It’s inconvenient to find your Black & Decker battery-operated weed eater stopped working, especially when you want to maintain your lawn and garden.
However, most of the issues that cause the machine to not work are minor; therefore, you should try troubleshooting it before calling a professional.
In addition, several Black & Decker battery-operated weed eater kits are available on the market, saving you from replacing the whole machine.
In this article, discover everything you need to get your Black & Decker battery-operated weed eater working properly again.
Reasons Why Your Black and Decker Battery Trimmer Stopped Working
The first step in fixing your Black & Decker battery-operated weed eater that stopped working is to determine what caused the issue.
Here are the possible reasons why your cordless grass trimmer doesn’t work:
- Defective battery or charger
- Blocked cutting line
- Missing spring and stoppers on spool cap
- Broken drive shaft
- Faulty power switch
How to Fix a Black & Decker Battery-Operated Weed Eater That Stopped Working
You can fix your Black & Decker battery-operated weed eater in several ways.
These include:
Defective Battery or Charger
When a weak or defective battery is installed, the tool will have reduced runtime, inconsistent power delivery, or fail to turn on altogether.
Other times, your charger may have a frayed or damaged power cord, loose charging port, or internal electrical failure, in which case it will be unable to charge the battery properly.
Follow the following steps to fix this issue:
- Start by locating the battery pack.
- Check the charge level display to see if the battery needs to be recharged.
- If the charge level is low, remove the battery and place it in the compatible charger plugged into a working outlet.
- If the battery charge level displays full but the tool won’t start, inspect where the battery contacts meet the weed eater housing.
- Use a dry cloth or wire brush to gently clean any dirt, debris, or corrosion on the contacts.
- Plug your battery charger into an outlet without the battery installed.
- Verify that the charger’s display indicates it is functioning normally. You can also test it with a multimeter to see if it delivers any current.
- If not, try a different outlet, check for damage to the charger wiring, or obtain a replacement if faulty.
If the battery cannot be revived through charging, replacing the old battery with a new one is the best solution.
However, ensure you choose a battery compatible with the weed eater model for optimal compatibility.
Blocked Cutting Line
The cutting line or string trimmer line slices through vegetation. If this line becomes obstructed, such as wrapping too tightly around a stick, it can burn, break, jam, or stop spinning altogether.
This stops the cutting action and effectively shuts down the weed eater until the line is cleared or replaced. Here is how you fix a blocked cutting line in a black & Decker-operated weed eater:
- At the cutting head, carefully remove any vegetation, dirt, or other debris that may obstruct string line operation using gloves and tools if needed.
- Remove any trimmer line broken, tangled, or worn down too short to function properly.
- Install a new line if it’s beyond repair and cleaning.
Missing Spring and Stoppers on Spool Cap
Battery-powered weed eaters utilize a spring-loaded spool cap to feed the trimmer line during operation. This cap contains a small spring that presses against the line spool, providing tension to prevent loose spinning.
Consistent pressure will no longer be applied to the spool if this spring becomes detached or damaged due to normal wear or impact.
The spool cap also has integrated stoppers that prevent it from rotating more than 360 degrees.
If these stoppers break off the cap, the spool can freely spin continuously in one direction during use. This causes the trimmer line to overrun and tangle rapidly.
Unrestricted spinning will lead to line delivery issues that prevent proper cutting head function. To fix this issue:
- Open the line spool housing and check that the spool cap spring is functional and stoppers are intact.
- Buy a compatible replacement spool cap if either component is missing or damaged.
- Install the new spool cap on your tool.
- Secure the stoppers to prevent the spool cap from coming off during operation.
Broken Drive Shaft
The drive shaft connects the motor to the cutting head. Driveshafts can snap from age, prolonged stress, or jarring impact.
A broken drive shaft prevents power from reaching the trimmer head to spin the cutting line. This mobility and usability failure renders the unit inoperable until the shaft is replaced. To fix a broken drive shaft:
- Use a screwdriver to disassemble the weed eater and assess the drive shaft assembly.
- Once you have access to the drive shaft, thoroughly check it to assess the degree of the damage. Identify the broken or damaged piece that must be replaced.
- Find a replacement drive shaft compatible with your Black and Decker weed eater.
- Lubricate the flexible drive shaft with a tiny amount of lubricant.
- Slide the replacement drive shaft into the drive shaft housing to complete installation.
- Ensure that the flexible shaft is connected to the coupling within the housing.
- Once the replacement drive shaft is properly installed, reassemble the weed eater by replacing all of the components and screws. Ensure that everything is properly aligned and fastened.
Faulty Power Switch
If your Black & Decker battery-operated weed eater stopped working, it could be because of the switch. This power switch activates the electric circuit to engage the motor and cutting head.
Over time, these switches can suffer mechanical failure or electrical malfunctions.
Issues like corrosion, sticking, wire damage, or broken components can lead to intermittent operation or cause the weed eater to stop powering on altogether. To troubleshoot the unit’s power switch:
- Inspect any visible wires or connections for damage like worn insulation, corrosion, loose plugs, or bent pins.
- Repair minor damage with electrical tape or replace wires if necessary.
- Attempt to turn on the weed eater while observing if power flows properly from the battery through switches and to the motor.
- You can also use the circuit continuity feature of your multimeter to test for broken connections.
- If switches or connections are faulty, restore or replace damaged parts.
Reassemble and Retest
The best way to troubleshoot your Black & decker battery-operated weed eater is to reassemble and retest your machine. To do this:
- Reassemble the string trimmer, securely fastening all guards and housing components.
- Install a fully charged battery pack.
- Depress the safety lock and squeeze the throttle trigger to power it on.
- Run for several minutes while observing for normal function.
The unit should operate smoothly without excessive noise, vibration, overheating, or loss of power. If issues continue, contact the manufacturer for repair service.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.