Black and Decker string trimmers use a cutting line instead of blades to evenly trim vegetation.
I find it to be a convenient alternative for blades, because it’s easier to maintain and replace if anything goes wrong.
And more important I feel safe to use string line instead of a blade! (Just my personal preference)
But, the Black and Decker trimmer also come with some of its most common problems.
One such problem I want to talk about today is when a Black and Decker trimmer feeds too much line.
It results in messes like uneven cutting, so let me help you deal with this annoying issue.
If you want to use the auto feed feature on Black and Decker trimmer but it is not working, you can read this post.
Before we proceed, I have recorded a quick videos to demo how to fix this issue fast.
If the video above does not solve the problem for you, you may continue to try the solutions below.
Read: Fix Black and Decker Trimmer Keep Stopping Issue
Black and Decker Trimmer Feeds Too Much Line
- Incorrect Line Size
The most common mistake I see people making is that they get the wrong string line size for their Black and Decker trimmer.
There’s a lot of different trimmers that use these lines, and a lot of them come in different sizes.
There are thin wires, thick wires, long wires, and small wires. You have to make sure you find the perfect one for your tool.
Anything else will cause problems with the device and ruin its performance until you insert the right cutting line.
I would suggest you to get the same string line size as the original one.
So, for example, a reason why your Black and Decker trimmer feeds too much line is using something like a 0.8 length wire when you actually need a 0.65 length cutting wire.
Try to make sure it’s the perfect size and fits your trimmer’s cutting head, like mine in the image below:
- Reverse The Line Direction
I know it sounds a bit dumb or maybe even too simple, but sometimes this issue can be resolved by just taking the cutting line out and placing it the other way around.
It’s a really common solution for this problem.
Related: Why Black and Decker Charger Not Working
Just like the second solution in the video above, when you reverse the direction of the line, it is basically change to manual feeding instead of auto feeding.
My image below shows “before and after” the string direction is being changed.
I recommend trying it out since it’s a simple but very commonly effective fix for when your Black and Decker trimmer feeds too much line.
- Issues With Spring
Your line may not be at fault for this problem at times. Another possible culprit I think you should watch out for is the spring on the spool cover.
This spring is responsible for putting force on the bump head cap. It reverts the cap to its initial spot when you bump it and this releases more string for the trimmer to use.
It’s a tiny component of the device, which you can see in this photo.
That little thing in the image above may not look like much, but it’s a very important component.
But, as time passes, it gets weaker with use and affects the line feed of your trimmer. So, you’ll have to get rid of it and insert a new one.
To do this, you need to take the spring out by removing the spool cover and taking it out.
Now just squeeze the replacement spring inside of the head, and close the cover back in its original position.
- Tape The Lever
This solution is a little makeshift. But, I can confirm it gets the job done after trying it out on a Black and Decker trimmer myself. All you need for it is some tape, and you’re good to go.
I also included this solution as the first method in my video above.
There’s a lever inside of the spool that controls the feeding of your device’s line. It releases or holds in the cutting line as needed by utilizing centrifugal force.
It’s pretty small but easy enough to find. I’m holding it here with my thumb, so you can see it and get an idea of what it looks like.
However, just like the spring I mentioned earlier, this lever gets worse with wear too since it’s always in contact with the cutting wire. That’s when it starts becoming a problem.
Just to clarify I am not sure if this component really called “Lever“, and I think you understand that I am referring to that small component that control the feeding mechanism as shown in the image above.
It can start slipping through more line than needed, which is something I noticed with my own Black and Decker trimmer. There was too much movement, so I restricted it.
To do this, I simply used a bit of tape to hold the lever in place, but not completely lock it down as shown in the image above.
That stopped it from moving unnecessarily and got rid of the issue for me!
But, if my solution wasn’t good enough for you, I think you’ll have to take more drastic measures and replace the lever entirely. It’s not a costly solution though, which is good.
You can easily find a suitable replacement online by checking for components that match your specific Black and Decker trimmer’s make and model.
Conclusion
These are all the potential reasons I can think of for why your Black and Decker trimmer feeds you too much line.
Hopefully my article can help you narrow down the problem, and the fixes I shared can help you deal with it!
