Getting ahead of spring cleanup includes making sure your tools are ready for service. With its ability to tackle many yard projects, tidy up corners and neaten hard-to-reach places, the string trimmer is an essential part of your toolkit. And, like any piece of equipment, it’s important to perform regular maintenance to help make sure it’s running smoothly throughout the season.
Make sure to keep a few routine tasks on your radar to help ensure this versatile tool is there for you when a walkway becomes unruly or hard-to-reach grass needs to be trimmed. Also, keep the owner’s manual that came with your string trimmer handy. In addition to valuable safety and operating instructions, it also comes with a suggested maintenance schedule for your model.
If you can’t locate the manual that came with your trimmer, then you may be able to find it online. You can download operator’s manuals for Troy-Bilt® string trimmers under the Specs & Maintenance section of each model’s product page at Troybilt.com.
Additionally, during a recent episode of Ask Troy Live, product experts Bill and John discussed some common string trimmer tune-up and maintenance tasks on several handheld models.
Before You Get Started Using a String Trimmer
Make sure you start your season with fresh, clean fuel and properly dispose of fuel after each use. Clean the trimmer’s foam air filter with a bit of soap and water and check its fuel filter and spark plug. If you think your trimmer’s spark plug needs to be changed, then head to a retailer.
You’ll also want to note which kind of gas engine powers your string trimmer and keep the right kind of fuel on hand throughout the season. A 2-cycle trimmer model, like the Troy-Bilt® TB25CH Curved Shaft String Trimmer with SpringAssist® technology, likely requires the mixing of oil and gas, so you’ll need to store it in a separate fuel container for your trimmer.
You may opt to use an engineered, pre-mixed fuel with the proper ratio of oil and gas for Troy-Bilt 2-cycle engine trimmers. TruFuel®, a trademarked product of Calumet Branded Products, LLC, is one such option. Using such a product may provide timesaving convenience and support engine health and performance for your trimmer.
TruFuel® also provides an ethanol-free engineered fuel product for 4-cycle equipment, like the Troy-Bilt® TB304H Straight Shaft String Trimmer. For Troy-Bilt 4-cycle trimmers, the oil for lubrication is in a separate reservoir.
Make sure you know what kind of engine your string trimmer uses and follow the proper starting techniques. Also, visit Troy-Bilt’s YouTube channel for video instructions on how to start a string trimmer.
Be sure to use proper trimming techniques to minimize wear to your string trimmer. When cutting tall grass, begin trimming from the top down to help prevent the string from getting tangled in the grass blades. When tackling bigger trimming jobs, start trimming in small sections rather than the whole yard all at once to help prevent your tool from stalling or the string from tangling.
Check to see in what direction your string trimmer is rotating. If the strings in your trimmer rotate counterclockwise, then it cuts to the right and will discharge chopped material and debris from the left side of the trimmer. To help prevent this material from building up in your cutting path, keep your body facing toward the cutting side.
When It’s Time to Reload String Trimmer Line
Whether your string trimmer has a fixed head or a bump head, significant differences to consider are how much line the trimmer holds and also how the line is reloaded into the cutting head.
Before you head to the store or purchase online, take note of your trimmer’s make and model to help ensure you select the correct line size. Most gas-powered Troy-Bilt trimmers use a line with a diameter of .095. Pre-cut line, for use only on fixed-line cutting head models, makes it easier to keep extra line on hand as you work throughout the yard.
How to Load a Fixed-Line Trimmer Head
Before you get started, push out the remaining line from the trimmer head and discard. Then, use a clean cloth to clean the surface of the cutting head.
People often wonder how much trimmer line to use. If you did not purchase your string trimmer line pre-cut, then unspool approximately 18 inches because that is how long a trimmer line should be. Keep in mind that it’s critical to cut the line at a pointed angle, which will help to push the line through its path.
To run the line through the head, take both ends of the line and feed it through the open slots. This process may give a little resistance, but simply pull until the line is tight and even on both ends. If one end is longer than the other, then push the longer end back through the cutting head partway and pull the shorter end out. Repeat until both ends are of equal length.
While fixed-line heads are generally simple to change, they will require frequent changing.
How to Replace Trimmer Line on Bump Feed Models
Known to cause the most confusion when changing the line, traditional bump heads have a bump piece that unscrews and pulls to remove. Refer to your operator’s manual for instructions on removing and inspecting the inner reel and then winding a new trimming line onto the inner reel. Winding and installing instructions may differ depending on the type of trimmer line used.
A step-up feature offered on some Troy-Bilt trimmers is the Click 'N Trim® cutting head, a bump feed trimmer head offering an easier reloading process. Again, winding instructions differ by the type of trimming line used, so consult your operator’s manual for complete replacement instructions.
String Trimmer Safety tips
Never forget about safety. Whether it’s in the yard or during maintenance, follow these critical safety steps when working with Troy-Bilt string trimmers. You can find a list of safety protocols in your owner’s manual. These tips include:
- Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, as well as safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris, when trimming.
- Clear your yard of debris, toys and any other foreign yard objects before you start your trimmer. When a powered-on trimmer encounters an object, it may be unexpectedly and aggressively thrown. You’ll also want to make sure pets and bystanders are at least 50 feet away.
- Before starting your machine, inspect it to help make sure it is in proper condition (e.g., tool is clean, no loose screws or bolts, etc.). Don’t forget to check the fuel level and refill it if it is low.
- When using a trimmer, evenly distribute your weight on both feet, on solid ground, and with both hands firmly holding the machine’s handles.
- Following each trimming job, use a dry, clean brush to clear your trimmer of any remaining grass clippings and dirt.
- Allow plenty of time for your string trimmer to cool down before storing it in a dry place. If you are storing it for a long period of time, then be sure to empty the machine of all fuel.
