401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 1 Tiller/Cultivator with 4 Stroke Engine OWNER’S MANUAL
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 2 Welcome to the World of ® Mantis XP Gardening Here’s your new MANTIS XP Tiller… the lightweight wonder that is making gardening easier. Unlike big tillers, your MANTIS XP Tiller weighs only 34 pounds and is like no other. So it lifts easily, handles smoothly, tills and weeds precisely. And, unlike other small tillers, it features dual serpentine tines that churn soil to ten inches deep. It creates a soft, smooth seed bed, even in problem soil.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 3 Safety Rules & Warnings You will notice Safety Rules and Important Notes throughout this Owners Manual. 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.
01764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 4 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. The location and part numbers (P/N) of these decals are illustrated below.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 5 V. Warnings - Don'ts when tines are rotating. Don’t use tiller with one hand. Keep both hands on handles with fingers and thumbs encircling the handles, while tines are moving, and engine is running. Don’t work on excessively steep slopes. Don’t overreach. Keep a good footing at all times. Don’t attempt to clear tines while they are moving.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 6 Assembly 20 21 39 40 55 66 67 ! WARNING•DANGER ! IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THIS TILLER CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. 1-800-366-6268 69 1 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT OUR FACTORY AT 8 2 70 6 13 Your MANTIS® XP Tiller comes partially assembled. Full assembly will take just a few minutes if you follow the directions. First, take all items out of the carton.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 7 Assembly (continued) HOW TO ASSEMBLE LOWER HANDLES To identify part numbers, see pages 6 and 18. 1. Open the protective cardboard sleeve, but leave the engine assembly (#21) in this cradle to stabilize it during assembly. (Picture 1) 2. Lay the handle parts within easy reach. You’ll need one of the handle clamps (#51) and one of the lower handles (#6). Note that the lower handles have a short leg on one end. 3.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 8 Assembly (continued) How to Assemble Kickstand, Upper Handles and Carrying Handle carry handle and the kickstand assembly down at the same time until the kickstand comes to a stop (Picture 3). NOTE: If your Mantis® XP was supplied with a kickstand, please start at line 1. If not, please start with the assembly of the carry handle in line 3 below. 4. Gently pull the lower handles out to their original position. 5.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 9 Assembly (continued) IMPORTANT NOTE: Then insert a Cap Screw (#47) and a Lock Nut (#48) on either side (Picture 7) Before starting your 4 Stroke/Mantis® Tiller, add the premeasured bottle of 4 stroke engine oil supplied with your tiller. See 4 Stroke Tiller Engine Manual and information below for details. 9. Use a wrench to tighten Cap Screws and Lock Nuts. 10. Now use wrench to tighten all nuts and bolts firmly and securely.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 10 Starting TO START YOUR TILLER FOR THE FIRST TIME: First, fill the fuel tank with the proper amount of gasoline (Use branded 89 octane (R+M+2) unleaded gasoline or gasohol— maximum 10% ethyl alcohol, or 15% MTBE, no methyl alcohol.) ! WARNING ! DO NOT OPERATE IN A CLOSED OR CONFINED AREA IMPORTANT! It is normal for your 4 stroke engine to smoke for the first minute or two of operation, however it is not necessary for this to occur every time.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 11 Additional Information A Special Feature (with the idle set properly and the engine running) throttle lock out button (Picture 1), then squeeze the throttle trigger gradually to increase the engine speed and engage the tines. Even when the engine is running, the tines won’t turn unless you squeeze the throttle lever on the handlebars. And, when you release the throttle lever, the tines will stop.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 12 Tilling Now You’re Ready to Use Your MANTIS® XP Tiller. Picture 1 If you’ve seen other tillers, your MANTIS Tiller may surprise you. It tills best when you pull it backward! You see, when you pull your MANTIS Tiller backward, you give extra resistance to the tines, so they dig deeper. (Picture 1) What’s more when you go backward, you erase your footprints. So your soil stays light and fluffy.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 13 Tilling How about a familysize vegetable garden? Nowadays many gardeners prefer small gardens — especially in the suburbs, where space is at a premium. But, if you’re fortunate enough to own a large lot, you can create a bigger garden — a half acre or more. ! IMPORTANT ! To change the tines on your 4 Stroke Mantis® XP Tiller, rotate the handles forward and allow tiller to rest on the engine.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 14 Cultivating Now You’re Ready to Cultivate or Weed. Guide your tiller where you want to weed and start it up. Pull your Tiller backward slowly, then let it move forward a bit, in a gentle rocking motion. Watch it slice, shred, and bury those weeds! Got tough weeds? Lighten your pressure on the throttle to slow your Tiller down. Then work back and forth until your Tiller chops up the weeds.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 15 Maintenance How to Check the Grease Level Inside the Worm Gear Housing When we built your Mantis® XP tiller, we added grease to properly lubricate the transmission for the first 10 hours of operation. As part of the regular maintenance of your tiller, it is imperative that you inspect the grease level and add grease if necessary. This will help your tiller give you years of excellent usage.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 16 Maintenance Check the Air Filter Often A wet or dirty air filter can affect the way your engine starts, performs, and wears. So, it’s a good idea to check your air filter once a month. If you work in dusty soil, or if you want to be on the safe side — then check your filter more often (for instance, before each use). But be sure to replace it at least once a year, in the spring or fall. How to Check, Clean and Change the Air Filter 1.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 17 Storage Each fall, or before you store your Mantis® XP Tiller for any long period, be sure to take these measures: 1. Do not store your Tiller with fuel still in it. Even under ideal conditions, stored fuel containing ethanol or MTBE can start to go stale in 30 days. And, since stale fuel has a high gum content, it can clog the carburetor, this, in turn, will restrict fuel flow.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 18 Mantis® XP Tiller Assembly 21 70 7 8 62 47 47 57 61 56 69 63 48 43 12 # 60 71 44 50 20 39 46 23 64 65 41 40 41 66 68 41 67 41 ITEM 1 2 6 7 8 12 13 20 21 22* 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 QTY. PART # DESCRIPTION / REMARKS ITEM 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 400257 400255 400224 400633 400306 910502 478 400312 400916 468 400301 436 437A 651 423 425 424 422 426 TRIGGER HANDLE ASSM. RH HANDLE ASSM.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 19 Spare Parts 1. Set of two inner tines 2. Set of two outer tines 39 40 66 p/n 67 400332 p/n 400331 3.
401764 XP Tiller-Cultivator_manual 5/18/10 10:51 AM Page 20 MANTIS® XP TILLER LIMITED WARRANTY MANTIS extends this limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship for a period of five (5) years for normal residential purposes and two (2) years for commercial use from the date of purchase, to the first retail purchaser and each subsequent owner, during the warranty period. This warranty covers all portions of the MANTIS XP TILLER.
