stihl tiller question...

[woodswalker]

Hey, I don't post much, but when I do, you guys always give me good advice! I want to pick some of you stihl-heads for some info... Give me the scoop on the stihl tillers....

Use: I have some raised beds that I want to till, nothing very big. I want to be able to till in fertilizer, lime and compost etc...

Option 1:
The MM55 would be awesome, but for the width of the handles. My main garden bed is 2 feet wide, by 60 feet long, bordered by a big timber on the one side, and a chain link fence on the other. I think the width of the spread handles on the MM55 would hit the fence with such a narrow garden bed, and be a big pain in the a55.

Option 2:

That leaves me with the kombi system, and the tiller attachment. The are bloody expensive, but from what I've read here, darn nice units too. I would probably wind up getting several other attachments for it, but I would primarily get it for the tiller function, as I already have most of the other covered. Is the KM 90 big enough to effectively run the tiller, or would I need the KM110 or KM130. I know bigger is better, but would the 90 get the job done???


Option 3:
The third option, is to buy a used trimmer on ebay, craigslist or somewhere, I could probably pick up a fs80 or something similar for a hundred bucks or so. Can I just unbolt the gearbox of the trimmer, and bolt on a gearbox and tiller head??? I see a john deere tiller head that says it fits a stihl trimmer on Ebay for 50 bucks? Any downside to doing this conversion???

Thanks a lot for your advice!

Robert

 

[REJ2]

If possible I'd move the big timber, I'm assuming its a border. Get away from the fence, its always going to be in the way. I actually own four tillers, a little Mantis, a front tine Parmi, a mid tine Honda, a rear tine Troy Bilt Horse. The bigger Horse actually works the best up against something because the width of the tilling attachment is wider than the rest of the machine. My other machines have handles that are a little wider than the machine. Sometime bigger is better. Or just till as close as you can and have a garden a little less than 2 feet wide. REJ2

 

[twiztedsix]

Not sure if you are stuck on a stihl, but have you thought about a echo tc-210, or a mantis tiller? I believe they are narrower than the stihl, but i will have to wait unit the morning to measure them.

 

[woodswalker]

Thanks guys! I can't really move the timbers, the garden or the fence.... Wish I could, and then my problems would go away! I really need to work with what I have....

And... I'm kind of stuck on the stihl...

Any thoughts on the weedeater conversion, or the Kombi tiller?????

Thanks guys!

R.

 

[CentaurG2]

As other have mentioned, your set up just screams “ Mantis”. They have been making these tillers for many years and the do work very well. Mine is almost 7 years old and it is one of the few power tools I will loan out. It is one rugged unit. Mine is a little 2 stroke echo but I think they also make one with a 4 banger Honda and an electric. Most rental companys have them. Rent it for a half day and evaluate it for yourself.

If you are stuck on stihl, I would probably opt for the M55. It has the engine somewhat over the tines. I think the tiller on the Kombi, would beat the hell out of the user as it would have little or no weight over the tines and it would push or pull the operator a lot. I have not run either the m55 or the kombi head tiller but usually a tool designed for a specific task does a better job than a tool design to do many tasks.

 

[Just Mow]

The KM90 will run the BC35 tiller attachment very well. I have it and use it around beds that I can't get the MM55 into. Both units use the same gearbox. The investment pays off when you add the second attachment on the Kombi.
Have tried the Mantis and the Echo, both lack the power of the Stihl as well as build quality. They also bounce around a lot.

 

[REJ2]

The KM90 will run the BC35 tiller attachment very well. I have it and use it around beds that I can't get the MM55 into. Both units use the same gearbox. The investment pays off when you add the second attachment on the Kombi.
Have tried the Mantis and the Echo, both lack the power of the Stihl as well as build quality. They also bounce around a lot.

My Mantis lacks nothing in build quality. REJ2

 

[Just Mow]

My Mantis lacks nothing in build quality. REJ2

Compared to the Stihl it does.

 

[FATGUY]

My Stihl dealer sells both the Mantis and the Yard Boss. When I literally put them side by side, there was no question. I bought the MM55, I love it, it's a little monster!

 

[dingeryote]

My Stihl dealer sells both the Mantis and the Yard Boss. When I literally put them side by side, there was no question. I bought the MM55, I love it, it's a little monster!

Got mine last year for cleaning up between young Blueberry bushes.

It already has paid for itself.

The width issue the OP has is interesting.

I'd just go at it as a full pass and then go back and diagonally nibble out what was missed.

The two outer tines can be pulled off for getting between tightly spaced plants and for grinding up Blackberry crowns if needed.

I looked hard at the other offerings out there including the Kombi and the Mantis. Not dissing anyones gear, but nothing else is as robust.

Tiller heads for weed whackers wont hold up long if they are used like we use them.... too bad. I like the portability.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[eyolf]

I have a Stihl mini tiller too. The only Stihl equipment in the shed, but I think highly of it. I think it will serve you better than the Mantis/Echo.

Everything about the Mantis seems to say "lightweight"; maybe the engine/gearcase holds up OK, but the unit just feels flimsy to me.

But the orig poster will be having trouble near the fence with any of them; the tiller tines will grab the fence and get locked up in it, Niether the tiller nor the fence will be too happy about this, so it seems like a moot point to me which method is used. My advice: burn the weeds in the fence out with a bertha torch (or Roundup) and accept that no tiller will get the last little bit.

There are some organic nuts that choose not to till at all, anywhere. While that isn't my personal choice, I witnessed a garden last year that hasn't seen a tiller in years, and that couple's gardens looked beautiful. Perhaps a tour around some gardening websites will net some more ideas.

 

[Scooterbum]

Just modify the handles on the mm55. Doesn't look like it would take much.

Ask your dealer, but I doubt it would void warranty.

 

[CentaurG2]

So how much does an M55 yard boss actually cost?? Tried stihlUSA for price and no dice. What is MSRP??

 

[dingeryote]

So how much does an M55 yard boss actually cost?? Tried stihlUSA for price and no dice. What is MSRP??

Got mine for 300 bucks, but it had been bought and brought back to the dealer after 3 days. The owners wife apparently did NOT approve.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[FATGUY]

So how much does an M55 yard boss actually cost?? Tried stihlUSA for price and no dice. What is MSRP??

I got mine for $329, he took it down to the same price that the Mantis 2 stroke was. (although I have seen the Mantis cheaper elsewhere)

 

[CentaurG2]

Thanks all!

 

[FATGUY]

 

[woodswalker]

Thanks for everybody's replies...

It really stinks that my bed size and arrangement with the fence will probably keep me from getting a MM55.

So far, one person has said that he KM90 will indeed run the tiller attachment good enough. Thanks for the insight! The Kombi system may be the way to go if I can scrape up enough coin!

Does anybody have any experience hooking a tiller gear box up to a weedeater powerhead and shaft? Something like a fs 80?

Thanks again guys!

Robert.

 

[Just Mow]

Thanks for everybody's replies...

It really stinks that my bed size and arrangement with the fence will probably keep me from getting a MM55.

So far, one person has said that he KM90 will indeed run the tiller attachment good enough. Thanks for the insight! The Kombi system may be the way to go if I can scrape up enough coin!

Does anybody have any experience hooking a tiller gear box up to a weedeater powerhead and shaft? Something like a fs 80?

Thanks again guys!

Robert.

You cannot run any of the Stihl gearbox attachments on the FS80. It has a cable drive instead of a solid drive shaft like the FS85R,90R,110R,130R.
If you do put it on there you will probably break the shaft eventually.