Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): 2 hp tiller, mantis tiller, oil mixture

Question
help michael...borrowed a 2hp tiller from my sister in law...think i have burnt up the engine..is always hard to start..used it for a couple of hours today..it died needing gas ..i refilled the gas tank...went to start it..engine was VERY hot...cord will not even pull....tillers only take gasoline too...right?...i would think they would need oil somewhere...but...apparently not....tiller is only about 2 years old...any ideas?..........

Answer
Hi Vickie,

Uh oh...Since it is only 2 hp, I suspect that it is a 2 stroke engine which uses a gas/oil mixture.  If it is small like a Mantis tiller and it sounds like a trimmer engine, then it is 2 stroke.  If it still is frozen the next time you try it, you could try soaking the piston with oil poured into the spark plug hole.  Maybe it will free up and be able to be pulled over.  If not, you could remove the head and try tapping the piston with a wooden block.  Most likely if the engine is seized badly it would need to be rebuilt or replaced.

Let me know how you make out.
Michael