Scarifying incident with a garden tiller. I'm still here. Did I do it correctly?!1

It's a gas engine Mantis (I don't know whether naming brands is O.K., will remove with Mod guidance) .

Had it for years, barely use it, sometimes 2 or so yrs go by. Have to look up the instructions every time. It's not so light as the commercials make it look, with the elderly female slinging it around.

Anyway, it still turned on after all this time.

And I was alone: Never operate machinery without anybody within hollering distance.


So, got going, fine. Was planning for a ten minutes session. So when I got done with what I planned, I flicked the "off" switch to Off and nothing happened. Huh?!1

It dawned on me that a wire was hanging limp, apparently the connecting thingamajig that would do the OFF thing.

So this little machine is a MONSTER, O.K.?!1

It was jumping at rocks and throwing rocks back at me and bouncing and menacing up the wazzoo, get the picture?!1

So I thought about trying to handle the machine with one hand and connect the wires with the other. It was not feasible.

There were a neighbor couple across the street, but let's not go there.

So, it occurred to me that I needed to run the gasoline supply OUT to the bitter end, despite my old age and whatever. So, that's what happened.

It went on and ON and ON. I dug more rings around the plants and shrubs than I ever dreamed about. My forearms were tingling and limp.

Finally, the gasoline supply ran out after ABOUT A HALF HOUR and the Mantis laid over on its side.

I've been limp ever since. Any suggestions?!1

congrats on keeping your wits and having the endurance. me thinks I'da let it go and run away!