String trimmers

[msmemory_archive]

I need a string trimmer clue. I'm talking about those Black & Decker electric thingums with a motor and a spool of plastic thread at the end of a handle, used for trimming the edges of the lawn. I had one that was a coupla years old, and it had a problem: instead of feeding more string when I bumped it on the ground, the string would cut off and no more would feed. I could unplug it, re-feed the string, and continue on for a couple feet more, before repeating the whole process. So I figured it was broken, and I bought another one. Straight out of the box, with the spool factory-mounted (so I'm pretty sure it's not on there wrong), I have exactly the same problem with the new device.

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Comments

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Mine does that when vibration has made the wrapping of the string settle wrong (overlapping.) You may have some luck partially re-wrapping the string on the spool, and keeping the string under tension when you install it so it can't settle wrong again. Unfortunately this process of reinstalling takes slightly more than two hands, but you probably can do it with just a little swearing.

That's how I do it, at any rate.

[baron-steffan.livejournal.com]

We've had several weed-whackers, the current and by far the best being a Grass Hog (by B&D, I think?). Awesomely powerful and reliable...BUT...the string feed doesn't work. It's supposed to be automatic, no "bumping" needed.

Which doesn't bother me. Because there's one thing I've learned about weed-whackers. Hear me now and believe me later: THE STRING FEED NEVER WORKS.

When it runs out, you turn the thing upside down, take the cap off the reel, feed a little more string out, re-cap, and go about your business. If anyone has ever found a weed-whacker with a string feed that actually does work, I'd be amused to hear about it.

[eclecticmagpie.livejournal.com]

my feed works. Bumping required. If its ever been refilled, though, refilling it with the wrong size string is a good way to make it stop working.

For the new one, I would guess that Cynthia is right, and that the string has gotten crossed. Instead of rewrappingit, though, I would just manually feed it for a while, and there's a good chance that it will start working again.

[umbran.livejournal.com]

I bought the aforementioned Grass Hog last year - the string feed works fine. No bumping required. Just used it today, in fact, and you could tell by listening to the thing when it decided to feed.

Not knowing anything about your model, though, I cannot speak to it.