Hi Mollie,
I don't know the answer to your question....I also need something that is not too heavy, but that can cut through this hard Alabama red clay. So I too am looking forward to the answer to your question:-)

Neither ;-) I use the the no-till method.

I have a Mantis and love it. Mine starts easily. This year it started on the second pull, even after storage all winter....and I don't take very good care of it...just store in the basement.

My DH bought me a Troy Bilt a couple of years back, and I absolutely love it. It's large enough to do any job with, but easy to handle and never fails to crank easily for me.
Jan

Ditto one hundred percent with terramadre. And I've seen a nice improvement in my little patch of hard, red clay. Tillers not allowed here!

8 Horsepower, front tine tiller, two speed transmission with reverse. It cuts through the Alabama clay like a knife. I tried the Troy Bilt thingy and those back tines bounced off the clay like it was concrete.

I have both. I'm 5'4" and weigh 125 pounds. I hate the cultivator because it just won't get the job done and I love my tiller because it does. I have no problems with the tiller - it has that "pole" in the back that you push into the dirt and it holds the tiller in place. I'm not sure what type it is (that's fiance's job!), but will find out if you're interested.

Diana
(bored with my GA forums today and nosing around in my "neighbors' backyard today!")