Our 52cc brush cutters and 5-in-1 multi-tools are among our best sellers, and the part they use up fastest is trimmer line. Here's how to replace the spool or reload it with fresh line, whether you have the PGBC-5200 brush cutter, the PGBC-5200-BP backpack or the PGMT-5200 multi-tool.

Three ways to get going again

• Complete replacement spool: arrives filled with line and ready to go. The quickest option.
• Self-loading spool head: makes future reloading much easier.
• 2.4mm spool wire: reload your existing spool yourself. The cheapest option if you go through a lot of line.

Before you start

• Switch off and let the engine stop completely.
• Pull the spark plug cap off so it can't start.
• Wear gloves. The guard and blade-mount edges can be sharp.
• Lay the machine down with the head facing up.

Removing the old spool

Important: the spool has a left-hand thread. That means you unscrew it clockwise, the opposite way to a normal screw. Most people who get stuck here are turning it the wrong way.

1. Lock the shaft so it can't turn. Line up the holes in the gear head and insert the locking tool or an Allen key, as shown in your manual.
2. Turn the spool clockwise to unscrew it from the head.
3. Clear any grass wrapped around the shaft and inside the guard.

Fitting the new spool

1. With the shaft still locked, screw the new spool on anticlockwise until it's hand-tight.
2. Remove the locking tool.
3. Check both line ends are out of the eyelets and roughly the same length.
4. Refit the plug cap.

Reloading with new line

1. Cut a length of 2.4mm line. Don't overfill: too much line jams the bump feed.
2. Find the middle and hook it into the slot in the spool's centre.
3. Wind both halves in the direction of the arrow on the spool, keeping them in their own channels, neat and tight.
4. Clip the ends into the notches, feed them through the eyelets and reassemble.

Using bump feed

When the line gets short, tap the head lightly on the ground with the engine at full revs. The spool releases a little more line, and the blade on the guard trims it to length. If tapping doesn't feed any line, the line has probably welded together or been wound loosely, so reload it.

Tip: keep a spare filled spool in the shed. A 3-pack of spools means a two-minute swap instead of rewinding line mid-job.