. I found this one, brand new
New! 6.5HP Petrol Rotovator Tiller Cultivator Rotavator | eBay
on eBay and he bought one. I have to say that it's a brilliant machine to use, much better and more controllable than the brute we had before.

Have a trawl through what's available new on eBay and you may find one to suit you.


Chris