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MarcG · Sep 6, 2007, 04:18 AM

I've got a brand new Homelite MightyLite string trimmer. It works fine until I hit something that's not vegetation, like a fence post. I'm just brushing the string tip against it, but the string usually breaks off at the head. I then have to open it up, unwind, and re-install.

The line is the .080 that came with the trimmer. Should I get new line? Am I doing something wrong? I've got a long stone wall that needs trimming and don't want to re-do the string every 5 minutes.

Thanks.

--Marc

MOWERMAN2468 · Sep 6, 2007, 07:35 PM

o.k. I will let out a little secret here, soak your weed eater line submerged in water overnight prior to use. Don't ask any questions about this, just try it. The reason I do not want any questions is because the koehler rep. that told me this secret, told me he didn't know how it worked either, just to try it. I now use much less trimmer line.
o.k. as far as it breaking the line off at the head, try staying further back from the objects, use the legnth of the string to REACH the objects.

esquire1 · Sep 6, 2007, 07:45 PM

Soaking line in water. No questions asked and still a secret

MOWERMAN2468 · Sep 6, 2007, 07:59 PM

Hey esquire1,
It works, I don't know how, but just try it, your water is inexpensive and the use of it will greatly reduce the amount of line you use, and GREATLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LINE YOU HAVE TO BUY!! I don't think I have told anyone here that secret before today. I hope that you do not own stock in trimmer line esquire1.

MarcG · Sep 10, 2007, 05:02 AM

Well, I tried soaking the line. I tried all sorts of different ways to trim. Going easy, hard, idling in,. But nothing kept the string from breaking off at the head. Well, one thing did - I returned it to Home Depot and got a B&D cordless. It's not as strong as a gas-powered one, and the battery only lasts about 30 minutes. But my wife can start it, the string hasn't broken yet, and it does what I need it to do.

dooorcounty · Sep 15, 2007, 06:44 AM

Isn't the trimmer line on these tools made of plastic? What good would soaking it do? It's can't change the plastic.

dooorcounty · Sep 15, 2007, 06:48 AM

Speaking of working with types of ""line". This is totally unrelated to trimmer line... but if anyone is on home oxygen I have learned that putting a fresh package of oxygen tubing (out of the plastic bag of course) into the dryer for awhile... and then giving it a stretch when you take it out... will make the tubing lay flat on the floor when you use it. (Otherwise the tubing tends to curl all the time )

MOWERMAN2468 · Sep 15, 2007, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by dooorcounty

Isn't the trimmer line on these tools made of plastic? What good would soaking it do? It's can't change the plastic.

o.k. doorcountry, I instructed that I did not know how this worked. I too said what you said, trimmer line is plastic, no way will soaking it in the water can change the composition or toughness of the line. Our rep told me what I am telling you, just try it, I can not explain it. Well I usually use a large amount of line each season. And this time the 3#spool will be lasting possibly all of next season as well, given that our grass did poorly this year due to the lack of rain, but all in all it works for me.

MOWERMAN2468 · Sep 15, 2007, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by MarcG

Well, I tried soaking the line. I tried all sorts of different ways to trim. Going easy, hard, idling in, ... But nothing kept the string from breaking off at the head. Well, one thing did - I returned it to Home Depot and got a B&D cordless. It's not as strong as a gas-powered one, and the battery only lasts about 30 minutes. But my wife can start it, the string hasn't broken yet, and it does what I need it to do.

Do not ever "idle in" when trimming. The unit is designed to perform at top rpm. So therefore, you should be at full throttle when entering the grass, or weeds.

dyndesign · Oct 5, 2007, 09:42 AM

All plastic or polymer contains a certain amount of moisture. The "secret" that is making this work may be the fact that adding water back in keeps the line flexible. I know when I worked for Fisher Body we made sure that there was not too much or too little moisture in our molding plastic in order to maintain the material's integrity.

MOWERMAN2468 · Oct 5, 2007, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by dyndesign

All plastic or polymer contains a certain amount of moisture. The "secret" that is making this work may be the fact that adding water back in keeps the line flexible. I know when I worked for Fisher Body we made sure that there was not too much or too little moisture in our molding plastic in order to maintain the material's integrity.

At last a solution to the mystery, thanks for your input.