It doesn’t matter if it is a simple rose garden, a small vegetable patch, or some raised beds; you need to get your soil ready for planting, and that can be a big task.

Having a tiller on hand will make this job much more efficient and less labor-intensive. If you have a small garden or need to work in narrow spaces with lose soil, a mini tiller would be a good choice.

But if you require more power, or are going to work with soil that is more compact and rocky, you should consider the Handy 3.5hp Petrol Tiller/Cultivator.

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A brand you can trust

Handy has been in business since 1938, making them one of the most experienced gardening machinery companies in the UK.

With a national network of dealers, purchasing spare parts for your tiller, or having it professionaly serviced is always possible.

When you buy a Handy machine, you can be assured that decades of experience were invested in its development.

You are in control

The biggest learning curve when getting used to working with a tiller is understanding how to control it.

The Handy petrol tiller makes this easier thanks to its two levers. The throttle control is in charge of the engine’s speed. You slide it forward or backwards to increase or decrease the speed, and you also use this to stop the engine.

The tine clutch control lever makes the machine move. Once you push it down, the tines are engaged and the unit starts to move forward. When you release it, the machine turns back to neutral.

Adjust the height

Having to till your garden is hard work, and having to do it while slouched in an awkward position will only make your body ache after a short while.

That is why this tiller includes a very simple mechanism to adjust the height of the handles in order to accommodate different operator’s heights and different tilling conditions.

The handles have a couple of adjustment knobs. All you need to do is loosen them, pivot the handles to the desired height, and tighten them back.

Regulate the depth

Controlling the depth of your tilling is possible with the depth regulator rod. Once you set the clutch lever to the neutral position you can decide what depth you want.

Lower the rod to slow down the tiller and get it to dig deeper. Or do the opposite, raise it to make the machine move faster and get a shallower till.

Removable rotors

The Handy petrol tiller features four sturdy tines for a maximum working width of 38cm and maximum working depth of 15cm, with a maximum tine speed of 120 rpm. Perfect for mixing in the compost.

The outer tines can be removed, which makes the tilling narrower. This is suitable for bed preparation and precise inter-row work.

Folding Handles

Once you are finished tilling, it is recommended to give the machine a quick clean up before storing it.

One advantage this unit has are the folding handles. This makes the unit more compact, so it takes less space in your garage or shed. It also makes it easier to fit in your car boot, although you might need some extra help lifting the tiller since it weighs almost 30 kilogrammes.

Briggs & Stratton engine

2-stroke tillers use a motor that requires a mix of oil and gas to work. If you don’t get the correct ratio, the engine can sputter or be difficult to start.

This Handy petrol tiller uses a 450E Series™ 125 cc, 4-stroke engine the  which eliminates that hassle and provides smooth performance.

Equipped with what Briggs & Stratton calls a “Prime ‘N Pull™ Easy” starting system, firing up the engine takes just one pull of the cord.

The Magnetron® Electronic Ignition System gets the engine started easily, while the float feed carburettor improves starting efficiency even further and optimises fuel delivery.

Environmentally friendly

All these series engines have reduced exhaust emissions and surpass the European Exhaust Emissions standards by at least 25%.

The fuel lines comply with the European low permeation requirements. It is recommended to use unleaded fuel for optimised performance and longer engine life.

Since then, tillers have gotten smaller and easier to use. There are many models available depending on the type of project you have planned.

If you need to work in loose soil, or in narrow spaces, a mini tiller would be perfect. For more advanced jobs, you could get a tiller with a reliable 3.5hp engine. However, these tillers use a petrol engine, and that is not always what you want.

You see, having a petrol motor involves adding extra weight to the tiller. A mini tiller will weigh 15kg, while a more powerful one will weigh over 30kg. This is ok if you are strong enough to handle these machines. But what if you are a senior, or need something more manageable?

In this case, an electric tiller is what you need. We will be reviewing the The Handy Electric Garden Tiller, which weighs only 8.5 kgs.  but is a perfect option to get your vegetable patch tilled to perfection.

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Easy to assemble

This electric tiller consists of just a few parts, so assembly will take just a few minutes.

You just need a couple of tools: a Phillips screwdriver, and an 8mm spanner.

Assembly only requires attaching the handles and securing the switch wires and the trigger switch box

Quick start

Once the tiller is plugged into the mains, all you need to do is squeeze the trigger located on the handle. This will make the tines rotate.

To stop the machine, you just release the trigger. This is not only convenient but also acts as a safety feature in case you slip or lose your grip.

Overheating protection

Tilling is hard work and can cause strain to the motor. If the soil is too hard, it can block the blades. The tiller will try its best to keep going, but sometimes this will make the motor overheat.

To prevent damage to the unit, this tiller has a built-in thermal protection which detects when the motor is overloaded or when something locks the motor shaft and keeps it from turning.

Once the engine cools down the termal protectors will reset themselves, and the machine can be used again.

Although this might seem like an inconvenience, it is actually a great feature to look for when buying an electric tiller. It is always better to stop the work for a few minutes and let the motor cool down instead of having to replace it when it burns out.

800W of power

Petrol-powered engines are powerful, but also require regular maintenance and having to deal with gas and oil. With an electric motor, all you need to do is plug it in, and you are ready to go.

The tiller is supplied with a cable that is 10 meters long and has a cable hook on the handlebar to keep the cable from getting accidentally unplugged.

Depth and width for small areas

The Handy electric tiller has a maximum working depth of 20cm and working width of 30cm. This is ideal for turning over flower beds and vegetable plots, as well as digging in fertilisers or compost.

If you need to cultivate narrow vegetable rows or borders, this compact tiller will get the job done easily.

Removable tines

After using the machine for several days the tines can get worn. This will result in a bad performance and could overload the motor, so they should be sharpened or replaced with new ones when necessary.

This electric tiller features tines that can be easily removed. Each one is secured by a lock pin on the shaft. Once that pin is taken off, the tines can slide out.

Compact and lightweight

As discussed previously, the advantage of using an electric motor vs. a petrol one is getting rid of extra weight. That is why this tiller weighs only 8.5kg. It also makes the machine quieter, operating at 73.6dB, while a four-stroke engine tiller will operate at 93dB

Although it is compact enough to take minimal space in your shed, you can fold the handles to make it even smaller. If you need to transport the machine in your car boot, it will fit in with no problems.

So, if having a beautiful flower bed or a well-kept garden is your goal, purchasing a quality tiller will be a good idea.

The Handy Two Stroke Petrol Mini Tiller is the perfect size for your small garden. And best of all, it has a price that will suit your budget.

If you want a tiller that has the flexibility and power of a large petrol tiller, but in a much lighter and compact design, keep reading this review and check out what the Handy mini tiller can offer.

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Easy to assemble

This tiller includes a set of tools to help you assemble it in a few minutes.

All you need to do is attach the upper handle to the lower handle frame, readjust the throttle cable, and ensure that all the knobs are tight.

As with any 2-stroke motor, you need to use a mix of petrol and oil. Included with your purchase is a handy fuel mixing bottle to help you get the correct ratio.

Quick to start

There are many cheap tillers in the market, and they might seem like a great deal. But when you take them out to your garden and try to get them started is when you realise that you get what you pay for.

Having to pull the engine’s starting cord over and over can be frustrating. That is why the Handy mini tiller has an engine that is designed to fire after just one or two pulls.

Once the engine is running, you can increase or decrease the speed by using the throttle control lever, which you can flip with just a fingertip.

Tine Adjustment

When you start digging up the soil, you might notice that the tiller is not digging deep enough, or the opposite, it is digging too deep.

Adjusting the wheel bracket depth is simple. After you loosen a couple of knobs on the tine guard, you can slide the wheel bracket assembly. Slide it up for deeper digging, and down for shallower.

This depth adjustment is also used to make the tines clear the ground when you want to transport your tiller.

Easy access to the air filter

Tillers create a mess, and that is their job. Digging up soil means that there will be dust floating around, and the air filter catches this debris and prevents it from entering the engine.

This means that your air filter will get dirty, and having quick access to it is important. You need to frequently check it out and keep it from getting so dirty that it can’t clean up the air any more.

The Handy mini tiller features a quick-access removable filter cover. Take out the filter and wash it in lukewarm water once you are finished digging.

High-torque gearing-system

This tiller is compact but robust enough to help you get the job done. It uses a 2-stroke, 43cc engine, with 1.9hp.

Having your tiller die in the middle of the job because it is out of gas means time wasted while you find the petrol canister and fill up the tank. This won’t happen with this tiller. It has a capacity of 1.2 litres, and can easily run for over an hour with a full tank.

A tilling width of 25cm and depth of 20cm is perfect for your allotment or vegetable garden. The narrow tilling lets you move smoothly between the cultivated rows.  If you need to aerate the soil between existing crop-rows, this is the best tool for it thanks to its four six-tooth tines.

Easy to manoeuvre and store

Having to push and pull a tiller can be tiresome if you are dealing with a heavy machine. That is why this tiller has been designed to be as lightweight as possible.

Weighing only 15 kilogrammes, and having a set of robust wheels and an ergonomic handle, this machine is easy to control and provides accurate tilling.

Once you are done, the handlebar folds down. This makes this unit even more compact and will take very little space in your shed, or you can place it in your car’s boot with no problems.