Ryobi trimmers are one of the most popular brands of string trimmers on the market today. They are quite powerful and carry a wide variety of models that easily fit all of your landscaping needs. But with any tool, common maintenance is needed to keep your string trimmer working to it’s fullest potential. I talk to a lot of people that get so frustrated when the tool doesn’t work correctly they simply end up purchasing a new tool, just to run into the same problems a few years later. I have good news though! Most of the Ryobi part repairs that cause these issues are quite easy to do and will ultimately save you a lot of money in the long run. This article is intended to go over a few simple repairs that can increase the life of your machine and in the long run, save some of your hard earned cash!

1. Ryobi Parts, String Trimmer Repair and Standard Maintenance
Ryobi trimmers are one of the most popular brands of string trimmers on the market today.
They are quite powerful and carry a wide variety of models that easily fit all of your landscaping
needs. But as with any tool, regular maintenance is needed to keep your string trimmer working
to its fullest potential. I've talked to dozens of trimmer owners who could have saved their tools
from the trash heap if they had just paid more attention to maintenance. After their trimmers'
performance drops from lack of regular care, many trimmer owners simply buy new tools out of
frustration rather than repairing and maintaining the ones they already have. In my opinion, this
is a terrible waste.
I have good news though! Most of the Ryobi part repairs that cause these issues are quite easy to
perform and will ultimately save you a lot of money in the long run. This article overviews a few simple
repairs that can increase the life of your machine, and--in the long run--save you some of your hard-
earned cash!
The fist and most common Ryobi part needing to be replaced is the trimmer head (also referred
to as the “bump head assembly”). This is the part that releases the string at the foot of the
machine. The trimmer head and cutting line require replacement more often than any other
Ryobi part. The more hard surfaces your string comes into contact with the faster your Ryobi
string trimmer will chew through the cutting line. Separately-sold trimmer line is often available
to help alleviate the cost of replacing the entire string head assembly.
You will have to match the replacement string line to the correct diameter and length that is
appropriate for your trimmer. This information will be available in the owner's manual that
came with your machine. If you are like me and never save the paperwork that comes with the
machine, you can also find this information by contacting Ryobi and providing them with your
model and PPN number.
To change the reel, you should start by turning the on/off switch located on the shaft to the "off"
position. Turn the machine so that the engine portion is resting on the ground with the string head
pointed vertically. Hold the spinning portion of the head tightly to prevent it from spinning. Then, you
will want to unscrew the bump knob in a counterclockwise motion. The bump knob will be on rather
tightly on account of the trimmer's constant spinning.
After removing the bump knob, you will be able to slide the inner reel out of the head. Clean
out any unused string and use a rag to clean out any dirt or grass inside of the head and the
inner reel. Now measure and cut the string from the spool. If you are not quite sure about the
length, your owner's manual will have the recommended length of line for your Ryobi trimmer.
When you have cut your line to the correct length, fold the line directly in half so that it is equal
in length on both ends of the line. Now feed the ends of the line through the holes located on
the top of the inner reel. Keep feeding the lines through these holes until you can pull the line

2. through both of the sides equally, making the loop inside as tight as possible. Now hold the reel
and place your thumb in the center of the two lengths keeping them separated.
There will be an arrow indicating the direction to wind the spool on your trimmer's inner reel.
As you are winding, it is important to keep tension on the string to so that the line is wound as
tightly as possible and in even rows. Make sure that the rows do not overlap one another. This
will keep the line from knotting up or coming undone during use. Now simply feed the
remaining 5 inches into the holding slots on each side of the reel. Feed the ends through the
outer eyelets on the head of the assembly and fit the inner reel back into the housing. With the
reel back in the housing, simply hold the reel firmly and pull the lines on each side to detach
them from the inner holding slots. Then, reattach the tap button and tighten it on the trimmer
head in a clockwise motion.
If replacing the entire trimmer head assembly sounds better to you than re-spooling cutting
line, you can also purchase genuine Ryobi parts like the spool, outer housing, bump head knob,
or even the entire assembly. If you can’t find the appropriate head, there are many universal
heads that can attach to your Ryobi as a replacement as well. For helpful guides and video
tutorials, I recommend using eReplacementParts.com. It is the most effective way to locate the
correct Ryobi Parts and schematic breakdowns no matter the year or style of your trimmer.