Reels (heads) for trimmers
Mowing heads with integrated lines, along with blades and discs, are part of the cutting attachments for trimmers. The main function of heads, or as they are often called reels, is to quickly and accurately mow the grass. There are different kinds of mowing heads on the market today. They are basically divided into the principle of feeding and charging the lines. This classification makes it possible to choose the best mowing head for almost any novice gardener.
Most amateur and household brushcutters are distinguished by a simple device. They consist of an engine, a rod in which there is a flexible or rigid drive shaft, a handle and a cutting organ, the role of which is often played by the trimmer head for grass. According to the principle of filament feeding heads are divided among themselves into the following types:
- Manual. this type of headset gets its name from the fact that the cutting cord in it is fed manually. Each time you need to lengthen a line for your trimmer, the operator must stop working with the trimmer and pull it out mechanically. This brings its own inconveniences, but it is the type of device that is considered the most popular among gardeners. Hand reels differ from their counterparts in durability and low prices;
- Semi-automatic. with this type of head you can extend the cord by pressing the headset on the ground. During this, a button is pressed, which activates the anchoring mechanism. It creates a centrifugal force that pushes the cord outward. Semi-automatic trimmer head for grass has one important advantage. when using it, you do not need to stop working with the brushcutter, as you can extend the line for the trimmer while the engine is running. The only disadvantage. semi-automatic cutting headsets cost a little more than manual reels;
- Automatic. this type of head is easy to operate. To extend the cord, the operator only needs to reduce the engine speed of the brushcutter. The automatic factory grass trimmer reel differs from its counterparts in its ease of use. However, the for this type of headset are the highest on the market.
Each of listed types of cutting heads is suitable for use in different conditions. Manual heads are best used in areas with hard obstacles. The low cost of this type of headset will make it possible to buy several manual heads at once, and alternately replace them as they break down. Automatic models, on the contrary, are quite expensive, so they are best used for maintaining clean areas.
Types of semi-automatic heads
The mowing head of the semi-automatic type. usually consists of a body, inside of which there are several springs and a bobbin. The bobbins, by their design, are divided into:
Many home trimmer owners convert single section bobbins to two section bobbins. To do this, you will need to find a solid metal plate, and draw an outline on it with the diameter of the bobbin. After that, the plate is cut on the contour so that the thickness is near the place where the cord is wound. As a result, the resulting circle should move freely around its axis. Then it is necessary to make a cut on the resulting ring and slip the bobbin inside the ring. The two parts should be connected to each other with tape or quick-drying glue. As a result, the maker will have a bobbin, in which the line for the trimmer can be wound into two sections.
Choosing a line for your trimmer
Proper threading the line in the grass trimmer also depends on its quality and the exact match between the thread and the model of grass trimmer. Generally, trimmer lines are available in thicknesses from 1.2 to 4 mm. What is the maximum diameter that is suitable for your grasshopper, you can find in the instruction manual. It is highly discouraged to mechanically enlarge the thread opening in order to use thicker lines. This can cause the engine of the brushcutter to burn out or work intermittently. Look carefully at the cross section of the line, it may be round or ribbed (square, “star”). A cutter line is good for tougher grass and weeds. But if the grass is too thick, it is better to use a brushcutter with a cutter.
Some fishing lines have quite sharp edges, so you should wear gloves when filling up the spool to avoid injury.
How to remove a line for a trimmer
To change the trimmer line in your trimmer, remove the head cover. To do this, press the latches on both sides of the lid with your fingers and pull the lid upwards. Access to the spool is opened. Then pull it out by pulling up on the axis on which the bobbin sits. If the ends of the line are sticking out of the holes in the head, lift the reel off its axis and pull the rest of the line inward from the holes in the head. Now the part does not hold anything and it is easy to remove it and remove the remaining working thread.
The spool is divided into two parts by a central cut-out partition. Different models have different size parts, so you need to check how much line can be wound on the bobbin. Its length varies between 1 and 4 meters.
Types of trimmer heads for spools
The main element of the trigger is the mowing head, which is a cylindrical body with a spool (bobbin) inserted inside. The line for the trimmer (cord) is tucked into the head. Heads differ in the way they feed and thread. There are three main types of reel heads:
- Automatic. The filament is fed after that, as the user reduces the engine speed. Automatic cord feed is very convenient when you need to do a large amount of work. The disadvantage of this head is the high consumption of thread.
- Semi-automatic. Using this head does not require the user to do any complicated manipulations. The principle of its work is arranged so that the line for the trimmer begins to extend automatically at a time when the trimmer for grass works at full speed. You just have to hit the head of the device on the ground (this releases the blocking of the line), and the cord due to centrifugal force moves out of the bobbin. Then the line for the trimmer is cut to the required length with a knife, which is located on the protective cover.
- Manual. To extend the cord, you need to stop the machine. After that, the line for the trimmer will need to be pulled by hand.
Types of trimmer reels
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How to remove the spool from the grass trimmer and extract the fishing line for the trimmer
Initially, before you tuck the line for the trimmer into the grass trimmer spool, it must be removed from there. The spool or guide is a device that is inside the mowing head, spool or reel. There are different kinds of heads (depending on the manufacturers), but the principle of replacing the line on the spool is the same in all. First, let’s see how to remove the head from the tool, as well as how to remove the reel with the fishing line.
This is interesting! You can replace the rigging directly on the tool, but if you are doing it for the first time, it is still recommended to remove the head, and study the detailed process of winding. After the technology is mastered, you can perform replacement work on the trimmer trimmer or gasoline mower.
The instructions on how to unscrew the manual head on the trimmer is as follows:
- Turn the tool upside down and, if necessary, clean the head. Grasp with two fingers of one hand the lid locks (on the mowing head), which are located symmetrically to each other. After lightly pressing them in, remove the protective cover from the reel
- Next, the fishing line spool should be removed from the reel shaft. It is seated on the shaft without fasteners, so it can be removed with one hand
- The main part of the drum is fastened with a screw that needs to be unscrewed with a screwdriver and a suitable bit
- To unscrew it, hold the base of the drum with one hand and turn it counterclockwise with the other
- After that you can proceed with the disassembly. To do this, do not pull it with all your might, but wiggle it slightly sideways to slowly disengage it from the metal shaft on which the drum is seated
- When reinstalling, the head should be seated in the slots of the square shaped head
This process is not difficult, and as you understand, there is no need to dismantle the entire head, if you know how to perform the replacement. When dismantling, consider such nuances:
- Periodic removal of the head is recommended to prevent corrosion of the threaded joint. If you never unscrew the screw, it will be difficult and even sometimes impossible to do so if necessary
- If the screw has a square head boring, then to unscrew it, you should pick up a screwdriver or bits of the appropriate size to avoid slipping edges on the head
- When reassembling the unit, you should treat the threaded seating with lubricants, such as solidol or machine oil
- if the facets on the screw have slipped off, special tongs can be used to unscrew it
- There are some drums that do not require disassembly. To remove them, take hold of it, and rotate it in the opposite direction of the clockwise direction
Knowing how to disassemble the drum, you should continue to figure out the process of replacing the grass trimmer line. The video below shows a detailed process on how to open the grass trimmer reel and disassemble it.
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How to remove the reel from the grass trimmer and extract the line for the trimmer
Initially, before you tuck the line for the trimmer into the grass trimmer spool, you need to remove it from there. A reel or tip is a device that sits inside a mowing head, reel or drum. There are different kinds of heads (depending on the manufacturer), but the principle of changing the line on the spool is the same for all. The first thing to understand is how to remove the head from the tool, as well as how to get the drum with the fishing line out of it.
This is interesting! You can change the line directly on the tool, but if you are doing it for the first time, it is still recommended to remove the head, and study the detailed process of winding. After the technology has been mastered, it is possible to perform replacement work on the trimmer trimmer trimmer or gasoline cutter.
The instructions on how to untwist the manual head on a trimmer are as follows:
- Turn the tool upside down and, if necessary, clean the head. Grasp the cover locks (on the mowing head) symmetrically with two fingers of one hand. After gently pressing them in, remove the protective cap from the reel
- Next, remove the spool of fishing line from the reel shaft. It is seated on the shaft without fasteners, so it can be removed with one hand
- The main part of the drum is fastened with a screw that needs to be unscrewed with a screwdriver and a suitable screwdriver tip or a bit
- To unscrew it, hold the base of the drum with one hand and unscrew it counterclockwise with the screwdriver with the other hand
- After this, you can begin to dismantle it. To do this, do not pull it with all your might, and slowly wiggle it sideways to disengage it from the metal shaft on which the reel is seated
- When reinstalling, fit the head into the slots of the square shaped
This process is not difficult and as you understand it is not necessary to remove the entire head if you know how to perform the replacement. When disassembling, keep in mind the following nuances:
- It is advisable to periodically remove the head to prevent corrosion of the threaded joint. If you have never unscrewed a screw, it can be difficult or even impossible to do so, if necessary
- If the screw has a square head bore, then a screwdriver or bit of the right size should be used to unscrew it, so as not to slip the facets on the head
- When reassembling the system, the threaded seating should be coated with a lubricant, e.g. grease or machine oil
- If the edges on the screw have worn off, you can use special tongs to unscrew it
- There are reels that do not require disassembly. To remove them, take hold of it, and rotate in the opposite direction of the clockwise direction
Knowing how to disassemble the reel, you should continue to figure out the process of replacing the grass trimmer’s fishing line. The video below shows a detailed process on how to open the grass trimmer reel and disassemble it.
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Choosing a fishing line
In order to successfully thread fishing line into your trimmer head, it’s important to choose the right line. The thicker the cord you thread, the thicker and tougher the grass it can cut. A universal line for the trimmer with a diameter of 2 mm is often used. You can find the right diameter for your mower in the following ways:
- For information on line thickness, please refer to the instruction manual supplied with your trimmer.
- Pay attention to the bobbin itself. Sometimes it has information about the possible line diameters.
- Another option is to try to insert the cord into the outlet hole. If it easily passes into it, then the chosen diameter of the line is suitable for use.
Reel for grass trimmer
Choose a cord according to the type of engine. If the line for the trimmer will be too thick, then the resistance to rotation will increase. the motor in this case will be greatly overheated and will soon fail. Helpful tips:
- For an electric device with a motor less than 500 V, a 1.3 mm thick fishing line will do. If you can’t find one, you can use a 1.6-mm line for your trimmer. If you have more than 1 kW, you should choose a 2 mm cord.
- With a gasoline grass trimmer, the shaft mower matters. For the bent version is often used cord at 2 mm. If the shaft is straight, then install the thread 2.4-2.5 or 3 mm. The thickest line for the trimmer is installed on powerful devices. from 1.3 kW.
Pay attention to the type of cross-section of the cord. Some popular options:
- The most common lines with a circular cross-section. They are good for mowing fresh grass, but are less good for mowing shrubs, dead wood.
- Twisted (spiral) cord is not very strong, but not bad for thin young grass.
- A serrated, sharp-edged line is ideal for large weeds in a neglected area.
- Rectangular, starred or square grass trimmer lines are the smoother way to mow lawns, but they are not very strong.
- The strongest cord is the two-piece cord with an inner core and a circular cross-section.
Grass trimmer lines
Note that you can’t use wire, metal cords and ropes, or ordinary fishing line instead. The device will be dangerous for both the user and others. This way the rope or similar products will gradually start to snap, and as a result their ends will unravel, and small pieces will fly apart with great speed.
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Choose a fishing line
In order for the threading of the fishing line in the trimmer head to be successful, it is important not to miscalculate the choice of consumables. The thicker you feed the cord, the thicker and harder the grass it can cut. Often a universal trimmer line with a diameter of 2 mm is used. You can find the right diameter for your mower in the following ways:
- Check the manual that comes with your trimmer for information on line thickness.
- Note the bobbin itself. Sometimes it is labeled with information about the possible line diameters.
- Another option is to try inserting the cord into the outlet hole. If it fits through easily, then the selected line diameter is suitable.
A reel for a grass trimmer
You can choose the cord according to the type of engine. If the line for the trimmer will be too thick, then the resistance to rotation will increase. the engine in this case will overheat greatly and will soon fail. Useful recommendations:
- A 1.3 mm thick filament is fine for an electric device with a less than 500 V motor. If you can not find one, you can use a 1.6 mm line for a trimmer. If more than 1 kW, choose 2mm cord.
- The gasoline grass trimmer has a shaft mower. For the bent version, a cord of 2 mm is often used. If the shaft is straight, then install a 2.4-2.5 or 3 mm cord. The thickest line for the trimmer is installed on powerful devices. from 1.3 kW.
Pay attention to the type of cord cross section as well. Some popular options:
- The most common lines with a round section. They cut fresh grass well, but are poorly suited for shrubs and dead wood.
- Twisted (spiral) cord is not very strong, but not bad for thin young grass.
- Serrated cord with sharp edges is ideal for large weeds in a neglected area.
- You can mow the lawn more evenly with a rectangular, star or square grass trimmer line, but they are not very durable.
- The strongest is a two-piece cord with an inner core and a circular section.
Types of lines for grass trimmer
Note that you can’t use wire, metal strings and rope, or ordinary fishing line instead of fishing line. The device will be dangerous for both the user and others. So the cord or similar products will gradually start to trip, causing their ends to unravel and the small pieces to fly off at a high rate of speed.
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How the head works with the line on the brushcutter, why it is necessary to know the principle of operation
Depending on the manufacturer, the heads are not only different on the outside, but also on the inside. Most reels have a pressure spring inside (semi-automatic and automatic). Above is the instruction on how to disassemble the grass trimmer head without the spring, i.e.е. on a handheld-type head. The principle of dismounting a semi-automatic head with a spring inside is almost identical to the above instruction.
The principle of operation of the semi-automatic grass trimmer reel is as follows:
- Inside the head there is a spool, which is mounted on slits preventing its free movement
- The reel is affected by the spring, which presses it to the slits in the design of the cover
- A line for the trimmer is wound on the lead, the length of which depends on the tool itself. This length is usually 1 to 4 meters
- During work, if the length of the line needs to be increased, the protruding part of the reel is pressed, by which it is disengaged from the slits. At the same time, the line for the trimmer is reeled off the drum, increasing in length
- After releasing the necessary amount of line, release the clamp and continue mowing the grass
The advantage of a fishing line tool is that this consumable does not require sharpening, compared to metal discs. In addition, if a stone or wood gets in the way, the line for the trimmer simply comes off, without negatively affecting the gearbox and engine of the tool, as it happens in the case of metal cutting discs.
Knowing the construction and design of the types of mowing or trimmer heads, it is necessary to go on to consider the process of threading the line into the grass trimmer reel. After all, this is the moment most owners of special tools cause difficulties.
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How to wind a line for a trimmer on a grass trimmer spool?
The second method is a little more difficult to perform independently.
Wind the grass trimmer cord in the following order:
- First, you will need to cut about 6 m of cord from the total amount, and bend it. In this case, one of the parts should be slightly larger than the second;
- The thread, where it was bent, would then be inserted into the recess located on the separating edge between the two sections of the bobbin. As a result, the first part of the segment should be in the upper section of the bobbin, and the second part should be in the lower section of the bobbin;
- After that you need to start winding the lines. Do this in the direction of the arrow on the bobbin case. During winding the line must not become tangled. The upper part of the piece should be carefully wound onto the top section of the bobbin, and the lower part should be wound onto the lower section of the bobbin. After this should be left free two 15-cm pieces of cord;
- Next, the remaining ends will need to be inserted into the notches located at the top of the bobbin;
- Then you need to slip the fixed ends into the through holes of the grass trimmer’s mowing head.
At the end it is necessary to connect all parts of the mowing head and pull each end of the line a bit towards yourself. The finished spool will need to be installed on the grass trimmer and continue to work on the area.
How to tuck the trimmer line into the grass trimmer reel?
The third method is suitable for threading single-section mower spools.
All actions should be performed in the following order:
- First of all you need to disassemble the mowing head, then you need to clean it of grass, small debris and remnants of old cord;
- Next, you need to cut about 10 m of new fishing line from the total amount and bend it in half. As a result, one hand must hold both ends of the line and the bend;
- After that you need to find a notch in the bobbin. In the one-piece mowing head it is on the top or on the bottom. Next to the notch should be an arrow that indicates in which direction to wind the cord;
- Then you need to start winding the line. During installation, the line for the trimmer should not bend or hang down. Otherwise it will constantly pop out of the spool;
- After winding the cord in the hands of the operator should remain 2 ends, 10-15 cm long;
- These ends must be slipped into the through holes located in the side walls of the upper part of the coil, opposite each other;
- After that, you need to assemble the spool. In this case, its spring must exactly stand between the two metal washers.
The finished one-section coil will need to be installed on the household grass trimmer, after which you can continue to mow vegetation on the site.
Grass trimmer reel design
Mowing heads for trimmers come in different designs. both simple and complex. The picture below shows a semi-automatic trimmer head from a Husqvarna brushcutter (Husqvarna) disassembled.
This type of head is present in the package of the majority of gasoline mowers and electric trimmers, such as STIHL (STIHL), Patriot (Patriot), Champion (Champion), Bosch (Bosch), Huter (Huter) and others. The design of the mowing head is quite simple. It includes the following parts:
- The base of the mowing head;
- button for semi-automatic filament feeding;
- A bobbin (spool) into which the line for the trimmer is threaded;
- the spring;
- eyelets. through them the line for the trimmer comes out;
- The cover of the trimmer head;
- trimmer line (cord).
There are also simpler trimmer heads, shown in the following photo.
All these attachments do not allow you to change the length of the line in semi-automatic mode (after pressing a button). If the cord breaks, you have to stop the mower and change it manually.
Preparing for replacement
To make it clear, the mowing head (the bobbin) was removed from the brushcutter. To change the line it is not necessary to remove it, everything is done on the spot. It doesn’t take much time.
Dismantle the grass trimmer bobbin. it is held in place by latches. To remove the lid, push on the catches. If you can’t do it with your hands, use a screwdriver.
The bobbin consists of the following:
The principle is as follows. Pressing the button, the bobbin presses on the spring and comes out of the fixing grooves in the bobbin cover. Holding in this state, the spool can be twisted, thereby adjusting the length of the line. When the button is released, the body spring returns the reel to its original locked position.
Performing the spooling of the line
Unhurriedly completed disassembly of the bobbin-spool without losing any of its parts allows you to proceed to the main task. reeling in the line. Technological features of the bobbin design and the number of working eyes determine the sequence of actions.
Reel with one operating rod
The simplest option and uncomplicated sequence of actions:
- Size of the bobbin and length of the original reel determine the recommended length of the line for reeling. 25 m.
- One end of the line slides into the locking technological hole located inside the bobbin.
- line is wound on the reel in the opposite direction of the bobbin’s rotation of the trimmer’s product, as a rule, on the inner side of the reel there is an arrow showing in what direction the line is wound.
- A small section of fishing line is left free for its exit. it is fixed in a specialized groove on the inside of the bobbin, designed to hold the winding when assembling the bobbin into working condition.
- The leftover end of the line is threaded through the hole in the outer half of the bobbin.
- The halves of the bobbin are assembled and put on the rod of the trimmer.
A spool with two working tendrils
In this type of bobbin, you should determine the number of line winding grooves that lie on the inside of the bobbin:
For both cases, a 2-3 m trimmer line is taken. On single-cable spools the line for the trimmer is fed through the hole, its ends (tendrils) are put together and aligned, then wound in the opposite direction of rotation of the bobbin on the boom. an arrow inside usually indicates the correct winding direction. If there are fixing grooves, the ends of the line are pushed through or held by the fingers of a free hand, put through the through hole of the outer half of the bobbin, the bobbin is closed and fastened to the rod of the trimmer product.
The difference of spooling of line in two-channel spools is that initially a piece of line with 2-5 m length is folded in half (to define the middle fold), and a loop of the fold is inserted in a special groove between the grooves. Both line tendrils are wound on their own groove, the fixing of the tendrils and the spool assembly is similar to the above variant with one groove.
The first performance of this procedure may seem to be long and rather laborious, but with time and experience this task will be solved much faster and easier.
The video below will clearly show you how to tuck the line for the trimmer into the grass trimmer spool and properly wind it. this operation is not anything complicated and with some patience is sure to succeed:
After the cutting filament has worn as a result of operation, turn off the mower and remove the cover on the mowing head. Pull the fishing line out of the slot, pulling it out to the desired length, and reinsert it into the slot. The amount of material wound on the spool is enough for 5-10 cycles of work, depending on the model of the device. When replacing the cover, carefully check whether the grooves where the clamps are inserted are not clogged, if they are, clean them thoroughly.
When the line for the trimmer is worn out, it is necessary again to disassemble the mowing head, pull out the spool and rewind the working line for the trimmer on it.
grass trimmer is the most common unit used for mowing grass and cutting small bushes. The grass trimmer is easy to operate, simple to operate and thanks to its low weight even women can cope with it. It is no secret that for quality work on grass mowing, the right choice of cutting tools is required. As the latter, trimmers use special cutting nozzles (discs, knives) or trimmer heads with a fishing line inside. Accessories and line for the trimmer. it is an expendable tool, but if the blades can be sharpened, then when using up the line is required to replace it. In this article we will tell you in detail how to change the line for your trimmer.
How to remove the spool and replace the line for the trimmer
Owners of trimmers, mainly beginners, get confused, bordering on panic, when it becomes necessary to change cutting tools or line for a trimmer in a reel. Very often when trying to unscrew the mowing head, users simply cause it to fail, unaware that it unscrews in the opposite direction. To prevent this from happening in the event that replacement tools are needed, we recommend that you read the step-by-step instructions below.
- Before you tuck the trimmer line into the spool, turn off the brushcutter engine or de-energize the electric grass trimmer to avoid injuries that can occur if you accidentally start the cutting tool’s rotation.
- Unscrew the nozzle attached to the gearbox shaft. To do this, the shaft must be secured by aligning the holes on the washer and on the shaft and inserting a metal bar or screwdriver.