Official Weed Eater parts

Troubleshooting tips for your Weed Eater line trimmer

If you've noticed that your Weed Eater line trimmer is having some problems, then the cause may be a faulty or damaged part. Fortunately, many of these components are simple for a homeowner to repair or replace.

Five common Weed Eater line trimmer parts that break

1. Mow ball—The mow ball is attached to the end of the cutting head. It allows for the string to sit up off the ground and comes in varying heights. The mow ball can often wear out due to constant contact with the ground. The screw that attaches to the end may strip out as well.

2. Carburetor—The carburetor is the mechanism that creates the proper mixture of air and fuel to run the engine on the Weed Eater line trimmer. The main issue that occurs with a carburetor is that it can become clogged and require extreme cleaning. This is a component that you may be better off replacing.

3. Ignition coil—The ignition coil is connected to the end of the spark plug. The spark plug creates an electrical spark that's controlled by the ignition coil. The coil creates the current to cause the spark plug to fire, thus igniting the fuel. Ignition coils can go bad due to extended use or mechanical malfunction.

4. Carrier plate—The carrier plate works in tandem with the spindle assembly. This part is what houses the string or line on the head of the weed eater. The carrier plate has a spring-action mechanism that releases line as needed by striking the ground and releasing the spring lock inside the plate head. This part can break or not release line due to being repeatedly struck against the ground.

5. Spindle assembly—The spindle assembly is associated with the carrier plate as it's the gear-driven part that causes the head to rotate. The assembly sits on the end of a small shaft and rotates with increased or decreased revolutions in tune with the throttle. This part can break simply by wearing out, or the teeth on the gear can break if not properly aligned with the rest of the drive assembly.