There are many reasons you might need to change the string on your weed eater. Perhaps you keep tripping the cord or maybe the old string is fraying and about to snap. Whatever the reason, changing the string on a weed eater is not as complicated as you might think. In fact, with a little bit of preparation and some know-how, you can complete the job in approximately 20 minutes. It’s an easy project perfect for any homeowner with basic tools and minor repair skills. Before you get started, make sure that you have a replacement spool of .135″-diameter monofilament line and an Allen wrench that fits your weed eater brand. Here’s what you need to know about changing the string on your weed eater.
How To Change The String On A Weed Eater
Prepare to Remove the String
Before you begin, it’s important to understand a few things about your weed eater’s string. First, there are two types of string: round and square. The different types of string are designed to fit specific models of weed eaters. If you don’t know which type is on your weed eater, you can check the side of the tool with a picture of a weed eater on it. You will find two pictures of round and square strings side by side. The picture on the left shows a round string and the one on the right shows a square string.
Remove Your Weed Eater
If your weed eater has been in storage for a while and is not working, it’s best to remove it and let it sit for at least 24 hours before starting any repairs or maintenance projects with it. This will give all components time to cool down after being used over an extended period of time. When you remove your weed eater from storage, make sure that you disconnect all power cords and other cords before removing the tool from its base or stand.
Remove Your String
When removing your old string, place some masking tape around where you want to cut off the frayed end so that when you cut it off, all traces of fraying are removed without damaging anything else in your yard or home while cutting through the old rope with an ordinary pair of scissors or utility knife. To remove your old string, loosen the string tension by turning the screw in the middle of the string tension knob. Then, pull on the string to remove it from your weed eater.
Install New String
When you remove your old string, you will notice that there is a small hole in the middle of it where you can put a new spool of monofilament line through. This is where you will insert your new spool into your weed eater and then turn it clockwise until tight enough to cut grass without any fraying or breaking. To install your new spool, insert it into the hole and then tighten it with an Allen wrench that fits your weed eater’s base.
Reattach Your Weed Eater
Reattach all cords and power cords to their original locations before turning on your weed eater for the first time after completing this project. Then, turn on your weed eater and test its operation before using it again for any purpose other than testing its operation after replacing its string. If you find that there are problems with how your weed eater cuts grass now that you have changed its string, clean out any debris from around the blade and make sure that all screws are tight before replacing them if they need tightening up as well or if they do not need tightening at all (if this happens). When everything looks good again and you have tested everything thoroughly, use a nylon cord to tie off both ends of every cord so that there is no chance for them to get tangled up, causing you to have a problem with your weed eater while using it. This is especially important if you are going to be using your weed eater in wet or icy conditions.
Clean Your Weed Eater Tool
When storing your weed eater after using it, clean out any debris or grass clippings from around where your new string was installed on each side of where you cut off your old string with a pair of needle nose pliers by removing any debris that may be stuck between two rivets on the bottom side of each side of where you installed new string above ground level when replacing old string.
Check Weed Eater String Tension
- Turn your weed eater off and remove the spark plug.
- Remove the spark plug cap and the spark plug wire.
- Loosen the screw on the left side of your weed eater housing with an Allen wrench. Slide the screw out of its hole to remove it from the housing.
- With a pair of pliers, pull out your old spool of string from your weed eater housing.
- Remove your old spool from a plastic bag and discard it in a trash can or recycling bin as soon as you’re done using it for this project (discard an empty plastic bag too).
- Thread your new spool onto a plastic bag and tie it off with some string or twine to keep it from falling into any holes in the bottom of your weed eater housing.
Check Weed Eater String Tension
- Lay the weed eater on its side in a safe area. It’s a good idea to have a helper nearby.
- Loosen the handle grip with an Allen wrench and pull the handle away from the body of the weed eater.
- This will expose the head of your weed eater. Look for a small hole in one side of the body of your weed eater, directly above where your string enters it. This is where you’ll insert your new line spool and tension adjuster to change out your string.
- Insert your new spool into this hole and then thread it under the tension adjuster knob and back through the hole in the body to hold it in place while you tighten up the knob on the tension adjuster with an Allen wrench (see photos below). When you are finished tightening, be sure that there is no slack in the line or that it isn’t twisted or caught on any part of the machine.
- Once you have turned the knob on the tension adjuster all the way down, use an Allen wrench again to tighten up the knob underneath the tension adjuster until there is no slacker in the line or it can’t be twisted around anything inside the machine.
- Next, remove the tension adjuster from the machine by turning the knob clockwise until it comes free from the head of the weed eater.
- Finally, remove the spool from the weed eater body by turning the spool counter-clockwise and pulling it out from under the tension adjuster knob.
Disassemble The Weed Eater
- Remove the motor assembly. This can be done by simply removing the four bolts on the front of your weed eater, or you can remove a few additional screws and brackets that are located in different places around the unit. Once all of the screws come out, pull the motor assembly away from your weed eater so that you can access the bottom of it.
- Remove all of your old string from where it is attached to your weed eater’s spool, and take it with you to store in a safe place. If you don’t have a spare spool of monofilament line, then make sure to purchase a new line before changing out your string.
- Remove any debris and pieces of grass that might be clogging up any areas around your shaft drive or auger in order to prevent debris from getting caught inside when you install a new string. I recommend taking apart every piece as much as possible so that there is no chance for any small pieces or debris to get stuck in between parts of your shaft drive or auger during reassembly later on down the road. Also, make sure not to get debris caught inside when installing new string so that it doesn’t become tangled up with other pieces while working on other parts of your weed eater later on in this project.
- Remove all nuts, bolts, and screws holding together any components inside your shaft drive or auger housing area—this includes anything attached directly to these components.
- Pull the shaft drive or auger out of the bottom of your weed eater so that it’s facing up and away from you.
- Remove any screws holding down the shaft drive or auger and set it aside so that you can access all of the components inside your shaft drive or auger housing area.
Conclusion
Changing the string on a weed eater is an easy do-it-yourself project. It can either be done at home or at your local repair shop. A weed eater is a great tool to have around the yard and can help you get the job done quicker and more efficiently.