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string trimmer doesn't feed itself automatically

15 years ago

I tried my new string trimmer along one side of the foundation for 10 minutes carefully (my house is not big at all. It took me a lot of time doing it, since I am a newbie). It worked great. Then, I edged for 10 ft; it took me 5 minutes. Then, the string became shorter and shorter. Then, it was not working well at all; the string was so short. The instruction says that it will automatically feed when it wears by hitting ground or something. Well, it does not. I don't know what to do.....

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Comments (7)

stinkytiger
15 years ago
Hi,

The tap and feed heads on the trimmer are sensitive to how you wound the plastic strimmer cord. First off did you wind the cord the correct way around the spool? Second did you wind the cord nice and tidy with no overlaps.

I have been at this game for about three years now, and I still get this bit wrong. Sometimes it feeds like a dream, sometimetimes I have to stop the trimmer to help it along. Usually I find the feed failure to be a crossed strand on the spool inside, effectively stopping any unwinding of the cord.

Best, Mike.
chueh
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, I did not open the spool to check how it is wound, for I thought however it came out of the manufacturer would be in perfect condition. I will check it. Thanks
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chueh
Original Author
15 years ago
I checked the spool and the string. The string looked neatly wound. I am just not sure why it did not automatically feed? I tried pulling the string out after I reassembled it; I had no problem pulling it out. IS there a certain why i have to do in order to make it automatically feed?
ccecilm
15 years ago
I have to have my engine running at full speed when I "bump" it to let out line. Also, I always try to "bump out" new string when it gets down to about a 4" length.
stinkytiger
15 years ago
Hi,

I also agree with cceilm. The cord feeds out on centriperal force, i.e. the weight of the line spinning around pulls out more line. If you are spining at low revs there is less pulling force. Also if you have very little line out when you bump there is also less pulling force.

So try spining at full speed when you bump, also do not wait untill you have little line left to bump.

Best, Mike.
gorper99
15 years ago
Do it the easy way.With trimmer shut off-Turn it over,push in the button and pull it out by hand.I have a Stihl and went to the other head.Has 2 shorter pieces that push in by hand.
rustyj14
15 years ago
By saying you have to "bump" it, it means you have to slam the cutting head on the grass with the engine running at nearly full speed. This will allow the string to feed out, and then you go on cutting, until the string gets broken off to a shorter length, then do it again!
Thats the way they are made!!
Sheesh!
by: Rusty Jones, the Mower Man

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