What is the trick to respooling my lawn trimmer

[bmyers]

I've done some mechanical repairs that amaze even myself. I've rebuilt engines, restored classic cars, built houses, you name it, I've probably done it.

For the life of me I can't figure out how to respool my trimmer with nylon line and make it work right. It never feeds out correctly, breaks inside the spool , gets jammed or just doesn't work.

Whats the trick? It's really annoying but I refuse to buy pre spooled bobbins for the outrageous price they charge for them. It's a dual line trimmer from homelite/ HD.

Frustrated,
Bill

[cabinetman]

I got tired of buying replacement spools. Tried rethreading. Now I just buy the line in bulk. I removed the spool, drilled a small hole near the top edge of the outer shell, one on each side. I thread in a length (I precut them) so it sticks out each side. It may seem to take a while to thread a length in but, it's actually pretty quick. I now have two cutting lines instead of one.

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[jking]

There are usually specific instruction on re-spooling in the owners manual. I would recommend starting there.

My experience has been the common reasons for respooling problems are one of the following: wrong line size, incorrect wind direction, line caught on something when re-installing spool.

[Stytooner]

I have always found the spooled line to be inefficient with regard to line waste and time spent trying to re-spool one.
I have been using a short line trimmer for many years now with great results. I am able to use much thicker line with those heads and it lasts much longer per install. Install takes just a few seconds. I can do my acre with one set of lines. About 16" total.

This is similar to the one I use.
This link is from Lowe's.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_79964-42694-...ads&facetInfo=

[tommyt654]

Having been in the lawncare/landscaping industry for a long time I would recommend you scrap that head and go for a fixed head as a solution. It allows use of pre-cut lengths you can make yourself out of much thicker and heavier duty line that will last longer and cut thru thicker brush/weeds/etc, and allow easier use. This model I have personal knowledge of and works well for a homeowner style string trimmer, You can spend more for a commercial unit but this should work well for you and fits a variety of homeowner string trimmers, http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGUQ8wIwBA#

[LinuxRandal]

There are usually specific instruction on re-spooling in the owners manual. I would recommend starting there.

My experience has been the common reasons for respooling problems are one of the following: wrong line size, incorrect wind direction, line caught on something when re-installing spool.

I had the same issue before and besides above, I found my problem was guessing at line length. Just a little too long, caused jamming. Find out the factory length and cut it to size before spooling.

[dbhost]

I gave up over a decade ago and went with at the time the Grass Gator. I can't find a Grass Gator to fit my Echo now so I went with a Rino Tuff from Home Depot. I've had it now for 4 years, and managed to break it (my fault, NOT the heads) by running it into brick and curbs a few too many times... I need to swing by and grab a new one. They are relatively inexpensive, and they are super easy to use. I won't go back to a string head...

There are also heads with snap in string lengths that use monster duty line. They seem pretty decent. But once you get the touch for a Grass Gator or similar, you won't want to go back to line... It just makes the job easier...

[jking]

When I run out of my current spool of line, I will probably take a look at the short line options. They do seem to make a lot of sense.

[os1kne]

I've also struggled with string trimmer heads in the past. I used a head that used short lengths for a few years and it worked well until my motor died. I got an Echo trimmer a few years ago and had similar problems with feeding the line, so I bought a new head (Shindaiwa sp? speed feed http://www.shindaiwa.com/usa/en/technology_2/speedfeed/
- without a doubt the best that I've used. (I'm not a pro, so take that for what it's worth.) Good luck.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Great timing! I was ready to wrap my trimmer around a telephone pole last week because of string breaking or not feeding.

I use my trimmer sideways to edge the sidewalk. The concrete wears and breaks the string pretty fast. Which of the trimmer heads would be good for my application?

Thanks,

- Lonnie

[JoeyGee]

I have nothing to contribute, I just am enjoying others feeling my pain. I also almost threw my trimmer against the wall for this very thing.

My problem is that I have a B&D trimmer that I got on clearance and I don't think there are any aftermarket heads that will fit. I use it for edging also, and it just eats the line.

[Dal300]

We also bought a B&D electric because the wife couldn't handle the big Stihl that I use. Needless to say, it didn't take long to go down and by a Shakespeare 'Fast Loader' for it.
2-.130" strings, each 8" long and it works for a couple of days without replacing them.

I have nothing to contribute, I just am enjoying others feeling my pain. I also almost threw my trimmer against the wall for this very thing.

My problem is that I have a B&D trimmer that I got on clearance and I don't think there are any aftermarket heads that will fit. I use it for edging also, and it just eats the line.

[LinuxRandal]

You all want to get all upset at them, could just do what I did. After having a good one, when mine died (lasted YEARS) the replacement (hasn't been run in a couple years), is sitting in my garage, as it is a cheap POS compared to the old one (and it is a sister to it).

I went back to edging, weeding, etc. by hand. I am probably in better shape due to it.

[Slik Geek]

I feel your collective pain, had similar problems, but never delivered on my desire to wrap the trimmer around a telephone pole (that would have been satisfying).

When the previous trimmer become unserviceable, SHMBO insisted that we needed a replacement NOW so I reluctantly went to my nearest big box home center and bought something inexpensive (while grumbling to myself that I should spend more money and get something like the heavy line, non-feeding types that have been recommended).

I bought a Black and Decker Grass Hog (it shows a model number of GH600). It has a spool to reload, but claimed that it fed the line automatically.

I must say that I was mighty skeptical. I have been surprised at how well it works (auto-feeding the line), and haven't had problems reloading the spool with bulk line like I did on the two predecessors. Don't know if anyone else here has had the good success with this model...

[cabinetman]

Anyone here have a WorxGT trimmer?

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