Strimmer line mystery

Si_Clist

I have a Black and Decker GCL3630 cordless strimmer bought in 2016 which has until now given me every satisfaction. However, it's now taken to acting up and I can't fathom out what's going on. And I can't ask B&D because I can't find a phone number for them, so ...

It's one of those which automatically feeds the line out, which it always used to do perfectly well. Now though, it seems that it's feeding too much line out because it starts making a racket and when I check, the line's both wonky and over-long by an inch or so. If I cut off the kinked/bent/wonky length off and then access the spool, pay out the correct length of line, put it back together and start strimming, all is then well. Until it does it again.

Does anybody please know what's wrong? And while I'm asking, what is the principle by which the line auto-feeds to the correct length?

EachPenny

Si_Clist wrote: »

Does anybody please know what's wrong? And while I'm asking, what is the principle by which the line auto-feeds to the correct length?

Usually the guard on the strimmer head is fitted with a metal blade, so the line is trimmed to length as it spins round.

Check* to make sure yours is fitted with this blade as they do occasionally break or fall off. If this happens there is nothing to keep the line at the correct length and it will make a noise as the line hits the guard on each rotation.

(*Remember to unplug from the mains or remove batteries before doing so. )

Si_Clist

Thanks for that! I've just checked and yes, the metal blade is there and yes, it does seem to have a good edge on it, although I wouldn't exactly call it sharp in the sense of a knife blade. More like a good edge on a hoe.

So for some reason that's not cutting it like it should?

Jackmydad

Has the whole guard moved at all?
That can make the line miss the cutter in some cases.
Can't hurt to sharpen the blade a bit if it's possible to do so. The one on my cordless is pretty sharp.
The line hasn't got the weight of that used on the bigger machines.

Jackmydad

Just as a matter of interest, did you sort this OP?
I've just been using my electric strimmer, only done one full season's light work so far. Looking at the cutter blade, which has been given a squirt of oil at the end of the season, it's already looking a bit blunt.
It gets a hard life.

Si_Clist

Jackmydad wrote: »

Just as a matter of interest, did you sort this OP? ...

Not yet, but I'm getting there. I checked that I can in fact undo the two screws securing the blade, then found that the new blade is available online as a spare for a couple of quid, so I'm currently waiting for a jiffybag through the letterbox. That'll either cure the problem or rule out the blade as the cause of it

I'm still no wiser though as to how exactly the line's fed out as required ...

Jackmydad

Thanks for the reply. I was just surprised how quickly the blade on mine has got blunt-ish.
Still working OK though at present.
On mine, a "Titan" from Screwfix. It's centrifugal. Every time you switch on / off a bit more line comes out.

DigForVictory

We have a rainbow of strimmer thread in a drawer - none of us ever remembers to read the manual as to what thickness it should be & that has meant the thread is too thin or too thick to feed successfully.

One device had a thump-on-the-ground "switch" to issue more thread, another just spooled a bit every few minutes & the current one was overcome by heat & may work this autumn but hasn't the last five days.

I've seen a scythe in a junk shop & am thinking of going for it but the garden has concealed rocks...

Si_Clist

Good luck with a scythe, unless you have shoulders like an Olympic rower, very strong arms, supple waist and somebody to set the scythe up exactly right for you. But then, as long as you keep it razor sharp and you perfect the art of wiggling your bum in the approved manner, you'll be fine.

Jackmydad

I've got a scythe. They work OK on grass with the right blade and setup.
As Si Clist says. Needs setting for the individual, and needs keeping razor sharp.

Sickle or "grass hook" is OK for the odd bit.