PO Box 2025, Lincoln, CA 95648
Troubleshooting and Installation FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequent installation questions or mistakes.
Please reach us at info@cmdproducts.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
If you are having this problem then flip the GrassGator head the other way as you are trying to install it upside down. The side with the hex-shaped hole should be facing the ground, not your trimmer. The hex-shaped recessed hole is for the nut or bolt from the kit that fits the shaft of your trimmer not for the hex nut on top of the shaft.
The original head has a hex-shaped hole that plugs into that nut and logic says that the new replacement head should install the same way as the original. We can't quite do that. For our heads to be universal, we had to find a way to make the size of that hex nut irrelevant otherwise, we would have to make hundreds of different heads that are brand specific because the size of that nut changes based on the brand and model. How does it work? Just like the original: when the shaft turns, the nut turns, and because the nut is encased in that hex-shaped hole when the nut turns then the GrassGator head turns with it. Same concept as the original head but upside down so we can control the size of the hex.
Make sure you are following all the steps of the Straight Shaft installation method.
If your trimmer is a Curved Shaft or follows the Curved Shaft installation method and the hex nut on top of the shaft is exposed then you removed the original spool housing. You need to keep the original spool housing on to follow the Curved Shaft installation method correctly. Also, the side with the hex-shaped hole should be facing the ground, not your trimmer. The hex-shaped recessed hole is for the nut or bolt from the kit that fits the shaft of your trimmer not for the hex nut on top of the shaft.
The original head has a hex-shaped hole that plugs into that nut and logic says that the new replacement head should install the same way as the original. We can't quite do that. For our heads to be universal, we had to find a way to make the size of that hex nut irrelevant otherwise, we would have to make hundreds of different heads that are brand specific because the size of that nut changes based on the brand and model. How does it work? Just like the original: when the shaft turns, the nut turns, and because the nut is encased in that hex-shaped hole, when the nut turns then the GrassGator head turns with it. Same concept as the original head but upside down so we can control the size of the hex.
Put the original spool housing back on the trimmer and make sure you are following all the steps of the Curved Shaft installation method correctly.
For our heads to be universal, we had to find a way to make the size of that hex nut irrelevant otherwise, we would have to make hundreds of different heads that are brand specific because the size of that nut changes based on the brand and model. How does it work? Just like the original: when the shaft turns, the nut turns, and because the nut is encased in that hex-shaped hole when the nut turns then the GrassGator head turns with it. Same concept as the original head but upside down so we can control the size of the hex.
Because of that, make sure that you are using one of the nuts or bolts that came in the GrassGator kit. DO NOT use the nut or bolt that came with your trimmer. The nut or the head of the bolt must fit perfectly in the hex-shaped recessed hole. Anything bigger will not allow the GrassGator head to turn. Anything smaller will round up the center of the GrassGator and render it useless.
This usually happens when:
- The original head on your trimmer is a fixed-line head.
- Your trimmer is a straight shaft and you took the original head apart in pieces.
- Your trimmer is one of the rare exceptions where a straight shaft follows the curved shaft instructions.
If the original head of your trimmer is a fixed (pre-cut) line style then you'll need an adapter kit to take care of the extra space. More information about the kit and how to request it here .
If your trimmer is a straight shaft, make sure you unscrew the original head off instead of taking it apart in pieces. More often than not, there is a "shaft extender" or "spool shaft" inside the head. This is a hollow cylinder that screws onto the male portion of the shaft to make it longer for the bolt on the bottom of the spool to thread into. Two big giveaways that this is the case are: the bolts in the kit are too small for the shaft and you can see a second hex "nut" above the one on the top of the shaft extender. If that's the case then put the original head back together, lock the shaft, and unscrew the whole original head as a complete unit as explained on step 1 of the straight shaft instructions, the spool shaft should come off with it and you will end up with a short shaft (about 1" long) threaded on the outside.
If your trimmer is a straight shaft, you already removed the original head as a complete unit but the shaft is still about 3" long then you have one of the rare cases when a straight shaft trimmers follows the curved shaft installation method. Follow the curved shaft installation instructions to solve your problem.
Curved shaft trimmers usually have a threaded shaft that's about 3" long.. That's too long to install the GrassGator head by itself. To fix that problem you leave the original spool housing on and use the cup provided in the kit. Without the original spool housing, there's nothing stopping the cup from sliding all the way up. Make sure you are following the Curved Shaft installation instructions correctly.
If you no longer have the original spool housing then call, text or chat (when available) to request a special adapter kit (R5605).
We include a bag with 7 nuts and 2 bolts in the GrassGator kit. These nuts and bolts should fit 90% of the brands and models in the market but there are always some exceptions.
Always double-check that:
- You got all 7 nuts and 2 bolts
- The brass-colored nuts are left-hand threaded while the silver are right-hand.
- Most straight-shaft trimmers are on a reverse thread. When trying the brass-colored nuts try screwing them to the left, not the typical "lefty-loosey / righty-tighty".
- Make sure you try all the nuts and bolts. They may look the same but are all different sizes
If you double-checked all the nuts/bolts and none of them fit then go to the Brands section to see which size your model requires and for instructions on how to request one.
Make sure you are weaving the lines through the head correctly. Follow the line loading instructions.
The nut on the GrassGator head is self-tightening so technically, because it spins the same way it tightens, it should not come loose. Actually, once you use the trimmer for a few minutes the nut will take one of two more threads and get even tighter. However, if your trimmer doesn't have a clutch, the clutch is not working properly or you have a centrifugal clutch, it may cause some issues. When you pull the starter, the head will first spin backward before eventually engaging and spinning in the right direction. If you have to pull the starter a few times then it’s even worse. By the time the trimmer finally starts the head may be hanging by a thread (literally) so any slight vibration or hitting something hard may cause it to fall off.
To fix this issue use the trimmer with the original head first for 5 - 10 minutes. That will not eliminate the kickback but it will lessen it plus, the trimmer should now start on the first pull. After that, stop and install the GrassGator head as fast as you can and get it as tight as you can by hand (without overdoing it). Start the trimmer with the GrassGator head installed and use it non-stop for another 10 minutes but just on grass. Nothing too thick, to give the fastener the opportunity to get all the threads it needs. After that, the head shouldn’t fall off again. You only need to do this once unless you have a bladed unit. In that case, you may have to do it every time you remove the GrassGator head to change blades.
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