Trimmer Head Installation

How to replace, remove the BlackDecker GL716 trimmer head

No matter how well the electric trimmer purchased by us works in a summer cottage or a country house, sooner or later the time will come when we need remove the head trimmer for replacement or prevention. I will make a reservation right away that you do not need to completely remove the trimmer head to replace the fishing line. In this article I will tell you how to completely remove or replace the cutting head using the example of the BlackDecker GL716 electric trimmer.

How to remove the trimmer mowing head.

The design and fastening of the working part of the electric scooter differ significantly from different manufacturers. But given that there are many copies of less well-known brands in our markets, the described procedure may suit owners of other portable garden equipment for lawn and grass care.

How to remove a trimmer head on a BlackDecker GL716.

The trimmer has an overhead engine and curved bar. For ease of use, turn it over with the engine down or lay it horizontally. We disassemble the mowing head. To do this, simultaneously press the side latches and remove the top cover. Disconnect the line spool.

A slightly recessed dark screw is visible in the middle of the head body. We fix the head body with one hand and use an asterisk nozzle to unscrew the screw counterclockwise. If you don’t have a sprocket at hand, you can do this with a wide, flat screwdriver.

Now, pull the trimmer head towards you to remove it. If it sour and sits firmly in place, then add light swaying movements to the efforts, periodically changing the places of their application. Do not use harsh or impact forces. The case is plastic and it is quite easy to damage it.

Tool for changing the trimmer head.

To replace, remove the mowing head from the tool, we need an asterisk nozzle, usually supplied in the kit, or a flat wide screwdriver. Using a hexagon instead of an asterisk will not work, the nozzle slips, licking the edges of the asterisk on the screw.

Fitting the mowing head to the Black Decker trimmer.

Installing the mowing head to the trimmer is carried out in the reverse order. When the screw is replaced, it is tightened with medium force.

I wish you a successful summer cottage season and that the gardening equipment does not let you down. I hope my advice on how to remove the cutting head on the BlackDecker GL716 trimmer has saved you time and hassle.

How to remove the spool and replace the line

Trimmer owners, mostly beginners, find themselves in confusion, bordering on panic, when they need to change the cutting tool or line in the reel. Very often, when trying to unscrew the mowing head, users simply render it unusable, not suspecting that it is unscrewing in the opposite direction. To prevent this from happening, if you need to replace the tool, we recommend that you read the step-by-step instructions below.

Stop the brushcutter engine or power off the electric trimmer before threading the line into the reel to avoid injury from accidental starting rotation of the cutting tool.
Unscrew the nozzle attached to the gearbox shaft. To do this, the shaft must be fixed by aligning the holes on the washer and on the axle, and inserting a metal rod or screwdriver into them.
Unscrew the nozzle. You should be aware that the thread on the shaft is left-hand. Therefore, turn the trimmer coil to the right, that is, clockwise.
Disassemble the mowing head. Most often, the head cover is attached with clips. To remove it, you will need to sink these latches into the case, pressing the edges of the cover. If your trimmer has a semi-automatic mowing head with a button on the bottom, then the disassembly of the attachment should be done carefully, since you can lose the spring, which sometimes flies out when the cover is removed.
Cut off the required amount of line. Usually its length is 5 meters. Use a cord of the same diameter as indicated in the instructions for the tool. It is not recommended to exceed the maximum line diameter as this will result in increased engine stress and higher gas mileage.
Find the midpoint of the line by folding it in half. You will have a loop.
Special grooves are cut inside the coil (there may be holes). Insert a loop of line into this slot.
Wind the line around the spool by turning it counterclockwise. It is necessary to fill in the cord as evenly as possible, the turns should lie down without overlapping and with good tension. When the winding is complete, leave the free ends of the line about 20 cm long and fix them in the grooves on the sides of the reel.
Assemble the mowing head. Remember to insert the spring and washer (if equipped) before final assembly of the accessory. Place the spool in the body and thread the ends of the cord through the holes or eyelets.
Put on the cover and secure it with the latches.
Screw the adapter back onto the gearbox shaft, also securing it with a screwdriver. You will need to twist the trimmer coil to the left (counter-clockwise).

Major coil faults

Users of electric trimmers and petrol cutters often face a problem with a semi-automatic mowing head. Coil malfunctions can be as follows:

The line does not lengthen automatically;
The cord spontaneously comes out of the spool.

DIY trimmer coil repair

A petrol or electric trimmer is the only solution for mowing grass in hard-to-reach places that a wheeled lawnmower cannot handle. As a cutting tool in trimmers, metal knives or a special line are used, which is tucked into the trimmer coil. But, unfortunately, the trimmer heads become unusable over time during operation. Some malfunctions can be eliminated by hand, and some require a complete replacement of the mowing head.

The cord lengthens spontaneously

There are times when the trimmer user notices a very fast line flow. At the same time, he never hit the ground with a button to lengthen the line. The reason for the fact that the line spontaneously lengthens, being cut on a special knife on the casing of the device, may be the absence of a spring in the mowing head. Often, novice users of mowers, trying to load the line into the reel, forget to install the pressure spring in the head, or completely lose it when opening the lid, and in the future, do not even know about its existence.

Trimmer coil device

Trimmer mowing heads come in a variety of designs, both simple and complex. The illustration below shows an exploded view of the semi-automatic trimmer head from a Husqvarna (Husqvarna) brushcutter.

This type of head is present on most mowers and electric trimmers, such as Stihl (Stihl), Patriot (Patriot), Champion (Champion), Bosch (Bosch), Huter (Huter) and others. The device of the mowing head is quite simple. It includes the following details:

Mowing head base;
Button for semi-automatic cord feed;
Bobbin (spool) into which the line is tucked;
Spring;
The eyes through them the line comes out;
Trimmer head cover;
Fishing line (cord).

There are also simpler trim heads as shown in the following.

All these attachments do not allow you to change the length of the line in a semi-automatic mode (after pressing a button). If the cord breaks, you have to stop the mower and change it manually.

Line does not lengthen automatically

If the line does not lengthen when you lightly hit the trimmer button on the ground, then the reasons for this may be the following.

Option 1 a bite occurred, i.E. Clamping the cord between turns. This problem usually appears if the user has been winding the line on the reel unevenly, with intersecting turns, or winding it with insufficient tension. In the latter case, when the mowing head rotates at high speeds under the influence of centrifugal force, the cord begins to tighten, as a result of which inter-turn clamping of the fishing line is possible. To fix the problem, you will have to disassemble the coil on the trimmer and rewind the cord correctly, that is, in even turns with good tension.

Option 2 too short ends protrude from the head. The line may not come out when hitting the ground if the ends sticking out of the head are not long enough (short). In this case, the centrifugal force is not enough to stretch the line. Therefore, it is required to stop the unit (turn off the engine or disconnect the electric trimmer from the mains) and pull the line manually, after pressing the button.

Option 3 the line is brazed inside the mowing head. This causes the coil to lock and not spin when the button is pressed. Basically, this happens for several reasons: poor quality of the cord, overheating of the coil during prolonged operation of the unit, hitting the line against solid objects.

In the first case, third-party cord can be made of low-quality and low-melting materials that cannot withstand mechanical and temperature stress. Therefore, you should give preference to “branded” lines.
But, if you nevertheless purchased a fishing line of unknown quality, and it is often soldered during operation, then you can follow the example of some users who, after filling the cord into the reel, wet it with either silicone grease (from a can) or mineral oil. This procedure greatly reduces the likelihood of the coils of the line being soldered together.
Also, the line can be soldered if it hits a hard object (stone, fence, dry branch, etc.) during mowing. As a result, it stretches a little and is pulled back into the head at high speed. From friction, the cord heats up, and its turns stick together. The only thing that can be done to eliminate this malfunction is to open the trimmer spool and rewind the line.

Device

The device in question is a special configuration reel, which is equipped with an internal cord. It can be of various sizes, it is screwed onto the inner element of the spool up to 15 meters long.

The edges of the line are set at a certain distance to allow work. If it hits solid objects (stones, trees, etc.), the working element is destroyed. Depending on the type of fixture, the heads can have different configurations. The universal analog is suitable for most modifications. This is due to the possibility of using a number of special adapters.

Classification by type of line feed

Husqvarna trimmer heads are classified according to line feed method, namely:

Manual type. The line is fed in this version by a mechanical method. To lengthen the cord, you will need to stop the operation of the device and pull out the edges of the cutting part by hand.
Semi-automatic. Such copies allow changing the cord without touching the head of the ground surface. This option is implemented using a special key and an anchor mechanism, which makes it possible to lengthen the working part of the line due to centrifugal action. It is important that the whole procedure is carried out with the unit turned on.
Automatic trimmer heads are distinguished by the fact that during their operation, the cord lengthening is performed automatically after a decrease in engine speed. The line is fed in the normal mode.

Of the above mechanisms, the manual version is not very practical and convenient. Automatic variations are also not popular due to the high line consumption. The optimal version will be semi-automatic execution.

Features:

The universal trimmer head can be equipped with from two to four holes. They are opposite each other. The ends intended for mowing are derived from these elements. In addition to these types of bobbins, there is a head designed for a certain size of the scaffold. In such coils, the number of whiskers increases to a dozen. Among users, opinions were divided about such devices.

Some consider such a unit to be more efficient. Others are sure that the line consumption will be significantly higher with a dubious improvement in the quality of work. In addition, the process will need to be interrupted to replace the scaffold. Consider terrain and vegetation characteristics when choosing a trimmer. After that, you can choose the option that best suits a particular situation.

Popular models

Consider briefly the representatives of the most famous bobbin manufacturers on the domestic market:

Trimmer head Oleo-Mac М-10 / 11.25. This model belongs to the professional semi-automatic options, is used when operating a brushcutter. The diameter of the working part is 13 centimeters, it is characterized by fast line threading.
Husqvarna T-45X has an open eyelet, easy line feed. Work items can be changed individually. Increased reliability and reduced wear are provided by a ball bearing surface.
Husqvarna T-35. This model is an auto-feed head (just lightly hit the reel on the ground). There is a tap and go function.
Champion. Modification ET 1002KA belongs to the middle price category. Differs in ease of disassembly, strong vibration is not felt during operation.
Trimmer head DDE. The variant of the Win 6 type is designed for mowing grass with a line with a diameter of 2-3 mm. Suitable for electric and gasoline mowers with a 10 mm working shaft. The maximum permissible speed on the shaft is 10 thousand rotations per minute.
Autocut С-4-2. This head is suitable for Stihl brushcutters, used for mowing grass and cleaning the territory. There is an automatic adjustment of the length of the working strings when the head touches the ground. Compatible with 2mm line.

Description

Trimmer heads include a cutting element, a special bar, a propeller and a control mechanism with a handle. The unit is designed for cutting grass in the courtyard and garden areas. The compactness of the device and ease of control allow you to do high-quality work in the most inaccessible places. With this unit, you can also prune shrubs and young gardens. Adjustable elements allow you to set the required cutting height of grass on lawns and sites.

When choosing trimmer heads, pay attention to the following parameters:

Power indicator.
The mass of the device.
Type of food.
Engine placement, which can be either top or bottom.
A type of cutting part.
Rod type.

Exploitation

When the cord meets solid objects, it sharply stops, as a result of which the scaffold gets into the device. It lies under the spool and sticks together. To rectify the situation, you will need to stop work and re-lay the line. As a prevention of such inconveniences, it is recommended to treat the forest with silicone grease before installing it into the reel.

In the device of the Autocut trimmer head, like other semi-automatic models, there are two parts of the main element: the body and the spool. Spring mechanisms are provided in both parts. The spool can be run in several configurations:

Modifications with one section. In this case, both ends of the line are wound together.
Models with a pair of compartments. In them, each edge is wound on a specific element. This design is more efficient, avoids wood tangling and sintering.

It is quite feasible to redesign a single section spool to a dual chamber version. This will require a strong plate from which a circle with a diameter identical to the thickness of the spool is cut. This part is in free movement. Then a cut is made on the ring, mounted on the head and fixed with tape or glue.

Popular models

Consider briefly the representatives of the most famous bobbin manufacturers on the domestic market:

Trimmer head Oleo-Mac М-10 / 11.25. This model belongs to the professional semi-automatic options, is used when operating a brushcutter. The diameter of the working part is 13 centimeters, it is characterized by fast line threading.
Husqvarna T-45X has an open eyelet, easy line feed. Work items can be changed individually. Increased reliability and reduced wear are provided by a ball bearing surface.
Husqvarna T-35. This model is an auto-feed head (just lightly hit the reel on the ground). There is a tap and go function.
Champion. Modification ET 1002KA belongs to the middle price category. Differs in ease of disassembly, strong vibration is not felt during operation.
Trimmer head DDE. The variant of the Win 6 type is designed for mowing grass with a line with a diameter of 2-3 mm. Suitable for electric and gasoline mowers with a 10 mm working shaft. The maximum permissible speed on the shaft is 10 thousand rotations per minute.
Autocut С-4-2. This head is suitable for Stihl brushcutters, used for mowing grass and cleaning the territory. There is an automatic adjustment of the length of the working strings when the head touches the ground. Compatible with 2mm line.

Criterias of choice

When purchasing Champion trimmer heads and other models, you need to focus on the purpose of using the unit. For a large area with a flat lawn surface, it is better to use light and not very powerful modifications. If it is planned to process an overgrown summer cottage, it is more reasonable to take a model with a high power indicator.

The selection of the cutting element also plays an important role in the final functionality of the unit. The working part is a special line or working knives. This takes into account the rigidity and density of the plants. The universal trimmer head will allow you to process most of the vegetation, but it does not always differ in durability and efficiency.

Device

The device in question is a special configuration reel, which is equipped with an internal cord. It can be of various sizes, it is screwed onto the inner element of the spool up to 15 meters long.

Classification by type of line feed

Husqvarna trimmer heads are classified according to line feed method, namely:

Manual type. The line is fed in this version by a mechanical method. To lengthen the cord, you will need to stop the operation of the device and pull out the edges of the cutting part by hand.
Semi-automatic. Such copies allow changing the cord without touching the head of the ground surface. This option is implemented using a special key and an anchor mechanism, which makes it possible to lengthen the working part of the line due to centrifugal action. It is important that the whole procedure is carried out with the unit turned on.
Automatic trimmer heads are distinguished by the fact that during their operation, the cord lengthening is performed automatically after a decrease in engine speed. The line is fed in the normal mode.