# What am I getting in to, refurbishing an old tiller? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601 "2020-02-07T21:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/21 "2020-02-08T14:39:46Z")
Recently I tried to “refurbish” an elderly Mantis tiller that had been sitting unused in my garage for the past 15 years. Replaced the spark plug and rotted plastic bulb gas feed, checked the lines to make sure they weren’t clogged…and still couldn’t get the thing to start. It wound up out on the curb, where someone claimed it, thinking they could eventually get it working. And maybe they will. I’m going to move on to another model to till up ground at the new place. Maybe a rechargeable electric. Any suggestions/experiences are welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/22 "2020-02-08T15:30:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Recently I tried to “refurbish” an elderly Mantis tiller that had been sitting unused in my garage for the past 15 years. Replaced the spark plug and rotted plastic bulb gas feed, checked the lines to make sure they weren’t clogged…and still couldn’t get the thing to start. > > It wound up out on the curb, where someone claimed it, thinking they could eventually get it working. > > And maybe they will. I’m going to move on to another model to till up ground at the new place. Maybe a rechargeable electric. Any suggestions/experiences are welcomed. I got a free non-running Mantis cultivator a couple years ago too! Replaced the carb, primer bulb and fuel lines and got it in working order. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/23 "2020-02-08T22:08:51Z")
Ok, quick update and also a question. Un-mounted the engine from the tiller and bolted it to a couple 2x4, and clamped it to my workbench for ease of access. It DID run for a couple seconds on starting fluid, so that’s a good sign! I’m probably flush out the fuel system, then take it apart as far as I feel like, cleaning as I go. The question is, in the seconds it was running, I had my hand on the block but not on the spark plug, and got shocked. What’s going on there? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/24 "2020-02-09T06:38:47Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > It DID run for a couple seconds on starting fluid, so that’s a good sign! I’m probably flush out the fuel system, then take it apart as far as I feel like, cleaning as I go. > > The question is, in the seconds it was running, I had my hand on the block but not on the spark plug, and got shocked. What’s going on there? If it fires, I’d put fresh gas in and let it run! It’ll clean itself as it runs. 😉 As for the shocking, are you sure it was an electric shock and not just a ‘knock’? You’ll know if you get a high-voltage shot from a spark plug. I had to rip a wire off a motorcycle once and it turned my fingernail beds black for a while. Made for a damn funny story, though! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/25 "2020-02-09T06:50:21Z")
Black fingernails? You’re so _Goth_ Gato! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/26 "2020-02-09T07:18:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Black fingernails? You’re so _Goth_ Gato! **Gothopescado**. I don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/27 "2020-02-09T07:21:42Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > If it fires, I’d put fresh gas in and let it run! It’ll clean itself as it runs. 😉 As for the shocking, are you sure it was an electric shock and not just a ‘knock’? You’ll know if you get a high-voltage shot from a spark plug. I had to rip a wire off a motorcycle once and it turned my fingernail beds black for a while. > > Made for a damn funny story, though! Well I’m not sure? Certainly felt like a shock, though. The stuff I drained out of the fuel tank looked like straight oil. Plug was coated with the same, took the head off and it was oily as hell and crusted with burnt gunk. Piston and everything else inside was fithy. Removed the carb got everything cleaned up with carb cleaner, plastic scraper and steel wool. Re-assembling tomorrow and I’ll try to fire her up again. Lots of possible adjustments, I guess; there’s not really a throttle…seems like the governor is the important factor. And a screw that I deduce adjusts the mix? Trial and error time! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/28 "2020-02-09T14:39:50Z")
Fifteenish year so ago when I moved in with my gf, I found an ancient rototiller in her shed. I decided to see if it would run with minimal effort. I emptied and refilled the gas tank then gave it a shot of spray starter. It started right up and ran, _but_ I’d failed to notice that the oil fill cap was missing (I eventually found it). And so I was sprayed with thousands of droplets of motor oil to my face and chest. It looked like a Three Stooges gag. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/29 "2020-02-09T18:39:26Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I was expecting this to be about a sailboat tiller, which seemed like an odd thing to refurbish. But I see the thread title steered me wrong. And I thought it was going to be about an old, ornate brass cash register. You know, a till. > **[Antiques Roadshow | Appraisal: National Cash Register Brass Cash Register |...](https://www.pbs.org/video/antiques-roadshow-coming-monday-july-30-109c-denver-hour-1/)** > > Ken Farmer appraises a National Cash Register brass cash register. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/30 "2020-02-09T21:04:05Z")
It lives! Pretty smooth too. > **[VID\_20200209\_145616.mp4](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eIjRdrcdOVhku9vRxncaEvIAJyDHLK1A/view?usp=drivesdk)** > > Vroommmm! ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/31 "2020-02-10T21:42:51Z")
Think I messed up and didn’t make the link public. Should be fixed! ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/32 "2020-02-10T21:58:37Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Think I messed up and didn’t make the link public. Should be fixed! Nice! This has been my favorite thread for the last week. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/33 "2020-02-10T22:07:20Z")
Cool 🆒 I may or may not have taken it all back apart yesterday and started to re-paint it. :eek: But the range hood is ALMOST installed, so it’s ok. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/34 "2020-02-10T22:20:30Z")
Here’s a few more pictures in case anyone is interested: [IMG\_20200208\_153255.jpg - Google Drive](https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fXTTXW47v7LLJ_qwNT6m50HTKiRZUrqe) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/35 "2020-02-10T22:25:56Z")
Ugh, such an idjit…here is the link to the entire folder. Probably. [Tiller refurb - Google Drive](https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OaPw1AUT9EcK4lvvFwAkCySmob88TF73) ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/36 "2020-02-12T10:59:46Z")
Good job! 🙂 Just be careful, refurbishing small gasoline powered equipment can be habit forming. AMHIK! Just leave those lawn mowers & tillers on the curb. Don’t be dragging them home willy-nilly! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/37 "2020-02-24T06:45:23Z")
So here I am, and here it is…couldn’t sleep so came out to the garage to start putting it back together. Last coat of paint wasn’t quite dry, so I left fingerprints [IMG\_20200224\_002909.jpg - Google Drive](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mS5Nen1doZ6aAm1NIcqvjuQPkTlkGKSa/view?usp=drivesdk) all over; may or may not touch them up. Still need to get a new muffler and find somewhere that carries the right air filter. I’ll definitely post again once it’s up and idling. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/38 "2020-02-25T06:22:14Z")
My local Ace Hardware carries both of these items. The larger of the two local True Value hardware stores also carry them. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/39 "2020-02-28T23:39:20Z")
Done! That was so much fun. > **[VID\_20200228\_170941.mp4](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nIBhTPOYjxv8FIN1Iz_uNjfWNBiIAxbR/view?usp=drivesdk)** > > Google Drive file. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601/40 "2020-02-29T01:42:27Z")
WELL DONE. I love projects like this. I had a weird one. '78 Yamaha 650cc 4 stroke. Vertical twin. Bought it for nostalgic reasons, my brother had one. It did not run. Lots of boxes of ‘parts’. Had Spark, Fuel, and Compression. It would not give me so much as a pop. I scratched my head about this for weeks. Re-checked everything a dozen times. This engine actually had valve covers that could be removed. So… I did that and watched the valves open and close and the points open and close as I slowly rotated the engine. Turns out that the previous owner (or someone) had rebuilt the engine. But re-built it 180 degrees off. Spark at the top of the exhaust stroke. The chain that ran the valves/cam, was put on when the crank was 180 degrees off. The left spark plug was firing when the right plug should fire. Plenty of thread lock and gasket sealer also confirmed the engine had been rebuilt. Sooo.… I switched the plug wire from the right coil to the left plug, and left to the right, and it fired right up. Ran very badly though. Rideable but no fun. I suspect 180 degree off timing rebuild and just switching the coils right/left was not enough. My guess is that the timing advance was totally messed up. Well, it was backwards. I did do a little dance when I FINALLY puzzled this out. It drove me nuts for months. I gave it to a friend that has a garage and the wherewithal to totally rebuild it right. That engine was a good lesson for me. Trust your knowledge, to a point. Think outside of the box. I’m a programmer by trade, and often, the solution is found when you walk away for a day or two. “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-getting-in-to-refurbishing-an-old-tiller/847601.md?page=1)