Skil Rapid Reload Trimmer Head

First impressions and setup

I installed the Rapid Reload head on a SKIL PWR CORE 40 brushless trimmer (14-inch deck) and later tried it on a PWR CORE 20 brushless trimmer (13-inch deck). Fitment was straightforward: lock the shaft, unthread the old head, and thread this one on in the direction indicated on the housing. The promise here is speed—quick line loading without taking the head apart—and a familiar bump-feed mechanism. On paper it accepts 0.080-inch line (twisted profile recommended) and holds roughly 19 feet.

Right out of the box, the design is appealing. The spool has clear directional arrows, the eyelets are aligned for straight-through loading, and the top cap is textured for an easy grip while winding. If you regularly chew through line, the ability to reload without wrestling spring clips and tiny parts is a genuine time saver.

Loading line: fast, with a few caveats

The quick-load method works as advertised. Cut a length of 18–19 feet of 0.080-inch line, align the arrows on the head, thread the line straight through both eyelets until the ends are even, and then twist the top to wind it in. With practice, I was able to reload in under a minute every time. I tested with SKIL’s twisted 0.080-inch line and a third-party round 0.080-inch; both loaded easily, though the twisted line fed a touch smoother and cut a bit cleaner in tall fescue.

A few notes improve reliability:

• Don’t exceed the 19-foot capacity. Overfilling encourages binding.
• Keep tension on the line as you wind to prevent crossing turns.
• If the line has set memory from a tight coil, stretch it straight before loading to reduce kinks.
• Stick to 0.080-inch. Heavier gauges will stress the head and jam more readily.

Bump-feed performance in the yard

On the first couple of sessions, line advance was predictable. A light tap on the ground at about half throttle released a fresh bite of line, and I could keep moving without stopping. Cutting around planter beds, siding, and fence posts went smoothly, and the twisted line generated less whine than round line.

As I pushed into denser material and curbing, the behavior changed. After three battery cycles on the 40V trimmer, the feed became intermittent. Periodic sticks required me to power down, bump the head by hand to free the line, and restart. Dirt intrusion seemed to contribute—edging along a dusty curb packed debris into the openings, and one small pebble lodged under the spool lip. Cleaning it out restored function, but feed hiccups resumed later in the day.

The other factor is the surface you bump against. If you’re in the habit of tapping hard on concrete, the bump cap takes a beating. The cap material on this head is on the thin side and shows wear quickly. Light, frequent taps on turf kept things working better than the occasional firm whack on hard surfaces.

Durability concerns

Across roughly six hours of mixed trimming over three weekends, the head accumulated more wear than I’d expect. The bump cap mushroomed and thinned where it meets concrete, the retaining tabs relaxed a bit, and the central spring seat began to wallow. I eventually had the spring jump out when disassembling the head to clear a jam, and on one opening the cap felt alarmingly easy to flex. There’s a lot of plastic doing structural work here, and it doesn’t inspire confidence for heavy use.

To be fair, a bump head is a wear item, and they all succumb to abrasion and impacts. But the Rapid Reload head seems less tolerant of the knocks that come with edging against curbs, chain-link, and landscaping stone. If your trimming is mostly soft edging on grass and mulch, it may hold up better. If you routinely tackle overgrown fence lines and hardscape edges, expect accelerated wear.

Serviceability and parts availability

The quick-load system means you rarely need to open the head. When you do, the tabs can be stubborn, and popping it apart without launching the spring takes a careful grip and a small flathead screwdriver. Reassembly is straightforward once you’ve done it a couple of times, but I wouldn’t call it tool-free in practice.

Finding a replacement was another snag. The head is reasonably priced on paper, but it wasn’t consistently stocked locally for me. I had to order online and wait. If you rely on weekend availability from a nearby store, plan ahead or keep a spare on hand.

One more note on compatibility: this head is designed for the PWR CORE 40 (14-inch) and PWR CORE 20 (13-inch) brushless trimmers. Universal heads may not fit without adapters, and thread directions vary by model, so check before you assume you can swap in a more robust aftermarket option.

What it does well

• Fast reloads: The pass-through loading and twist-to-wind design genuinely reduce downtime. For small yards, this is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement.
• Clean cutting with twisted line: Using 0.080-inch twisted line, cut quality is good and noise is modest.
• Balance and vibration: On both the 20V and 40V brushless trimmers, the head stayed balanced with an even wind and didn’t add noticeable vibration.

Where it falls short

• Durability of the bump cap and core: Frequent bumps on hard surfaces, or any misaligned strike, quickly chew the cap and stress the core. The plastic components feel undersized for rough duty.
• Inconsistent feed as the head wears: Once debris gets in or the spool lip scuffs, the bump feed becomes less predictable, leading to stops and manual intervention.
• Parts access: Replacements aren’t always on the shelf locally, which turns a wear event into downtime.

Tips to extend life and reliability

• Bump on turf, not concrete. Short, light taps are better than infrequent hard hits.
• Keep the line within capacity (18–19 ft total), and wind under firm tension for a neat coil.
• Use 0.080-inch twisted line; avoid thicker gauges that can bind and stress the mechanism.
• After dusty work, pop the battery, wipe the head, and blow out the eyelets and spool lip.
• Store the trimmer out of direct sun. UV and heat accelerate plastic embrittlement.
• A small dab of dry PTFE lube on the spool rim can reduce friction without attracting grit.

Who is it for?

If you’re maintaining a smaller yard with mostly soft edging—grass, mulch borders, light weeds—and you value quick, fuss-free reloads, the Rapid Reload head is convenient. On the PWR CORE 20 brushless trimmer around ornamental beds, it kept pace and minimized downtime.

If your routine includes curb edging, aggressive work around stone, or frequent contact with chain-link, the head’s plastic construction is likely to be a weak point. The same goes for users who run multiple battery packs back-to-back on a half-acre or more: heat, abrasion, and impacts compound quickly in those conditions.

Alternatives to consider

• If you’re committed to the SKIL platform, look for a more robust bump head that’s explicitly compatible, ideally with a metal-reinforced bump cap. Verify thread size and direction before buying.
• If you can’t source a stronger head in the system, consider dialing back technique: slower passes at the curb, and more frequent, lighter bumps. It’s not as fast, but it preserves the head.
• For heavier trimming, some universal aluminum heads accept pre-cut line segments. You’ll lose the bump-feed convenience, but gain durability.

Bottom line and recommendation

The Rapid Reload head nails the convenience of fast, tool-free line loading and pairs well with SKIL’s brushless trimmers for light-duty yard work. However, the bump-feed mechanism and overall construction don’t hold up well under the kind of routine impacts and abrasion that come with edging against hard surfaces or tackling tougher growth. In my use, feed reliability degraded as wear set in, and the plastic components showed premature fatigue. Replacement availability was hit-or-miss locally, adding frustration to a part that wears by design.

I wouldn’t recommend this head for users who regularly edge concrete, work along chain-link, or put in extended trimming sessions. The downtime and replacement cycle outweigh the reload convenience. If your trimming is gentler and you’re disciplined about technique—light taps on turf, clean and maintain after dusty work—it can be a workable, time-saving solution. For most homeowners who want a durable, low-maintenance head, I’d look for a sturdier design with better wear resistance, even if it means sacrificing the rapid-load feature.