Youse guyses iz really smart -- can you help me with a string trimmer question? :-P

mhardy6647

So, our daughter & son-in-law live in a nearby town with... a swap pile at their town dump! :-) Not quite as posh as our erstwhile dump in Harvard, MA... but not bad.
Last weekend, my son-in-law picked up a Craftsman branded "Brushwacker" string trimmer. 32 cc 2 stroke gas engine. He got it running and passed it along to me (he's a good lad)!

It works fine -- but I figure that sooner or later it will need replacement "string". I cannot for the life of me figure out/understand exactly what I need for it!

The Sears model number is 358.795180.
Found the manual on line, but it has nothing about the replacement 'string' except this:

Choose the line size best suited for the job at hand. Green colored line is designed for cutting grass, red line for grass and small weeds. The black colored line is designed for cutting larger weeds and light brush...

(the black line is "braided", FWIW -- that's what's installed on the trimmer 'as found')

manual link:
http://c.searspartsdirect.com/mmh/pd_download/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0903677.pdf

No listing for trimmer line under "parts" (I guess it's not considered a part...).

If it helps any, it appears that this particular trimmer may have been made for Sears by Poulan(?) and may date to ca. 2001(?).

So, is the color coding of the line diameter generic with respect do diameter (0.060", 0.085" , 0.090") or do I need just exactly the right stuff to fit this elderly trimmer? In the latter case, I have nothing to go on.

Home Despot has gas trimmer heads that boast that they fit "99% of all gas trimmers" -- what are the odds that mine isn't one of the 99% (yeah, I know, 1 in 100... but you know what I'm getting at!)

I am really psyched to have a free line trimmer but I don't want to waste time/effort/money buying the wrong line for it.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated & gratefully received.
Thanks!

polrbehr

If it were me, I'd bring it to a local (read:small, independent) shop that works on things
like that, and see what they tell you. You'll pay a few extra bucks for the line, and maybe some labor to install it, but your investment is pretty small to begin with right?

rpf65

Black line is usually the thickest available, .095, at least that's the size I use. If your just trimming grass around trees, thinner will work. You can use the thinner stuff.

muncybob

...and it's easy to refill them. Look at You Tube for visuals.

mrbiron

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/diy/choosing-the-best-trimmer-line-for-you/

I wouldn't over think this. I've always bought a .09 (it's either .08 or .09, not at home right now) octagonal line. If you're cutting normal "yard grass", .09 is more than fine and it does a number on heavy weeds as well. The thinner gauge .06ish is too flimsy for me but may work for you. YMMV

As far as restringing, like MBob said, watch a quick youtube video. Once you've done it once, it's simple the next time around.

As a side note, you live on the farm and don't own a string trimmer?! What happen, the goat die?

Moose68Bash

I got tired of reloading the spool on my string trimmer and replaced the head with a Maruyama "Fixed Line Head." You replace the line with precut pieces that are easily installed. If you do not plan to use it a lot (your manual says "For Occasional Use Only"}, this is a good option.

See: http://www.mymowerparts.com/partdetail/1122/25626/13144.php

tonyb

String trimmers are not the most complicated thing Mark, even the old ones. Post a pic of the puppy upside down so we can take a look see.

I've had it with 2 cycle trimmers, went cordless a few years ago and love it. I use Ryobi cordless for general purpose but they charge an arm and a leg for refill string....bastages. Least the string for gas trimmers are cheap.

lightman1

Yeah Tony. But didn't you use one of those dinosaurs on rock wheels like Fred Flintstone had when you were a young lad? This electric thing must be like discovering fire to you.

pitdogg2

most will say inside on the hub........guessing it will be .080 or .095 my last two were that thickness. I really like the new Toro with the .095 line it will straight up walk you down a chain link fence. The .080 will just snap off.

westmassguy

Moose68Bash wrote: »

I got tired of reloading the spool on my string trimmer and replaced the head with a Maruyama "Fixed Line Head." You replace the line with precut pieces that are easily installed. If you do not plan to use it a lot (your manual says "For Occasional Use Only"}, this is a good option.

See: http://www.mymowerparts.com/partdetail/1122/25626/13144.php

Did a similar thing to mine. Universal head with precut line.

mhardy6647

polrbehr wrote: »

If it were me, I'd bring it to a local (read:small, independent) shop that works on things
like that, and see what they tell you. You'll pay a few extra bucks for the line, and maybe some labor to install it, but your investment is pretty small to begin with right?

That is an option (which, truth be told, has crossed my mind) -- we have a really good place in nearby W. Lebanon. I like them, and I think they like me after I bought a big Yamaha generator from them last fall :-)

PS when I moved up here... I bought a scythe! :-)

Dennis Gardner

The black braided trimmer line that I buy for mine is in bulk. It is .130 if your trimmer can handle it. The only downside to it is that it works best when kept humidified. That is the reason that precut lines have a sponge in the holder. I have used this stuff for 10 years.

sears.com/craftsman-trimmer-line-hassle-free-iii-10-pcs/p-07185909000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

sears.com/craftsman-130inch-replacement-line-trimmer-xtra-quiet/p-07185913000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CLeSrPL_88wCFQgzaQodPPoLTA&gclsrc=aw.ds

mhardy6647

I'd seen that stuff -- wondered if it would fit this trimmer/head.

In the interest of full disclosure -- I do have a rechargeable string trimmer. It wasn't a high-end one, but it wasn't a cheapie, either. It works well for 90% of what I do with a string trimmer (believe it or not). The only issue with the one I have is fairly short run time. I have two batteries and a quick charger but still having to swap batteries every 15 or 20 minutes or so gets old.

Besides, this 2 stroke was free -- what's not to love? ;-)

tonyb

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Besides, this 2 stroke was free -- what's not to love? ;-)

What's not to love ??

No matter it seems how accurately you mix the oil and gas, the heads still burn up on them eventually. Usually after you pulled an arm out of joint trying to start them, you realize it.

Oh...and Ken and Russ......pick two, yuk yuk yuk .

Nightfall

Speed feed heads are awesome

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqO3kKZttWc

mhardy6647

tonyb wrote: »

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Besides, this 2 stroke was free -- what's not to love? ;-)

What's not to love ??

No matter it seems how accurately you mix the oil and gas, the heads still burn up on them eventually. Usually after you pulled an arm out of joint trying to start them, you realize it.

Oh...and Ken and Russ......pick two, yuk yuk yuk .

ahh, yes, but...

If it's free, it's for me.

Cheap can be a bad investment -- free rarely is (unless there's a disposal charge for the carcass at the landfill).

;-)

For the record, I'm no fan of two-stroke engines, but they do have their place -- lightweight sources of power.
In principle, of course, electric motors are relatively small and lightweight sources of prodigious amounts of torque... but I'd think that all of the oft-spoken caveats for electric cars on these fora apply to electric lawn and garden power equipment, too! (ahem)

Nightfall wrote: »

Speed feed heads are awesome

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqO3kKZttWc

If it physically fits on this ol' battler... sure. :-)

oldrocker

I just restring with simple red string from H depot. Easy peezy..