How to Change the String on a Hyper Tough Weed Eater

To change the string on a weed eater, disconnect its power source, remove the spool cover, and either install a compatible prewound spool or rewind the reusable spool with the correct trimmer line. The exact line size, winding direction, and cover release depend on your model and cutting head. The steps below cover removable-spool heads, with a separate method for heads that load line through external holes.

Identify Your Hyper Tough Trimmer Head

Find the model number on the trimmer’s identification label before buying line or a replacement spool. Match replacement parts to the model number, not just to the trimmer name or the appearance of the spool.

It helps to distinguish three parts:

Spool: The reel that holds the cutting line.
Spool cover or cap: The piece that retains the spool inside the head.
Complete cutting head: The assembly attached to the trimmer’s shaft.

Ordinary restringing usually involves the spool and its cover, not removing the complete head from the shaft.

Also identify how your head advances line. An automatic-feed head releases line through its feed mechanism; a bump-feed head advances it when operated using the specified bumping action. Feed type alone does not tell you how to load the spool: a bump head may have either a removable spool or a load-through winding mechanism.

How to Replace or Rewind Hyper Tough Trimmer String

Replace a model-matched prewound spool or rewind the reusable spool with line specified for your trimmer.

Step 1: Disconnect the Power

Release the trigger, switch the trimmer off, and wait for the cutting head to stop completely.
Disconnect the appropriate power source: – Cordless trimmer: Remove the battery. – Corded electric trimmer: Unplug the power cord. – Gasoline trimmer: Let the engine cool, then disconnect the spark plug lead and keep it away from the plug.
Place the trimmer on a stable surface with the cutting head accessible. Keep your hands clear of the sharp line-cutting blade on the guard.

Identify the loading arrangement before choosing your refill method.

What Your Head Has	Refill Method	Important Distinction
A removable cover and an available model-matched prewound spool	Replace the spool	A similar-looking spool may not engage the feed mechanism correctly
A removable cover and a spool designed for rewinding	Reuse the spool with approved bulk line	Match its winding direction, anchor arrangement, and capacity
External loading holes and marked winding controls	Load line through the assembled head	Do not pry the head apart merely to refill it

Step 2: Choose Compatible Line or a Replacement Spool

Match a prewound spool by the trimmer model and, where available, the replacement part number. Have a replacement spool ready before opening the head.
If rewinding, use line that matches your model’s specifications.
Check whether the spool uses one cutting-line end or separate paths for two ends. The replacement must suit that arrangement.

For gasoline trimmers generally, common line sizes range from 0.08 inch (2 mm) for small engines to 0.11 inch (2.75 mm) for larger engines capable of using heavier line. Confirm the line diameter specified for your model before buying.

Do not transfer those gasoline-trimmer sizes to a cordless or corded electric model. Thicker line is not automatically an upgrade: it can bind in the spool or feed openings and increase the load on the tool.

Step 3: Open the Cover and Inspect the Spool

Look for the cover’s release mechanism. On a tab-release cover, press the retaining tabs and lift the cover away. If the head uses another fastening arrangement, identify it before applying force.
Note how the spool sits in the housing. A photo can help preserve the orientation of the spool, spring, and any loose components.
Lift out the spool, keeping any spring or other removable part in place or safely set aside.
Brush away dry grass and dirt from the housing, spool seating area, and line exit holes.
Inspect the spool before discarding the remaining line.

If the spool still contains usable line, the problem may be a trapped tail, crossed winding, or jammed feed mechanism rather than an empty spool. Check for those problems before replacing otherwise usable line.

Also inspect the spool and cover for cracks, damaged retaining tabs, or distorted parts. Do not rely on a damaged cover to hold the spool securely.

Step 4: Fit Fresh Line to the Spool

For a compatible prewound spool:

Remove any shipping wrap or tape identified for removal.
Locate the line tails. Keep them in the spool’s temporary retaining slots, if provided, while preparing to install it.
Confirm that the spool’s hub and line arrangement match the removed part.

For a reusable spool:

Remove the old line completely.
Cut the refill length specified for that spool.
Secure the new line in the spool’s starting hole, slot, or other anchor. Some spools anchor a line end; others use a folded midpoint or separate lengths for separate channels. Use the arrangement built into your spool.
Wind in the direction marked on the spool, keeping the line snug and orderly. The winding arrow, not the direction the head spins during use, is the relevant guide.
Keep the line within its winding channel and below any marked fill limit. Avoid loose loops, crossed wraps, and packing line against the outer flange.
Leave the working tails required by the head’s loading instructions and secure them in temporary retaining slots, if present.

A properly wound spool should have even layers without loose loops that can slip underneath neighboring wraps.

Step 5: Reinstall the Spool and Cover

Return any spring or removable component to its original position.
Route each line tail through its matching exit eyelet in the head housing. On a divided spool, keep each tail associated with its own winding channel.
Seat the spool fully on its hub without trapping line beneath it.
Release the tails from temporary storage slots as required by the head’s design. A tail left trapped in a storage slot cannot feed normally.
Refit the cover and make sure every latch or fastener engages. The cover should sit evenly, without a gap or a loose edge.
Set the exposed line to the starting length specified for the head. Remove any excessive trailing line while the power remains disconnected, and make sure the guard and its line-cutting blade are intact.

Step 6: Test the Refilled Head

Put on eye protection and sturdy footwear, and clear people, pets, and loose objects from the work area.
Reinstall the battery, reconnect the cord, or reconnect the spark plug lead.
Hold the trimmer in its normal operating position with the head clear of objects, then start it.
Check line advancement using the feed procedure specified for that head. Do not bump an automatic-feed head unless its instructions explicitly call for that action.
Stop if the head shakes unusually, the cover moves, or the line fails to advance.

Once the head runs smoothly and feeds correctly, make a light test cut in grass before returning to normal trimming.

How to Reload a Load-Through Bump Head

Use this method only if the installed head is explicitly designed to accept line through external loading holes and wind it with a knob. A bump button by itself does not establish that the head supports this method.

Make the trimmer inactive. Switch it off and wait for the head to stop. Remove the battery, unplug the cord, or let the gasoline engine cool and disconnect its spark plug lead.
Prepare the approved line. Use the diameter and refill length specified for the installed head. Remove remaining line using that head’s unloading procedure.
Align the loading marks. Turn the loading control until the marked loading position aligns with the eyelets or internal passage.
Thread and center the line. For a through-loading design, pass the line through the designated passage and pull it through until the exposed ends are equal. Do not force line past an obstruction.
Wind the line. Turn the winding control in its marked direction, leaving the exposed working length specified for the head. Stop if the line binds.
Check the assembly. Make sure the knob, cover, guard, and line-cutting blade are secure. If any part was removed during unloading, reinstall it before restoring power.
Test the head. Wear eye protection, clear the work area, reconnect power, and run the trimmer in its normal operating position. Check advancement using the head’s specified bump-feed procedure, then make a light test cut.

Why New Trimmer Line Won’t Feed

A string trimmer can stop advancing line after extended use even when line remains inside the head. Treat this as a feed problem rather than continuing to run the trimmer with no usable cutting line.

Before inspecting or adjusting the head, switch it off and disconnect its power source.

Symptom	Likely Cause	What to Correct
Line remains on the spool, but no tail emerges	Tail has retracted inside or remains trapped in a retaining slot	Retrieve the tail and route it through the correct exit eyelet
Line feeds briefly, then jams	Crossed wraps, loose winding, or excess line on the spool	Remove the tangled winding and rewind within the spool’s capacity
Line will not pass freely through the exit	Debris, unsuitable line diameter, or a damaged eyelet	Clear debris; replace unsuitable line or damaged parts
A bump head does not release line	Spool is not seated, a spring is misplaced, or the mechanism is obstructed	Restore the original assembly arrangement and remove debris
Line pays out uncontrollably	Incorrect spool, incorrect winding direction, or damaged feed components	Confirm spool compatibility and inspect the feed mechanism
Cover will not sit flush or stay attached	Trapped line, displaced components, overfilling, or broken tabs	Correct the obstruction or replace the damaged component

After correcting a problem, reinstall the spool and all retained components, route the tails, and secure the cover. Restore power only after the head and guard are fully assembled, then test operation and line advancement in a clear area.

If a correctly loaded, compatible spool still will not feed, leave the trimmer off and inspect or service the feed mechanism. Adding more line will not repair a broken feed component.

Keep Your Next String Change Simple

Keep the replacement spool packaging or record its part number alongside the trimmer’s model number. If you use bulk line, retain the package label so its diameter remains identifiable after the printing on the line or spool becomes unreadable.

While trimming, let the line tips do the cutting rather than forcing the head into dense growth or against hard surfaces. This reduces unnecessary line wear and makes it easier to notice a feeding problem before the usable tails disappear.

Before storing the trimmer, disconnect its power and remove accumulated grass from around the head. Then check your supply of compatible line or replacement spools so the next refill does not become a parts search.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know What Size Weed Eater String I Already Have?

Measure an unused section with calipers if its packaging is missing. Worn cutting ends can give a misleading measurement, and color alone does not reliably identify line diameter. Confirm that the measured size matches your model’s specifications before reusing it.

How Do I Remove the Entire Head on a Hyper Tough Weed Eater?

The removal method depends on the shaft connection and head fitted to your model; there is no universal loosening direction. Some assemblies require the shaft to be locked before a threaded head or retaining fastener can be released. Identify the model-specific attachment procedure before applying force: releasing the spool cover does not necessarily detach the complete head.

What Spark Plug Goes in a Hyper Tough Weed Eater?

A gasoline trimmer needs the spark plug specified for its particular engine; the brand name alone is not enough to select one. Use the trimmer’s model and engine identification to confirm the correct plug and gap, rather than assuming the plug already installed is correct. Corded and cordless electric trimmers do not use spark plugs.