7 Reasons Why Black And Decker Trimmer Feeds Too Much Line: (How To Fix)

Black And Decker Trimmer Feeds Too Much Line

The original string trimmer was inspired by cleaning brushes at a car wash. Not much has changed in the design since then because it was a brilliant idea. Modern upgrades include conveniences like more complex line feeding mechanisms.

Although a more versatile trimmer is a bonus for lawn care, it also means there’s more to maintain and more parts that could fail. Why does your Black and Decker trimmer feed too much line?

Black And Decker Trimmer Feeds Too Much Line

Your Black and Decker trimmer feeds too much line because there’s a malfunction with the auto-feed lever. The auto-feed lever regulates the amount of line that feeds out. As a result, the auto-feed lever gets a lot of use and can wear out over time, leaving too much line coming out.

It’s worth noting that sometimes a Black and Decker trimmer isn’t actually feeding too much line out. If the cutter on your trimmer isn’t sharp, or it’s missing, then the line only gets shorter when it breaks off.

The 7 reasons why your Black and Decker Trimmer feeds too much line include:

1. Auto-Feed Lever Trouble

The auto-feed lever sees a lot of use. Since this is the part that regulates the feed of your line, it makes sense that this is also the most likely culprit when something goes wrong.

Whether the lever is backward, broken, worn, or cracked, the solution is surprisingly simple.

According to Black and Decker, you can quickly replace your auto-feed lever by following these steps:

  1. Remove the spool cover.
  2. Take out the spool.
  3. Note the orientation of the feed lever. Generally, the narrow, claw-like end faces clockwise.
  4. Pull out the auto-feed lever straight out gently with pliers. Be careful not to break it in the process with too much prying.
  5. Snap a new lever into place and replace the spool cover.

2. Missing or Broken Spring

When you take the bump cap off of your Black and Decker trimmer, there’s a spring on the inside. The tension from this spring is what pushed the cap back into place after you bump it to feed more line out.

Compressing a spring causes it to store energy which it will release as it tries to stretch back out into its natural form.

If the spring is missing or broken, it won’t push the cap back into place. All you need for this repair is a new spring. It goes where the center of the cap sits and is usually attached to the cap itself.

3. Spool Unseated

The spool can come loose on some trimmers. When the piece that holds your line isn’t sitting right, it can cause overfeeding or jam up easily.

To fix it, pop the cap off and reseat the spool. If the spool is broken because of the way it was sitting, replace it with a new spool.

4. Too Much Line On The Spool

While it’s entirely possible to re-spool by hand, you can be overzealous. Sadly, when the spool is overfull or too tightly wound, it may try to release some extra line by unspooling more rapidly than usual.

Alternately, too much trimmer line packed into the limited available space can also cause a jam that makes your trimmer useless until you dig it out.

Ultimately, this can lead to a lot of wasted line. Since most people choose to re-spool to save money, it’s counterproductive and wasteful when you overdo it.

If you’re unsure how much line you need or how tight to wind it, that’s a good reason to buy brand-specific replacement spools.

5. Bump Cap / Trimmer Head Jammed

The trimmer head cap, more commonly called the Bump Cap, on a Black and Decker trimmer is a brilliant innovation that allows you to work faster.

It feeds out the line by tapping the bottom of your trimmer on the ground, so you don’t need to stop and turn it off to adjust the length every few feet.

Additionally, placing this near the spool means you don’t need an unnecessarily complex system in the handle with an extra trigger or button.

The bump cap is the button in this case. Like any button, when it depresses, you can get girt, grass, grit, and other debris along the edges of the mobile centerpiece.

If the bump cap gets jammed into the pressed down position, it will keep feeding. Turn the machine off completely, and clear the obstruction to release the bump cap.

6. Wrong Size Line

It is always vital to read the directions on your Black and Decker trimmer carefully. Although line comes in varying widths, and many spools can fit, that doesn’t mean your machine can accommodate all of them.

A line that is too thick or too thin can be hard to spot at a glance because all trimmer lines are fairly thin.

Check the diameter and replace the spool with the exact recommended size. You can get Black & Decker RS-136 String Trimmer Replacement Spools on Amazon. Using the spool made to fit your brand is a great way to help ensure you have the correct diameter.

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

7. You Bumped Something

Flip the machine and look to make sure the cap is not broken or loose. Give it a tap to make certain that it’s not jammed as well.

If everything else checks out and it only happens sometimes, you may be distracted. Uneven ground or holding the trimmer too low can cause accidental cap taps.

This might seem like a strange solution, but people do bump into things all the time. Accidentally depressing the bump cap as you work around the yard is a common occurrence, and it’s more likely than a stop and start line feeding issue.

If you’re lucky enough for this to be the problem, the only thing you need to do in this case is be more careful. Hold the trimmer up a little higher and be aware of how you rest it on the ground.

Helpful Tips To Know Why Black And Decker Trimmer Feeds Too Much Line

Although there are plenty of reasons a trimmer might feed too much line, the culprit is usually the auto-feed lever. Fortunately, since trimmers are relatively uncomplicated machines, you can quickly fix them.

Here are more helpful tips to know why a Black and Decker trimmer feeds too much line.

  • A broken or cracked trimmer head cap can also cause the feeding mechanism inside to work incorrectly. Replace this part anytime it breaks, cracks, or wears down.
  • When you have an automatic trimmer, the system that lets line out of your trimmers is known as an AFS or automatic feed system, and it actually monitors the centrifugal force to feed the line out at the right time.
  • Most repairs are simple to make yourself and easy to spot when you turn the machine over. Even when you need to remove the cap it will come off easily. However, if you can’t, spot the problem, it’s best to call a professional.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes you need to replace an entire expensive piece of equipment, but luckily a line feeding problem on your Black and Decker trimmer is often an easy fix.

All seven of the fixes on this list are beginner-level repairs. You don’t need special tools or complex mechanical knowledge to put a spring in or replace an old bump cap.

Keep the original manual around for your lawn tools, and you’ll discover that, more often than not, you can puzzle out what’s malfunctioning.

Drew Thomas

My name is Drew Thomas and I’m the creator of Fun In the Yard, your one stop site for all your outdoor games, sports, party activities, outdoor gear, and lawn & gardening tips.

Related Posts