Thread: We Have Skills Too !!

When I was forced to move from my home to the Boars Nest, my oldest daughter bought me a little 110V weed eater trimmer for my little yard. It worked OK, but it really was a POS as the bump feed never worked well but it would eventually get the edging done. However it finally was dying so I put it in the trash can for a proper burial at the City' Landfill.

I'd been looking at the Stilh gas powered trimmers but with the small yard I just couldn't see justifying it. I also looked at corded trimmers but I hated dragging the cord out and then having to drag it around the lawn.

And then I found that Makita makes a 36V trimmer. I also quickly found that they were on the pricey side and then I found this one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I already used the 18V drill and driver plus the 36V leaf blower so the extra batteries AND a dual charger would be a big plus.

So far I love the machine, but the bump feed sucked! The factory loaded line kept breaking inside of the head and when I opened it up I found the line so intertwined that I couldn't even pull it apart so I cut it out and bought some other line and after struggling to get it properly wound and reinstalled the frigging line once again broke inside the unit.

So what's this got to do with having any skills? Well I went looking for tips on operating the trimmer and found many videos of pro lawn guys swearing by a Speed Feed unit sold by Echo. It's not made by Echo and I guess that there are other companies selling the same thing under their name.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ECHO-Spe...0907/204159249

When you run out of line, you turn an arrow to where it's pointing to where the line feeds out and then feed the line straight through and then pull it up even and just ratchet the line in. No taking the damn thing apart!

The Pro's also showed how that eventually the bumping would wear the plastic to where the spring would actually shoot through the bottom. So what they did was to pull the bottom piece off then remove the spring and drill a hole in the center, install a hex headed bolt and a washer then secure it with a nut inside and reinstall the spring.

This made sense to this old redneck country boy, but----------I wanted to be a bit different. So I picked up a Stainless Steel 5/16"X1" Carriage Bolt, a 3/8" ID fender washer and a 5/16" ID regular washer and a 5/16" self locking nut all in stainless steel and once home I got to work.

I used a small 3 sided file to make four flats on the inside of the fender washer until the shoulder of the bolt would barely pass then I broke out my dapping block and fashioned the washer to match the curve of the bump feed.

The small washer wouldn't fit inside of the plastic tube so I mounted it on a bolt with a nut and got it pretty centered then chucked the bolt in my drill, turned on my stationary grinder and started the drill and ground the OD until it easily fit. I also ground the bolt back to about 3/4" so that my socket wouldn't bottom out.

My 1/2" socket for my 1/4" drive wouldn't fit inside of the tube either but I had an old 1/2" socket made by the C. H. Ina Company so I mounted it on a driver and used my drill and grinder to get it ground down till it would fit.

I did run into a problem when I went to put it all together as the nylon on the locking nut wanted to make the bolt spin but I had a SS regular nut and lock washer. I also broke out some Blue Loctite and the the thing went together really slick.

Enough War and Peace reading. Here's some pics.

That's a very cool and ingenious modification Roy.
I hope that it works well for you, and lasts.

Pete <:-}

Originally Posted by petercp4e

That's a very cool and ingenious modification Roy.
I hope that it works well for you, and lasts.

Pete <:-}

As I said Pete, this modification wasn't my idea, it was someone else's. I just thought that the round head of a carriage bolt and a rounded large OD washer would be easier on the lawn. I also thought that by using an external steel washer AND an internal steel washer that it would beef up the cap.

The Pro Lawn guys probably bump their self feed head on concrete, wood etc a lot more than I ever would. This is the first video I'd found about doing this modification and you'll see where I got the idea from.

I don't know if there was any changes to the head but there is no way a 3/8" Nut would fit inside of the sleeve of my Speed Feed AND be able to get a socket on the nut.. That's why I used a 5/16" bolt, washers and nut.



I went looking and this is where I found out about the Speed Feed in the first place--

Nice idea. Thanks for sharing.

+1 there Roy.
Upgraded a weakness out of the unit and will enjoy it even more as a result.

If all else fails....take up playing the upright bass.....I know guys that use these things strings! Although a little thin for E A and D strings, they are fine for G....and I understand that there are thicker guages, other than the factory supplied one...meaning that you can save money on an expensive set of dedicated bass strings! Just trying to be practical, he he!

That string feeder looks kinda like the Stihl unit’s feeder.

I have one and I have to occasionally open it up to untangle the nylon strings, but feeding string into it is a breeze.

Ok I’m lost. Why did you modify it? I have something like that on my Stihl, and I’m cutting and trimming 2+ acres, it wears out the bottom face? I’ll go look but it’s 3 years old and I haven’t noticed.. by the way, I know your yard is kinda small, but how does this this trim?, I was at the farm store the other day and I’m thinking of battery next time on my trimmer, blower, and chain saw. Stihl guy told me they are holding up pretty good. I already have a Kobalt 80 volt hedge trimmer and it’s a bull, battery last a long time too. Would be nice to get rid of the 2 cycle mix. Or I’ll buy 4 cycle equipment next time

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Ok I’m lost. Why did you modify it? I have something like that on my Stihl, and I’m cutting and trimming 2+ acres, it wears out the bottom face? I’ll go look but it’s 3 years old and I haven’t noticed.. by the way, I know your yard is kinda small, but how does this this trim?, I was at the farm store the other day and I’m thinking of battery next time on my trimmer, blower, and chain saw. Stihl guy told me they are holding up pretty good. I already have a Kobalt 80 volt hedge trimmer and it’s a bull, battery last a long time too. Would be nice to get rid of the 2 cycle mix. Or I’ll buy 4 cycle equipment next time

I guess that my answer would be: "I like to play". As I said the Pro Lawn People will bump their heads far more than I ever will and a lot of the bumping will be on concrete or wood/which I probably won't do. So NO, I didn't need to modify it.

Perhaps to put it in perspective, I've seen and sat on your Fat Boy and also rode along with you.



It seemed like a very nice bike but you wanted to 'Play' and now it's been modified.



A local outfit that sold boats, snow mobiles and Yamaha bikes had a slogan that read; Outdoor Toys For Grown Up Boys.

I hope neither of us ever grows up.

Why did he modify it ?

Because he could!

I am starting to trust modern battery technology in the home use arena. anywhere around my house/yard I can reach with a cord.

The battery is overcharged or it is dead when you need it.

I did recently buy a Milwaukee drill that after using one for work I hope lives up to my expectations.