Line trimmer heads, for petrol weed wackers . Need a better one

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1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#166082 2-Mar-2015 12:17

I need a better line trimmer head for my petrol weed wacker (straight shaft)
The one it came with, a bump feed, didnt work: the bump wouldnt feed and the line inside the head somehow allways got tangled
So I bought a Juey
http://littljuey.com/products/cutting-heads/straight-engine-head.html

The Juey is not that good, even with 3mm line it breaks where the line is clamped down in the head.
Perhaps I need better line feed ?

Any suggestions ? Doesnt have to be bump feed.
Cheers

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5814 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1249352 2-Mar-2015 12:21

I used to use something similar to this: http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/accessories/trimmers-and-brushcutter-accessories/alloy-trimmer-head

It was on a Stihl, so not that exact one, but I just carried around a few bits of precut string, and reloaded it when it was gone. I used decent cord, so on a big job (usually an hours work) I would have to replace it about 3 times. Just gotta be careful around concrete/metal/stuff that kills the string.

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1249358 2-Mar-2015 12:26

Fully agree on this. I've gone through a few units where the weakness is clearly the head. My present auto feed basic bump head is relatively useless.
Father in law tried the Juey one, or very similar, after a good sales pitch at a trade show. Said it was close to useless also.

richrdh18

210 posts

Master Geek

#1249374 2-Mar-2015 12:35

I've got one of these http://www.pivotrim.com

Picked it up from Mitre 10 originally $30, not sure if they still sell them. Only had to reload the line every third use.

Got sick of the bump and feed method, and reloading the line was a painfull process.

Just bought a new Stihl line trimmer recently and the feed head reloading process is a lot easier now but will most likely remove it and add this attachment to it.

Bung

6487 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1249445 2-Mar-2015 13:26

If there was a magic answer I'd expect all the commercial lawn guys to be using it. I suspect part of the problem is the quality of the line. Cheap line tends to weld together in tbe spool. I'm getting good bump feeding using Hitachi line. There'd be other good stuff.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#1249446 2-Mar-2015 13:27

I found giving the line a liberal coat of 808 (silicone) helps

KShips

153 posts

Master Geek

#1249450 2-Mar-2015 13:41

Parents have a Husqvarna and originally used the blade http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/accessories/trimmers-and-brushcutter-accessories/grass-blade-4-tooth/ which worked well for years (not massive about of use but often enough).

Part of blade assembly broke and I haven't got around to fixing so used the line trimmer that came with it (dual line, older model but looks similar to following) http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/accessories/trimmers-and-brushcutter-accessories/grass-blade-4-tooth/ I'm extremely impressed, I got the thickest line it could handle and it takes quite a bit length wise. Have weed wacked massive amount of stuff over last 4 months with no issues, feeds nicely, easy to refill and lasts quite a while between reloading.

BTW also have an old electric one, holds a single line. Lasts ok for a thin line but nightmare to reload, wouldn't get one again. The dual line ones are actually one line that you start in the middle and wind up which is what makes them A LOT easier to load.

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1249503 2-Mar-2015 14:37

I use a tri blade http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/accessories/trimmers-and-brushcutter-accessories/grass-knife-3-tooth/ but it doesnt take prisoners so you need to be careful around anything you want to keep. Also I use it on a scrub cutter rather than a line trimmer, so not sure how much grunt is required to run one.

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PANiCnz

990 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1249722 2-Mar-2015 19:21

I'm getting really good mileage out of the stock bump head and line in my Husqvarna.

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1249827 2-Mar-2015 21:13

tried bumphead and juey - and both are ok if you use the wacker more judiciously then i was - incl:

1. no more speed then required
2. approach the cutting area with just the tip of the nylon - don't shove the head right in (ooer) or the nylon is inclined to break quicker
3. use appropriate care around hard objects/edges eg. i have a fair length of timber retaining wall - the breaks nylon like a bugger - unless i follow the above
4. using better / thicker nylon seems to have helped a little too

so yeah - "correct" operation matters

have recently gone back to a bumphead feed as it means if i have a full coil wound on i don't need to stop the wacker for the 1hr + job mine usually is

as opposed to the juey which could require 20 stop/starts : /

ps: haven't tried the tri i blade as i have a fair few trees/garden edging as well that i don't want to damage....

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1249872 2-Mar-2015 21:41

The line trimmer head on my petrol Shindaiwa is the best one I have ever used. It feeds really well and is very easy to reload.

This is what I have coupled to a M230 power unit. http://www.mikeschainsawshop.co.nz/shindaiwa-multi-tool-line-trimmer-attachment/

You cut off about 3 metres of line, turn the head to align the holes, feed to line thru the head till half is protruding each side then wind the head to wind the line into the head.

It takes longer to cut off the 3 metres than it does to put the line into/onto the head.

I think this is the bump feed head on its own. http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Feed-Universal-Trimmers-Shindaiwa-Husqvarna/dp/B00DRNIZ2C

A video of loading the line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feWfQHF-150

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gzt

17137 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1249879 2-Mar-2015 21:48

1101: I need a better line trimmer head for my petrol weed wacker (straight shaft)

what brand is it and what did it come with?

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1249895 2-Mar-2015 22:18

Technofreak: The line trimmer head on my petrol Shindaiwa is the best one I have ever used. It feeds really well and is very easy to reload.

This is what I have coupled to a M230 power unit. http://www.mikeschainsawshop.co.nz/shindaiwa-multi-tool-line-trimmer-attachment/

You cut off about 3 metres of line, turn the head to align the holes, feed to line thru the head till half is protruding each side then wind the head to wind the line into the head.

It takes longer to cut off the 3 metres than it does to put the line into/onto the head.

I think this is the bump feed head on its own. http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Feed-Universal-Trimmers-Shindaiwa-Husqvarna/dp/B00DRNIZ2C

A video of loading the line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feWfQHF-150

that looks well handy - must find one....

rphenix

985 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1251351 4-Mar-2015 21:10

like richrdh18 mentioned - pivotrim at mitre 10 is great I no-longer have to replace the line every single use. The line hardly ever "snaps" off now but slowly wears down instead because it can spin out of the way of big impacts and reduces shock on the line also having 4 line blades instead of the usual two I think slows the speed down.

Only negative of the pivotrim is the head itself can wear down if you grind the bottom near concrete a lot - they really should put a metal cap on the bottom of it rather than plastic to make it last.

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#1251397 4-Mar-2015 22:39

richrdh18: I've got one of these http://www.pivotrim.com

I just got one of these, great invention! I've 800m of fence line and with the pivot rim I can do it all with one set of lines loaded and then some.

froob

692 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1251422 4-Mar-2015 22:58

I also got sick of the bump feed head - mainly because it didn't get a very close cut. Am now using a polycut blade http://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/accessories/trimmer-heads-and-blades/polycut/ which sits somewhere between nylon line and a metal blade.

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