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How-to

How to change brush cutter line

Reloading the line is the most common brush cutter job — and easy once you've done it. Here's how to choose, wind and feed new line, and fix common feed problems.

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In short:To change brush cutter line, stop the engine or remove the battery, open the head, remove the old spool, and wind new line of the right diameter neatly in the direction of the arrow — usually folded in half for two-channel spools — leaving the ends in the notches. Thread the ends through the eyelets and refit the cap. Light trimmers usually take 1.6–2.0 mm line and petrol heads 2.4–3.0 mm. Quick-load heads such as EGO PowerLoad and Oregon Lightning Load let you feed line in without opening the head.

1. Choose the right line

Match the line diameter to your machine and your growth: 1.65 mm for light lawn edging, 2.0 mm as an all-rounder, 2.4 mm for tough grass. Never exceed your head's maximum. See our trimmer line guide.

2. Open the head

With the engine off (and battery removed on cordless), press the tabs on the bump-feed head and lift off the cap to reach the spool. Note how the old line was routed before you remove it.

3. Wind the new line

  1. Cut a length of line (typically 3–5 m) and fold it in half if the spool has two channels.
  2. Hook the middle into the spool's anchor slot.
  3. Wind it on neatly in the direction of the arrow on the spool — tidy coils feed reliably.
  4. Leave the ends (about 10–15 cm) in the retaining notches so they don't unravel.

4. Re-thread and close

Feed the ends out through the eyelets in the head, drop the spool back in, and click the cap home. Give it a gentle pull to confirm the line feeds, and you're ready.

Fixing feed problems: if the line won't advance, it's usually wound the wrong way, too thick, or the coils have welded together from heat. Re-wind fresh line of the correct diameter in the arrow direction.

Prefer less fuss? A quality tap-and-go head makes reloading quick and reliable.

Heads that load without opening

Some heads let you push line straight through and wind it by turning the head, without taking it apart. EGO's PowerLoad head on the ST1400E even winds new line in at the push of a button, and Oregon's Lightning Load Pro and Boltless Tap and Go heads load in seconds. Worx's Command Feed advances line at a button press. If reloading is your least favourite job, these save real time.

Choosing line shape

  • Round — the most durable against walls and paths, and the quietest.
  • Square or star — sharper edges cut coarse grass and weeds more cleanly, but wear faster against hard surfaces.
  • Twisted or dual-material — quieter and more durable for the price; Oregon's Duoline uses an anti-weld surface over a stronger core.

Store line properly

Nylon line dries out and becomes brittle over time. Keep spare line in a sealed bag or its box, away from sunlight; if old line keeps snapping, soaking it in water overnight before winding can help restore some flexibility.

Plastic blades instead of line

Some light trimmers use clip-in plastic blades rather than line — the Einhell GE-CT 18 Li stores 20 spare knives in its handle, and Gardena's SmallCut Li-23R uses RotorCut blades. Swapping a blade takes seconds, but they're for soft lawn grass only.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what line diameter to use?

Check your machine's maximum line diameter (in the manual or on the head). Most take up to 2.0–2.4 mm. Using line that's too thick jams the head; too thin snaps quickly. See our trimmer line guide.

How much line should I wind on?

Fill the spool but don't overfill — leave a few millimetres of clearance so the line feeds freely. Wind it neatly in the direction of the arrow on the spool.

Why does my line keep breaking or not feeding?

Common causes are line that's too thin, old brittle line, welded coils from overheating, or winding it the wrong way. Use fresh line of the right diameter and wind it tidily in the arrow direction.