How to Restring a Weed Eater: Complete Guide

Running out of trimmer line in the middle of a job is annoying. Rewinding the spool is a 5-minute job once you know the technique — but it's easy to get wrong. Here's how to do it correctly for both bump-feed and fixed-head trimmers.

Know Your Trimmer Head

There are two common types:

Bump-feed (most common): You tap the head on the ground to feed more line. The line is wound on a spool inside the head. This is the type most homeowners have.

Fixed-line head: You cut pre-measured pieces of line and insert them into the head. No winding required. Common on commercial trimmers and some newer homeowner models.

Choosing the Right Line

Using the wrong line size causes problems:

• Too thick — the line won't feed through the eyelets and can jam the head
• Too thin — the line breaks too easily and you'll be reloading constantly

Check your owner's manual for the correct line diameter. Common sizes:

• 0.065"–0.080" — light-duty electric and small gas trimmers
• 0.080"–0.095" — standard gas trimmers (most common)
• 0.105"+ — heavy-duty and commercial trimmers

Line also comes in different shapes — round (most common, durable), twisted (cuts cleaner, less drag), and serrated (cuts thick weeds better). Round line is fine for most homeowners.

How to Rewind a Bump-Feed Spool

Step 1: Remove the Spool

1. Turn off the engine (or unplug an electric trimmer) and disconnect the spark plug (gas models)
2. Press the tabs on the side of the trimmer head to release the spool. On some models, you unscrew the center cap.
3. Lift out the spool and remove any remaining old line.
4. Clean the spool and head — remove grass and debris that can interfere with feeding.

Step 2: Cut the New Line

Cut a length of line as specified in your manual — typically 10–15 feet for a standard spool. Cutting too much line causes it to jam; too little and you'll be reloading often.

Step 3: Wind the Spool

This is the step people get wrong. The direction matters:

1. Find the winding direction — there's usually an arrow on the spool that indicates which direction to wind. If not, check your manual.
2. Insert one end of the line into the anchor hole on the spool
3. Wind the line in the direction of the arrow, keeping the line tight and even. Don't cross the line over itself — lay it in neat, parallel rows. Overlapping line causes tangles and jamming.
4. Leave 4–6 inches unwound at the end
5. Hook the end into the notch on the spool (if equipped) to hold it while you reassemble

Step 4: Reassemble the Head

1. Thread the line ends through the eyelets on the trimmer head (the metal or plastic holes on the sides)
2. Insert the spool back into the head, making sure the line feeds out through the eyelets
3. Release the line from the notches and pull it tight
4. Snap or screw the head back together

Step 5: Test

1. Pull the line — it should feed out smoothly. If it jams, disassemble and check for tangles.
2. Start the trimmer and tap the head on the ground (bump-feed) to verify the line feeds correctly.

How to Load a Fixed-Line Head

Fixed-line heads are simpler:

1. Cut two pieces of line to the length specified in your manual (typically 8–12")
2. Insert each piece through the holes in the head until it's centered (equal length on both sides)
3. Some heads require you to thread the line through a hole and bend it — follow your head's specific instructions

Fixed-line heads eliminate the winding problem but require more frequent line changes.

Tips to Make Line Last Longer

• Don't tap the head on concrete or pavement — this wears the bump knob and can damage the head. Tap on grass or dirt.
• Keep the line in water before use — soaking trimmer line in water overnight makes it more flexible and less likely to break. Some pros store their spare line in a bucket of water.
• Let the line do the work — don't force the trimmer into thick weeds. Let the line cut at its own speed.
• Avoid contact with hard surfaces — running the line against fences, sidewalks, or rocks wears it quickly.

Common Problems

Line won't feed: The spool is wound too tight, the line is tangled, or the line is too thick for the eyelets. Disassemble and rewind.

Line breaks constantly: The line is too thin for the job, or you're hitting hard objects. Use a thicker line or be more careful.

Line jams inside the head: The line was wound unevenly or overlapped. Rewind carefully, keeping the line parallel.

Head won't bump-feed: The spring inside the head is broken or the bump knob is worn out. Replace the head.

The Bottom Line

Rewinding a trimmer spool is simple if you wind in the right direction, keep the line tight and parallel, and don't overfill. Take 5 minutes to do it right and you'll save yourself from mid-job tangles and jams all season.