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Ryobi bumphead from hell
#1
M
motoman
M
motoman
My first trimmer was a 725R and a great unit it was. Then a Craftsman which just died so tried Ryobi again. The unit is ok but the bump head is a hand ( and wrist)-wringing problem. Is this new design to simplify owner operation? I think most would say all is well until that first line jam which requires opening the bump head. The older design simply required loosening a left hand bolt and then loosening the line .
The new unit also is made to come apart and the instruction manual says "turn the two halves" until arrows line up. No movement. Placed in vise and used a pipe wrench. No movement. Unable to access tangled line...stopped. Finally , out of curiosity, cut the unit apart. Still could not slide the halves.
Since the unit was in warranty called factory and was told to return the whole unit for an exchange. Then another number which said a new bump head could be sent but a long lead time. Decided to return unit to H Depot who quickly sent me to aisle 3 for a new bump head kit. Before opening the kit I went on youtube and found numerous "how to's" showing easy opening of the two halves. But one was on my topic. The guy cited "Fix-It" website where an owner pried back the rim of one half and ground down some nubbins which were hanging up the rotation of the two halves. Looking back it seemed that the vise jaw I had used had distorted the flexible plastic rim, making it even more unlikely to rotate apart.
So it was with assured confidence that Ryobi had caught and solved the problem. Wrong. I could not get the brand new bump head to rotate. Shot WD-40 around rim and then forced plumbers grease into rim. Finally with unreasonable wrenching the thing came apart. (This is a user-friendly device used on the electric version also). Next simply spin the left hand threaded bump head onto the shaft. Wrong. Fine print says
"if bump head will not fit call 800 xxx" (Who is running this company???)
The bubble pak did contain a second hex headed, left hand threaded bushing of different pitch which required removing the existing bushing and pressing in (or hammering?) the new one. So how was an 800x phone call to go for the average owner??
A redeeming quality in this mess is that an older drive shaft (accessory) with old-style bump head works with this new unit incase you have thrown the new improved bump head away. I have used the new bubble pak unit now for an hour and the line is jammed. Looking forward to an easy fix. (huh?)
The new unit also is made to come apart and the instruction manual says "turn the two halves" until arrows line up. No movement. Placed in vise and used a pipe wrench. No movement. Unable to access tangled line...stopped. Finally , out of curiosity, cut the unit apart. Still could not slide the halves.
Since the unit was in warranty called factory and was told to return the whole unit for an exchange. Then another number which said a new bump head could be sent but a long lead time. Decided to return unit to H Depot who quickly sent me to aisle 3 for a new bump head kit. Before opening the kit I went on youtube and found numerous "how to's" showing easy opening of the two halves. But one was on my topic. The guy cited "Fix-It" website where an owner pried back the rim of one half and ground down some nubbins which were hanging up the rotation of the two halves. Looking back it seemed that the vise jaw I had used had distorted the flexible plastic rim, making it even more unlikely to rotate apart.
So it was with assured confidence that Ryobi had caught and solved the problem. Wrong. I could not get the brand new bump head to rotate. Shot WD-40 around rim and then forced plumbers grease into rim. Finally with unreasonable wrenching the thing came apart. (This is a user-friendly device used on the electric version also). Next simply spin the left hand threaded bump head onto the shaft. Wrong. Fine print says
"if bump head will not fit call 800 xxx" (Who is running this company???)
The bubble pak did contain a second hex headed, left hand threaded bushing of different pitch which required removing the existing bushing and pressing in (or hammering?) the new one. So how was an 800x phone call to go for the average owner??
A redeeming quality in this mess is that an older drive shaft (accessory) with old-style bump head works with this new unit incase you have thrown the new improved bump head away. I have used the new bubble pak unit now for an hour and the line is jammed. Looking forward to an easy fix. (huh?)
#2
A
Auto Doc's
A
Auto Doc's
Hello motoman,
A "trick" that helps prevent line from jamming up when hot is to wet the cutter head with water before each use. Water actually cools and strengthens the nylon cutter line. Your cutter line will go much further.
Give it a try, you might be surprised.
Along with that, there are companies that make much better "bump" style cutter heads than the stock Ryobi. They usually come with a variety of different thread pitch mounting hardware so they can adapt to different machines.
A "trick" that helps prevent line from jamming up when hot is to wet the cutter head with water before each use. Water actually cools and strengthens the nylon cutter line. Your cutter line will go much further.
Give it a try, you might be surprised.
Along with that, there are companies that make much better "bump" style cutter heads than the stock Ryobi. They usually come with a variety of different thread pitch mounting hardware so they can adapt to different machines.
#3
Tiger Small Engine
Tiger Small Engine
It is a piece of junk, from the trimmer, to the trimmer head. If you have had enough, buy a better brand.My first trimmer was a 725R and a great unit it was. Then a Craftsman which just died so tried Ryobi again. The unit is ok but the bump head is a hand ( and wrist)-wringing problem. Is this new design to simplify owner operation? I think most would say all is well until that first line jam which requires opening the bump head. The older design simply required loosening a left hand bolt and then loosening the line .
The new unit also is made to come apart and the instruction manual says "turn the two halves" until arrows line up. No movement. Placed in vise and used a pipe wrench. No movement. Unable to access tangled line...stopped. Finally , out of curiosity, cut the unit apart. Still could not slide the halves.
Since the unit was in warranty called factory and was told to return the whole unit for an exchange. Then another number which said a new bump head could be sent but a long lead time. Decided to return unit to H Depot who quickly sent me to aisle 3 for a new bump head kit. Before opening the kit I went on youtube and found numerous "how to's" showing easy opening of the two halves. But one was on my topic. The guy cited "Fix-It" website where an owner pried back the rim of one half and ground down some nubbins which were hanging up the rotation of the two halves. Looking back it seemed that the vise jaw I had used had distorted the flexible plastic rim, making it even more unlikely to rotate apart.
So it was with assured confidence that Ryobi had caught and solved the problem. Wrong. I could not get the brand new bump head to rotate. Shot WD-40 around rim and then forced plumbers grease into rim. Finally with unreasonable wrenching the thing came apart. (This is a user-friendly device used on the electric version also). Next simply spin the left hand threaded bump head onto the shaft. Wrong. Fine print says
"if bump head will not fit call 800 xxx" (Who is running this company???)
The bubble pak did contain a second hex headed, left hand threaded bushing of different pitch which required removing the existing bushing and pressing in (or hammering?) the new one. So how was an 800x phone call to go for the average owner??
A redeeming quality in this mess is that an older drive shaft (accessory) with old-style bump head works with this new unit incase you have thrown the new improved bump head away. I have used the new bubble pak unit now for an hour and the line is jammed. Looking forward to an easy fix. (huh?)
#4
A
Auto Doc's
A
Auto Doc's
Not everyone can afford or need a top-of-the-line trimmer. From the sound of things, he only needs a more user-friendly strip bump head.
#5
M
motoman
M
motoman
The basic unit is good so far , tearing into wet, thick weeds as well as any other 2 stroker. The point of the thread is how far off the mark Ryobi went apparently trying to appease those who cannot rewind the old style bumphead with 20 feet of line. Concentration on that set up a spaghetti junction of various "help" calls leading nowhere and tarnishing the brand more than helping it (IMO). A search shows a number of different "appearing, " competing bumpheads with no easy way to filter a good one. (pls chime in) . I am using an old style bumphead salvaged off a junk trimmer bought for $10 at goodwill, but the eyelets have worn down to the plastic.