How to change strimmer line
Updated: October 2026
The 2.0 mm reel is on the bench, the bump head is empty, and one tail is longer than the other. How to change strimmer line, for this diameter, is the head you actually own: power off, a soak that matches the source you are following, equal ends, and the knife on the guard. A US guide written for .095 inch line will overfill a 2.0 mm eyelet. Which reel to buy stays on the [2 mm trimmer line comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/trimmer-line-2mm). Updated on 16 October 2026 from STIHL UK’s replacement guide, a Husqvarna bump-head note, and the review notes in this set. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The 2.0 mm reel is on the bench, the bump head is empty, and one tail is longer than the other.
The 2.0 mm reel is on the bench, the bump head is empty, and one tail is longer than the other. How to change strimmer line, for this diameter, is the head you actually own: power off, a soak that matches the source you are following, equal ends, and the knife on the guard. A US guide written for .095 inch line will overfill a 2.0 mm eyelet. Which reel to buy stays on the 2 mm trimmer line comparison. Updated on 16 October 2026 from STIHL UK’s replacement guide, a Husqvarna bump-head note, and the review notes in this set. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Shape | Pack | Length | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Oregon Oregon round 2.0 mm, 127 m | Round | Donut claimed | 127 m | 9.1 | about £16.07 | View offer |
| Alternative |  FEPITO FEPITO round 2.0 mm, 100 m | Round | Loose hank | 100 m | 6.0 | about £8.99 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  Zeqeey Zeqeey round 2.0 mm, 150 m | Round | Spool | 150 m (492 ft on the title) | 7.7 | about £14.99 | View offer |
On this page
Power off, then the head you actually have
Stop the machine before you open anything. On a cordless trimmer, take the battery out. On a mains machine, unplug it, and use an RCD outdoors. Long trousers, covered shoes, and glasses belong with the job. STIHL UK notes that a visor alone leaves the eyes exposed. Do not pull a spark-plug lead on a battery machine.
STIHL UK describes three patterns, and other brands are not copies of them. An AutoCut lets line out when you tap the head while the motor runs. A standard head opens, and you wind with the arrows on that spool. A Comfort head, the letter C in the name, feeds in one eyelet and out the other, then you twist the underside. There is no single direction for every brand. If your head has no arrow, use that model’s manual. The diameter check is on the 2mm strimmer line buying guide.
Soak before you wind
Dry nylon snaps and welds. The soak time is not one number. STIHL UK’s replacement page says at least 24 hours, reel left wound. The same company’s CF3 2.0 mm and AutoCut 2-2 pages say 12 to 24 hours. Zeqeey’s bullet says 24 to 48 hours for stored line. Oregon 15 m reviews mention about two hours, which is reviewer practice, not a printed instruction. Pick the range that belongs to the line in your hand.
Do not unwind a STIHL reel before the soak that advice page describes. Do not copy a 7 m, 10 m, or 13 foot fill onto every 2.0 mm head. A thicker line means less on the spool. AutoCut 25-2 lengths are for that head, not for an AutoCut 2-2.
Equal ends, then the guard knife
Husqvarna’s bump-head note says uneven lengths vibrate. Match the tails before you close the head or twist a Comfort underside. On a bump head, fit the guard and let the knife cut the swath once the machine is running. Do not run with the guard off. If the knife is missing, the line grows until it strikes the housing.
Square line changes the step. Viabrico’s reviews call 2.0 mm square cord hard to load. If the corner will not enter, stop. FEPITO’s hank tangles before it reaches the head, so rewind it onto a drum first.
When it still will not feed
A bump that does nothing usually means a crossed wind, an overfilled spool, a curled end, or nylon that is still dry. Open the head, battery out or plug pulled, and strip back to a clean wind. A short tail at high speed can soften nylon until it welds. Cut a melted lump out. Do not keep bumping in the hope that it clears.
Winding a .095 guide’s length of 2.0 mm into a small head can pack the spool solid. If 2.0 mm will not enter, go back to the manual. Stop and use a dealer when the head or guard is cracked, the knife is missing, you want a metal blade the head was not sold with, or a petrol machine leaks or runs on at idle. Product skips are on best 2mm strimmer line.
Common questions
Do I open the head or feed the line from the outside?
It depends on the head. STIHL UK says a standard head opens and winds with the arrows. A Comfort head feeds in one eyelet and out the other, then you twist the underside. An AutoCut lets line out by a tap while the motor runs. Use the arrow on your spool, not a video of a different head.
How long do I soak the line?
Use the range your source actually gives. STIHL UK’s replacement page says at least 24 hours, reel left wound. CF3 and AutoCut 2-2 say 12 to 24 hours. Zeqeey says 24 to 48 hours for stored line. An Oregon review of about two hours is not a printed instruction. Do not average those into one soak.
What if one end is longer than the other?
Even them before you run the machine. Husqvarna’s bump-head note says uneven lengths vibrate. On a Comfort head, match the ends before you twist the underside. On a guarded bump head, fit the guard and let the knife cut a fresh feed to length.
Why will the line not come out when I bump the head?
Look for a crossed wind, an overfilled spool, a curled end, or line that is still brittle. A curly Oregon end had to be stretched before it would feed. Square line can refuse a tight eyelet. Welded nylon has to be cut out. Bumping in long grass does not clear a stuck spool.
Can I follow a .095 inch guide with 2.0 mm line?
You can borrow the idea of even ends and an arrow. You cannot borrow the footage. Husqvarna’s chart gives .080 inch, which is 2.0 mm, a longer maximum fill than .095 on those heads. Wind what your housing allows. AutoCut 25-2 lengths are for that head, not for an AutoCut 2-2.
When should a dealer load it or replace the head?
When the head or the guard is cracked, the line knife is missing, you need a metal blade the trimmer was not built for, or a petrol machine leaks or keeps running at idle. Also stop if you cannot tell which feed the head uses. Take the battery out, and take the machine in.
Related pages
Sources
Sources checked for this comparison; last retrieved on 16 October 2026.
- Oregon UK, yellow round trimmer line 2.0 mm, 15 m, 69-356-Y (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Oregon UK, yellow round strimmer line 2.0 mm, 127 m, 69-358-Y (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- amazon.co.uk, Oregon Nylium Silencio 2.0 mm, B086XZL1Z4 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- STIHL UK, AutoCut mowing head 2-2 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- STIHL UK, CF3 Pro mowing line 2.0 mm (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First, grass trimmers (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, brush-cutter safety bulletin (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, noise nuisances: how councils deal with complaints (retrieved 16 October 2026)