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Bosch strimmer line keeps breaking

Updated: October 2026

You fitted a new Bosch grass trimmer, walked it along the patio edge, and the line was gone before the first metre was tidy. Sometimes it snaps, sometimes it jams, and sometimes it vanishes into the spool. The usual causes are a light line hitting paving, the wrong thickness, or a feed you have not learned yet. This page stays on that fault. Models and prices are on the [Bosch grass trimmer comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/bosch-grass-trimmer). Peter F. updated this on 22 October 2026 from Bosch DIY pages and amazon.co.uk review patterns, without a destructive spool test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You fitted a new Bosch grass trimmer, walked it along the patio edge, and the line was gone before the first metre was tidy. Sometimes it snaps, sometimes it jams, and sometimes it vanishes into the spool.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch AFS 23-37

Best overall

Bosch Bosch AFS 23-37
9.2/10about £124.90
View offer
Bosch Bosch ART 30

Alternative

Bosch Bosch ART 30
8.6/10about £72.99
View offer
Bosch Bosch EasyGrassCut 26

Best value

Bosch Bosch EasyGrassCut 26
8.4/10about £29.94
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Why the line snaps on the first edge
  2. 2.The feed system on these listings
  3. 3.Reloading without a jam
  4. 4.What not to do when it still fails

Why the line snaps on the first edge

UK reviews of the EasyGrassCut 26 return to the same first afternoon: the supplied line snaps as soon as it meets a hard edge. ART-series troubleshooting text says the line breaks if it hits stones, walls or paving, or if you cut with more than the tip. Lift the head so the tip ticks the grass, and keep nylon off the path. Bosch DIY prints 1.6 mm line, 4 m on the spool, for the EasyGrassCut 26. That is not a bramble cord. The AFS figure is 3.5 mm, with a separate blade. Those spools are not interchangeable. The ART 30 does not print a millimetre size, so this page will not invent one.

The feed system on these listings

On the EasyGrassCut 26 and the EasyGrassCut 18V-26, the line feeds when you release the trigger. An EasyGrassCut manual text puts that pay-out at about 10 mm. Your booklet wins if it differs. The 18V-26-500 says the same idea: semi-automatic, on trigger release. The ART 30 is automatic twin line, one end in each compartment. The 18V-260 names IntelliFEED and does not want a bump. Unplug or remove the battery before a rewind. That sequence is on the how to use page.
Bosch Bosch AFS 23-37

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch AFS 23-37
9.2/10about £124.90
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Reloading without a jam

A jam usually means the line was wound loosely or too long, so a loop pulls the free end back inside. Wind it tightly in the direction the shell marks. Bosch DIY prints 1.6 mm and 4 m for the EasyGrassCut 26. Do not stuff a 6 m UniversalGrassCut wind into that shell. Seat the cover and run the feed once in grass, with the guard on. A thicker line can jam a 1.6 mm spool. The buying guide separates a 26 cm edger from the AFS.

What not to do when it still fails

Leave the guard on. One UniversalGrassCut 18V-260 reviewer removed the guard because the line would not hold a working length. Do not copy that. If the spool will not hold length, the fault is the wind, the diameter, or a damaged eyelet. Do not fit a metal chain head because the nylon keeps breaking. OPSS product-safety report 2103-0152 describes chain-flail heads that can throw metal and do not meet the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Do not move the AFS blade, or the AFS 3.5 mm line, onto an EasyGrassCut or an ART 30. If the diameter matches the booklet and the line still will not feed, talk to the seller or Bosch with the tool unplugged.

Common questions

Why does a new Bosch line snap in the first metre?
It is usually hitting paving, stones or a wall, or you are cutting with the side of the line rather than the tip. Bosch DIY prints a light 1.6 mm line for the EasyGrassCut 26. Lift the head, sweep with the tip, and keep nylon off the slab. A new spool used the same way will snap again.
What thickness does Bosch print for the EasyGrassCut 26?
Bosch DIY prints 1.6 mm line, 4 m on the spool, for the EasyGrassCut 26. An EasyGrassCut manual text also talks about rewinding about 4 m. Use that pair for this model, and use your booklet if the part number prints something else. Do not copy the AFS figure of 3.5 mm onto the EasyGrassCut.
Can I put thicker line on to stop the snapping?
A spool made for 1.6 mm can jam with thicker line, and a 280 W head is not listed as a heavy-cord tool. Keep the printed diameter and cut so the tip misses the paving. If the growth needs a heavier line, the AFS is its own machine, not a spool you rob.
How does trigger-release feed differ from IntelliFEED?
On the EasyGrassCut models and the 18V-26-500, line feeds when you release the trigger, a short pay-out rather than a bump. An EasyGrassCut manual text puts that advance at about 10 mm. IntelliFEED, on the 18V-260, feeds to the full width without bumping. The ART 30 is automatic twin line, wound as two ends.
Why does the line vanish into the spool?
A loose or crossed wind lets a loop pull the free end back through the eyelet, so the head spins and looks empty. Open it only after the tool is unplugged or the battery is off, discard the tangle, and rewind tightly to the length your booklet or the matching DIY page prints. A cover that is not fully seated does the same thing on the next trigger.
Should I take the guard off if the line will not hold length?
No. A review on the 18V-260 described removing the guard so the line would hold a working length. Do not copy it. Stop, remove the power, and check the wind, the diameter and the eyelet. The guard stays on for every cut.
Is a metal chain head a cure?
No. A chain-flail head is not a fix for snapping nylon. OPSS has reported universal chain-flail heads that can throw metal and do not meet the UK supply-of-machinery rules. Replace line at the printed thickness, cut with the tip, and keep the guard on. If the tool still will not feed, use the seller or Bosch.

Related pages

Bosch cordless vs corded strimmer

Bosch grass trimmer

Best Bosch grass trimmer: edge, cordless or brambles

Bosch grass trimmer buying guide: job, then the box

How to use a Bosch grass trimmer: trim, edge, stop

Sources

Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings for this set. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

  1. Bosch DIY UK grass trimmers (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  2. Bosch DIY EasyGrassCut 26 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  3. Bosch DIY AFS 23-37 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  4. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  5. Electrical Safety First: grass trimmers (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  6. HSE: electrical equipment and RCDs (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  7. OPSS product safety report 2103-0152 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  8. Expert Reviews: best grass trimmers 2026 (retrieved 22.10.2026)