Black and Decker strimmer line not feeding
Updated: October 2026
You tapped the head, or you waited for the automatic feed, and the nylon is either gone or stuck inside the spool. A Black and Decker strimmer line not feeding is usually a spool, a spring, a crossed wind, or a line that snapped on the patio, Replacing the whole machine is the last step, not the first. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and the choice of a new model stay on the [Black and Decker grass trimmer comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/black-and-decker-grass-trimmer). Updated 22 October 2026 by Peter F., DIY and tools editor.
You tapped the head, or you waited for the automatic feed, and the nylon is either gone or stuck inside the spool.
You tapped the head, or you waited for the automatic feed, and the nylon is either gone or stuck inside the spool. A Black and Decker strimmer line not feeding is usually a spool, a spring, a crossed wind, or a line that snapped on the patio, Replacing the whole machine is the last step, not the first. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and the choice of a new model stay on the Black and Decker grass trimmer comparison. Updated 22 October 2026 by Peter F., DIY and tools editor.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Line system | Power | Cutting width | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Black+Decker Black+Decker GL7033-GB | Automatic single line feed (AFS) | Corded, 700 W, 240 V on the title | 33 cm | 8.6 | about £66.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  Black+Decker Black+Decker GL250-GB | Bump feed | Corded, 250 W | 23 cm | 8.2 | about £28.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Black+Decker Black+Decker GL360-GB | Bump feed | Corded, 350 W | 25 cm | 8.0 | about £37.33 | View offer |
On this page
Which feed you own
The fix depends on the head. The GL250-GB and the GL360-GB are bump feed. The GL7033-GB, the 18 V line models and the 36 V BCSTA536B-XJ print automatic feed. Tapping those automatic heads is not their procedure. The BCSTR918D1-GB is a resin blade, so line advice belongs to the other six rows.
Unplug a corded machine. For a cordless tool, take the battery off before you open the head. The first-use setup, including the transit tape and the guard, is the how to use page. If the tape is still on, you have not reached a feed fault yet.
Bump feed on the GL250 and GL360
On these two, the manual's check is short. Unplug. Pull the line out to about 11 cm. Clean the housing, confirm the spring is in place, and rewind in the arrow direction without crossing. That 11 cm length is from this manual, not a figure for the automatic heads.
If a tap while running still does nothing, stop tapping. The spare is an A6226-XJ if the model is one of the three the spool page names. If the motor smoked, as in one GL360 review after about 10 minutes on the third use, the spool is no longer the job.
Automatic feed, and line that will not wait
AFS heads are not bump heads. The GL7033 and the cordless line models are specified as automatic single-line feed.
A broken plastic pin on the actuating lever under an automatic spool can dump line freely, and the support note sends that repair to a service centre. The note does not name the GL7033 or the BCST918. Power off, then inspect.
An Ireland review of the kitted BCST918D1 says the feeder never worked. That is one review, not a percentage. Buying another machine because the first spool is empty is the mistake the buying guide is written to prevent.
The right line, then the repair
Diameter is where the paperwork disagrees, so pick the source that names your model. A6226-XJ is 1.6 mm and 6 m for the GL250, GL310 and GL360. Wind in the arrow direction, without crossing.
Line that snaps on the patio is often the surface. The manual says paving wears line faster. A spool that dumps line in one go is a service-centre repair.
Stop and use a repairer when the mains cord is cut, the RCD will not reset, the socket is hot or buzzing, the motor smokes, or the guard is cracked. Do not splice a flex. A resin-blade kit does not belong in this diagnosis.
Common questions
Why is my Black and Decker strimmer not feeding line?
It depends which head you have. On a GL250 or GL360, unplug, pull about 11 cm of line, seat the spring, and rewind in the arrow direction without crossing, which is the manual's check. On an AFS model such as the GL7033 or the cordless line trimmers, do not tap the head. Clear a jammed wind with the plug out or the battery off. The resin-blade kit has no nylon feed to fix.
The line vanished into the GL360 spool. What now?
Unplug first. UK reviews of the GL360 describe line that snaps or disappears into the spool, and a jam on first use. Open the cover, clean the housing, confirm the spring is seated, and rewind so the line does not cross. Leave about 11 cm out, as the GL250/GL360 manual says, and fit the cover until it snaps. The spare named for this bump-feed family is A6226-XJ, sold as 1.6 mm and 6 m.
Should I tap an AFS head on the ground?
No. Tapping while the motor runs is the bump-feed method for the GL250 and GL360. The GL7033 and the cordless line models are automatic single-line feed. Hitting an AFS head on the path is not the procedure in the sources for this page, and it wears the line you still have. If automatic feed has stopped, remove power and inspect the spool. A line that dumps itself in a loop is a service-centre job.
What diameter line do I wind?
For the GL250, GL310 and GL360, the A6226-XJ spool page says 1.6 mm and 6 m. The auto-feed spare A6481-XJ is 1.6 mm and 10 m, and a trade listing puts that spool in the BCST918D1 kit. Maker pages print 2 mm for the GL360 and GL7033. Good Housekeeping measured 1.5 mm on a GL250. Those cells disagree. Use the spool that names your model, and wind in the arrow direction without crossing.
The spring is missing. Is that a user error?
A spring that is not in its seat will not advance bump-feed line, and refitting it is part of the GL250 manual's check. A spring that was never in the spool, or that you cannot buy, is a parts fault. One GL250 owner reported a replacement spring as unavailable. Look before you decide you wound the line badly.
Line snaps as soon as it hits the patio. Is the spool faulty?
Often it is the surface. The GL250 manual says line wears faster on paving, and BLACK+DECKER support blames debris and hard edges for spool wire that disappears quickly. A new spool will do the same against the same slab edge. Lift the head for that section, or expect to use more line. A spool that empties itself in one burst is a service-centre repair.
Related pages
Sources
Sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk captures named in the digest.
- Electrical Safety First, grass trimmers (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- GL250/GL360 manual (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Black+Decker POWERCONNECT (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- HSE, noise duties for employers (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- RHS, how to garden safely (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- idealo, Black+Decker GL7033, October 2026 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Power Tools Direct, BCST918D1 (retrieved 22.10.2026)