[yodapete]

Hello All.
I bought a second hand Mantis tiller a few months ago, only two years old, came with lawn edger and scarifier and maintenance kit.  It looks like new and if the old guy I bought it from was telling the truth, its only been used about a dozen times. I've not used it in anger yet but I've been running it for a few minutes each week.  A few weeks ago I found that it wouldn't get up to full revs, seemed either to choke up  or be starved of fuel when the throttle lever was used and then would cut out.  It starts again, no problem, and will tick over forever but as soon as I squeeze the thottle lever the revs start to rise then it dies. I've replaced the plug and air filter, put in new fuel, cleaned the fuel tank filter( there was a lot of sticky goo around this), even ran it briefly without the fuel filter on-no difference, checked the exhaust pipe-clean as a whistle.  Anyone had similar problems? Anyone got any ideas?

[Motivator]

Hi perhaps the carb jet/ needle could be sticking ,Due to gummy fuel.

[Bigbadfrankie]

Change the fuel and if its a stroker make sure the mix is correct. Avoid diving in with the tool kit. Even though you have run it regularly the fuel will loose its sparkle.
I am sure its not very poorly.

[richyrich7]

Have you got the manual ? I'm sure I've read about this somewhere  :?

[noshed]

mmm...
bin it and get a spade?

[richyrich7]

mmm...
bin it and get a spade?

 :shock:  heathen    

[noshed]

Oh allright then. See if Gwiz is about to work his magic

[richyrich7]

Well he did say he was bored the other day .

[noshed]

That's true, you would have thought a little job like this would have been right up his street. Maybe he's twining tinsel round his extensive machinery collection.

[richyrich7]

That reminds me about the bloke who went to the doctors complaining of a sore throat after swallowing some tinsel, the diagnosis : tinselitis  

[burlington]

Yes, I think I can help.

I had a Mantis last year (I returned it under their 12 month return system; it it not work on my land though otherwise was a nice machine) and it had a similar problem in not getting up to full speed.

I contacted Mantis and apparently there was a batch of handle units that had a fault (a piece of plastic internally used to sheer). They replaced my handle unit and the machine went a full speed after that.

Give them a ring and quote the machine's serial number. IF indeed the fault is the same as mine then you have been sold a faulty machine. Mantis may well help you out but the vendor does have some responsibility.

Hope this is helpful.

Martin

[yodapete]

Thanks to all who offered advice.  Last night decided to bite the bullet :- drained the fuel tank, stripped the carb and checked jet/needle , diaphragm, all fuel ways and strainers but couldn't see any blockages or dirt.  Took out the fuel tank filter and poked out all fuel and breather pipes.  finally re-assembled put in fresh fuel, set up carb adjustment screws as per instruction manual and  checked operation of throttle lever.
The thing fired up straight away and after warm up revved its little heart out.  It's annoying not to find the definite problem but the little beast's running fine now.  It could  have been iffy fuel or carb adjustment or a combination of both. I did ponder on Nosheds suggestion to bin it and
go back to the spade but its nice and red and shiny and makes nice noises when I pull the stringy thing on top so I think I'll keep it.
Regards to all
Yodapete

[richyrich7]

but its nice and red and shiny and makes nice noises when I pull the stringy thing on top so I think I'll keep it.
Regards to all
Yodapete

   aint they just  

[noshed]

Good for you - perhaps it just wanted a bit of attention.

[burlington]

but its nice and red and shiny and makes nice noises when I pull the stringy thing on top so I think I'll keep it.

Yodapete

But don't use it on heavy wet land, as I tried to do!!