Black & Decker Trimmer Line Replacement Spool (Dual Line, .065 in)

Why I reached for this spool

A patchy feed and frayed trim line can turn a quick cleanup into a stop‑and‑start chore. After a couple of sessions wrestling with a worn spool on my Black & Decker trimmer, I swapped in the DF-065 spool—the dual-line, .065-inch factory-wound replacement designed for the brand’s auto‑feed heads. I was after consistent feeding without bumping, and a cleaner cut edge along beds and fences.

Compatibility and fit

This is a dual-line, .065 in (1.65 mm) spool intended for Black & Decker’s AFS (automatic feed system) trimmers that accept the DF‑065 format, including the GH700 and GH750. If your trimmer uses a single-line spool, this won’t fit your needs. It’s worth checking the code inside your spool cap and your manual—dual-line vs single-line is the key distinction, followed by the spool family. On my compatible trimmer, the DF-065 seated correctly, the eyelets aligned, and the cap snapped back in with a reassuring click.

Physically, it’s a light, compact cartridge. The plastic hub feels standard fare—neither flimsy nor overbuilt—but the uniform factory wind is the draw: it’s tight, even, and ready to drop in.

Installation: simple in theory, fussy in practice

Factory-wound spools are meant to be drop-in, and that’s mostly true here, but a little technique helps avoid a mess:

• Remove the battery or unplug before you start.
• Press the two tabs and pop off the cap.
• Keep tension on both line tails as you seat the spool; don’t let them spring back into the coil.
• Thread each tail through the trimmer head eyelets first, then push the spool home while maintaining light tension.
• Rotate the spool slightly until it nests; you’ll feel it sit flat.
• Reinstall the cap and give each line a gentle tug to confirm free movement.

The only hiccup I had on my first try was letting the line relax while fumbling with the cap, which let a loop pop loose under the wind. Once that happens, hand-rewinding tightly enough to prevent future tangles is tedious. The fix is prevention: always keep the lines slightly taut during install.

In use: dual-line smoothness with light-duty bite

On grass, lawn edges, and around posts, the dual-line setup cuts smoother than a comparable single-line .065 configuration. Because there are two cutting points, you get a cleaner swath with fewer stringy tufts left behind. I noticed less chatter at the head and fewer scallops along garden borders. The .065 diameter is a light-duty standard; it’s ideal for regular lawn trimming but not meant for heavy, woody weeds or thick, dried stems. In those areas, you’ll chew through line quicker and may need multiple passes.

The auto-feed behavior was predictable. With AFS, the trimmer advances small increments when the line shortens, rather than relying on a bump feed. The DF‑065’s consistent wind helps the mechanism do its job; I didn’t experience the “bursts” of overfeed that can happen with uneven spools. Walking the perimeter of a small yard—sidewalks, fence line, and a couple of raised beds—I could keep moving without stopping to tug the line out.

Feed consistency and jams

A good spool should be boring: it should just work. Over several sessions, I had one minor hiccup—a brief hang-up where one line didn’t advance. A quick tap of the trigger to start/stop the head, plus a firm pull on the stubborn tail, cleared it. In my experience, most feed issues with AFS trace back to wind quality and installation tension. The DF‑065’s factory wind stacks the deck in your favor. If you do manage to spill the wind during install, expect more fuss later; a loose loop under tension tends to cause mid‑job snarls.

Line life and breakage

Line longevity depends on what you’re cutting and what you hit. Grass and fresh growth are kind; chain link, concrete, and brick are not. With careful edging and a light touch around hardscapes, a single 40‑foot spool got me through several small jobs before noticeably shrinking. Dual-line means you have two tails consuming line at once, so you’ll go through material faster than a single-line system per minute of runtime—but you’ll often finish sooner thanks to the cleaner, wider cut.

The .065 line here is middle‑of‑the‑road: flexible enough for smooth feeding, firm enough to maintain a crisp edge on grass. It’s not the tougher, abrasive‑resistant blend you see on thicker gauges, so it will nick and shorten quickly if you ride it against concrete.

Noise, vibration, and balance

Swapping to this spool didn’t change the trimmer’s balance or noise meaningfully. Dual-line heads can feel a touch smoother because the opposing lines balance rotational forces better than a single strand. That was true here—less buzz, more hum. Vibration at the handle was modest and consistent.

Maintenance and respooling

One benefit of this design is the option to respool the cartridge with bulk .065 line if you want to stretch value or reduce plastic waste. The hub is marked with directional arrows. If you rewind:

• Use .065 in line only; larger diameters won’t feed correctly.
• Pre-cut equal lengths for both channels and maintain firm, even tension as you wind.
• Leave the short retaining tails in the notches until the spool is in the head and threaded through the eyelets.
• Avoid overfilling; a slightly underfilled spool feeds more reliably than one packed to the brim.

Storing spare spools in a sealed bag away from sun and heat helps keep the nylon from drying out. A brief soak in water before first use can add a bit of suppleness, which can improve feed.

Value and alternatives

At around $8.99 for a single, OEM compatibility and the consistent factory wind are the selling points. Aftermarket multipacks can be cheaper per spool, but they’re hit-or-miss on wind quality and fit tolerances. If your time is worth anything—or you’ve fought with tangles before—the DF‑065 is a sensible spend for the plug‑and‑play experience. If you trim often or across abrasive terrain, consider keeping a spare on hand; the ease of swapping is part of the appeal.

Who it’s for

• Owners of compatible Black & Decker AFS trimmers that require a dual-line .065 spool (e.g., GH700, GH750).
• Homeowners primarily trimming grass, lawn edges, and light weeds.
• Anyone who prefers automatic feed and wants to avoid the quirks of hand-wound spools.

Who should look elsewhere

• Trimmers that use single-line spools—this isn’t cross‑compatible.
• Users tackling dense brush, bamboo, or heavy weeds; consider a thicker line system or a brushcutter head.
• Those who don’t want the consumption rate of dual-line; single-line systems can stretch line longer per session.

Pros

• Clean, even factory wind supports reliable AFS feeding
• Dual-line cut is smooth and efficient on grass
• Simple drop‑in design when installed with proper tension
• Reasonable price for an OEM spool
• Reusable hub if you prefer to respool with bulk line

Cons

• Installation can go sideways if you let the lines relax—spills lead to future tangles
• .065 line isn’t ideal around hardscape; it wears quickly on concrete
• Dual-line consumes material faster than single-line systems
• Limited model compatibility; not universal across the brand’s lineup

The bottom line

The DF‑065 spool does what it’s supposed to do: it feeds consistently in an AFS head and leaves a tidy edge on grass without fuss. The dual-line format gives you a smoother cut and fewer ragged leftovers, at the expected cost of a bit more line consumption. The caveat is installation—treat it carefully, keep the lines under tension as you seat the spool, and you’ll avoid the headaches that come from a spilled wind.

Recommendation: I recommend it to anyone with a compatible Black & Decker dual-line AFS trimmer who wants a reliable, ready‑to‑use spool. It’s a straightforward, reasonably priced OEM option that prioritizes feed consistency and cut quality. If your trimmer takes a single-line cartridge or you regularly tackle heavy, abrasive work, this isn’t the right match; otherwise, it’s a solid, low‑friction way to keep your trimmer performing as intended.