Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

you have hole in bulb or the fuel line check both or replace

Try by tightening both setting screws (not too tight as this will damage them) ...just enough to the home position...then backing off 1-1/2 turns on each. Try to start, if does not start, then then back off another 1/4 turn, continue till you can start then once started regulate adjust screws slowly to find a smooth idle.

Turn the carb mixture screw all the way in until it bottoms out and count the turns as you do that, then turn it out the same number of turns plus 1/2 more and see how it idles, if it runs poorly try turning it in and out slightly for best idle.

Replace spark plug Pour out old fuel and replace with 2 cycle fuel. Plan gas will not work!

Change oil

For what? I need to know what size engine. or equipment you are working on to be able to help you. send more information.

You better buy new.

check what they call air gap between the coil and flywheel .010-.012 gap
also be sure your flywheel is in time.
you will actually have to remove it to do this and check for the sheared key or be sure the key way aligns with the crankshaft keyway on the flywheel

Mantis Deluxe Tiller operator manual This maybe what your looking for

The following was extracted from the Mantis owners manual.. At some point, you may find that the tines won't turn when you press the throttle. This may mean the engine isn't sitting all the way down on the worm gear housing. Perhaps you've been using your Tiller for several years. Or perhaps you've removed the engine for use with the Mantis hedge trimmer attachment, then replaced it. In either case, the flange bolt may have come loose and lifted the engine up. If this happened you'll notice a gap between the bottom of the engine clutch case and the top of the worm gear housing. To fix this, loosen the flange bolt. Take the engine off the worm gear housing. Notice the hex head on top of the drive shaft . Inside the clutch case, you'll find the clutch drum. Make sure the hex head lines up with the clutch drum inside the clutch case. Then put the engine back on the worm gear housing. Make sure the plastic carrying handle is not under the fuel tank. If you've followed these steps properly, there will be no gap between the clutch case and the worm gear housing. Make sure you tighten the flange bolt.

if the primer bulb cannot pick up fuel and the fuel lines are good then you have a bad primer plate and you need a new carb

the diaphragm goes in with the large circle towards the needle the fuel inlet side goes in with the clear sheet against the body and the rubber one on top.

try not to over work the engine so much.

-Adjust it. Good luck mai

-Won out drive or driven gears. Good luck Mai

uh huh... your asking the magic question... what fuel line goes where on what ???

-Heat. Good luck Mai

First, I would mix up a batch of fresh fuel. Stale fuel will prevent a 2-cycle engine from starting. If it still will not start, you need to determine if the engine is getting fuel and spark. Remove the spark plug, re-hook it to the spark plug wire, ground the plug against a metal part of the head near the spark plug hole, and pull the rope to see if the spark plug is producing spark. You may have to do this out of direct sunlight to get a true reading. If you have spark, spray some starting fluid into the spark plug hole, reinsert the plug and try to start it again. If it starts then you have a fuel problem which could be a bad primer bulb or a carburetor problem. If it will not start then you may have low compression which is an expensive repair. Try these things and post back.

One reason that I have seen for no compression on a 2-cycle engine like the Mantis is severe scarring of the piston, rings and/or cylinder. This can be caused by not mixing the fuel with the proper amount of 2-cycle oil. The engine will normally run for a while but eventually it will die and not start again. If you have a compression tester, I would use it to test your compression. If it is lower than around 120, you may have this problem. You can remove the muffler and looking into the exhaust port with a flashlight to see if you have scratches going up and down the length of your piston. If you do then you are looking at a sizeable expense of replacing the short block. If you can do it yourself, you might be able to do it for less than $100 but if you have to have a dealer repair it, it might cost more than the tiller is worth.

Hi anon, if it's starting your 2/3rds of the way there. You have fuel and spark. Try and clean the air filter first and if that fails to keep it running then check that the choke isn't staying out. If all thats ok then it may be the carb gaskets.