How to String a Milwaukee String Trimmer

On this page (9 sections)

1. What you need before you string a Milwaukee string trimmer
2. How do you remove the spool from a Milwaukee trimmer head?
3. How do you wind the line around the spool?
4. How do you reload and test the head?
5. Which Milwaukee trimmer suits your reloading needs?
6. How do you keep the line from snapping or jamming?
7. How do you string a Milwaukee string trimmer when the head is different?
8. Common reloading mistakes to avoid
9. Which line and trimmer should you buy for easier reloads?

To string a Milwaukee string trimmer, remove the spool, feed the line through the eyelets and wind it evenly around the drum before snapping the head back on. The M18 heads here take .080 inch and .095 inch line, so match the size before you start.

Getting the winding right is the whole job. A spool packed with crossed or over-tight line binds and snaps as soon as the head spins up.

What you need before you string a Milwaukee string trimmer

Gather the right line size, a clean work area and your trimmer's head type first. Most reloading problems start with line that's too thick or too thin for the head.

The M18 2828-20 runs .080 inch and .095 inch line on a bump advance head. The FUEL QUIK-LOK model uses its own head, so check which line size that head accepts before buying a spool.

A 225 foot spool like the Dewalt DWO1DT802 gives you many reloads from one buy. It's .080 inch line, which fits heads rated for that size.

Work on a flat surface with good light. Wear gloves if your line is stiff, since fresh line can whip and cut as you uncoil it.

Weigh the tradeoff before you buy line by the spool. A long spool means fewer trips to the store, but the line has to match the head rating or it will feed badly.

If your trimmer is the 2828-20, a .080 spool like this one is the safe baseline, and .095 is the step up when you want heavier line in thick growth. Whichever you choose, keep the same diameter on both eyelets so the head stays balanced as it spins.

How do you remove the spool from a Milwaukee trimmer head?

Hold the trimmer upside down and press the release tabs to lift the cover. The spool then pulls straight out of the head.

Lay the parts out in order as you take them off. The cover, the spool and any spring belong in a row so they go back in the same way.

Clean grass and dirt from the head while it's open. Clippings packed against the drum stop the bump feed from working smoothly.

If the spool won't lift, turn it slightly rather than prying. Forcing a stuck spool can crack the cover tabs.

Set the trimmer on its side once the spool is out so the shaft doesn't collect dirt. Keep the cover tabs clean as well, since grit there stops the cover seating flat when you press it back on.

How do you wind the line around the spool?

Feed one end through the eyelet, then wind in one direction under light, even tension. Keep each coil next to the last so the line doesn't cross itself.

Follow the arrow on the spool if it has one. Winding against the direction of head rotation makes the line slacken and jam.

Hold the spool with your thumb against the line as you wind. Even pressure keeps the coils flat and stops them from bulging in the middle.

Leave about 7 to 8 inches free at each end when you finish. Too little line won't reach the cutter, and too much tangles in the head.

How much line fits on the spool?

Fill the drum until the line sits just below its full mark, then stop. On a 16 inch head the full load is enough for several trimming sessions, so there's no gain in forcing extra line on.

Both eyelets should end up with a matching length of free line. An uneven load makes the head wobble and feeds one side faster than the other.

How do you reload and test the head?

Thread each line end through its eyelet, seat the spool and press the cover down until the tabs click. Then test the trimmer away from windows and people.

Pull a little line out past the cutter before you start the motor. The head should spin evenly with no rattle or drag.

Bump the head on soft ground while running. New line should feed out in short lengths and the motor should keep its speed.

If the line won't feed, open the head again. The most common cause is line wound too tight against the drum.

A bump advance head rewards a light tap rather than a hard shove into the ground. Tap once and let the head release the line before tapping again.

Two or three light bumps in a row feed more line than one heavy hit and put less strain on the spool.

Which Milwaukee trimmer suits your reloading needs?

Pick the FUEL QUIK-LOK for attachment flexibility and the 2828-20 for a straightforward bump head. Both cut a 16 inch swath at up to 6,200 rpm.

The M18 FUEL model's POWERSTATE brushless motor delivers more power than 31cc gas powerheads according to Milwaukee. Its QUIK-LOK mount takes all 13 Milwaukee attachments.

The 2828-20 is the simpler tool-only trimmer. Its head runs .080 inch and .095 inch line and advances by bumping, so reloading follows the steps above.

Neither model ships with a battery in the base trimmer kit, so plan for an M18 pack. Our Milwaukee string trimmer review covers what each kit includes.

Who should pick each model?

Choose the QUIK-LOK if you want one power head for trimming, edging and other yard jobs. Choose the 2828-20 if you only need a trimmer and already own M18 batteries.

Compare the wider field in our 20V string trimmer guide and the 40V string trimmer guide before you commit to a battery platform.

How do you keep the line from snapping or jamming?

Wind with even tension and avoid overfilling the spool. Most snapping happens because the line is packed too tight or crossed over itself.

Use fresh line and store spare spools dry. Old line that has sat in sun gets brittle and breaks at the eyelet.

Trim at full speed rather than easing into heavy grass. A slow head lets the line catch and drag, which wears it fast.

Clear the line after each session. Wrap the end around the spool holder so it doesn't unwind in storage.

If snapping keeps happening, check the line size against the head rating. A too-thick line rubs the eyelet and fails early.

Keep the cutting swath in mind too. Both Milwaukee trimmers here cut 16 inches, so line that's too long past the cutter gets chopped against fences and walls.

Trim the free ends flush with the cutter before each run and the line lasts longer.

How do you string a Milwaukee string trimmer when the head is different?

Read the head first: a bump head and a fixed head reload in different ways. Milwaukee trimmers here use a bump advance system, so the line feeds from a spool.

On a bump head, the line sits in the drum and feeds when you tap the ground. On a fixed head, you thread short lengths through eyelets and tie them off.

If your trimmer came as an attachment on a QUIK-LOK power head, reload the attachment's head the same way. The motor and shaft stay on the power unit.

For a full walkthrough of the winding technique on other brands, read how to properly string a string trimmer.

Common reloading mistakes to avoid

Crossed line, the wrong size and a loose cover cause most reload failures. Each one is easy to prevent with a careful wind.

Don't wind the two ends in opposite directions. Both sides should coil the same way so the head stays balanced.

Don't pack the drum past its full mark. Overfilling makes the cover sit proud and the spool bind.

Don't run the trimmer with the cover loose. Press each tab until it clicks and tug the spool gently to confirm it's seated.

Don't mix line sizes in one head. Keep both eyelets on the same diameter for even wear and feeding.

Don't skip the bump test after a reload. A quick tap before you start trimming shows whether the line feeds or binds, and a jam is far easier to fix at the shed than in long grass.

Which line and trimmer should you buy for easier reloads?

For anyone learning how to string a Milwaukee string trimmer, match the line to the head and keep a spare spool dry. The .080 inch Dewalt spool covers the M18 2828-20 and heads rated for that size.

Pick the Milwaukee M18 FUEL QUIK-LOK if you want one power head for several yard attachments. Pick the 2828-20 if you already own M18 batteries and just need a 16 inch bump-feed trimmer.

Reload both sides at once, wind evenly and test away from people. That routine keeps the line feeding and the trimmer cutting cleanly all season.

For the wider picture on this line, start with our Milwaukee string trimmer review and then compare the 20V class.

Frequently asked questions

How much line should I pull out before winding?

Pull about 7 to 8 inches of line past the eyelet on each side, which gives enough to feed through the head when you reload it. Trim any excess flush with the cutter so the line doesn't snag on grass or fences.

Can I use .095 line in the QUIK-LOK trimmer?

Use only the size the head calls for. The M18 2828-20 is rated for .080 and .095 inch line, while the FUEL QUIK-LOK model's line rating follows its head.

Pick one size and load both eyelets with it.

Why does the line keep snapping after I reload?

Packing the line too tight or crossing the winds makes it bind and snap when the head spins. Wind in one direction with even tension, keep the coils side by side, and stop filling when the drum is about full.

Do I need to take the head off to reload the line?

No. Hold the trimmer upside down so the spool faces you, press the release tabs and lift the cover and spool out.

Reloading happens from the underside without removing the shaft or the motor housing.

How do I know when the line runs out?

Bump the head while trimming and watch the line length; when bumps stop releasing new line and the trimmer slows in tall grass, the spool is empty. Reload both sides at once rather than adding one side only.