Information on an Eager Beaver 297 Weed Trimmer

Manufacture

• The Eager Beaver line of weed trimmers was manufactured by McCulloch, which began creating outdoor equipment in 1944. Since then, McCulloch has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of gas- and electricity-powered equipment including lawn mowers, chainsaws, tillers, blowers and the well-known Weed Eater line of weed trimmers.

Specifics

• The Eager Beaver 297 weed trimmer has a 28cc engine with a clutch drive. The gas trimmer has a 56-inch flex shaft and a J-style pole handle. The Eager Beaver line of gas-powered trimmers use thin plastic line -- wrapped around the spool at the end of the trimmer head -- to cut through grass, weeds and brush. A mixture of two-cycle engine oil and gasoline is used to fuel the weed trimmer.

Fuel Mixture

• Adding the incorrect ratio of gasoline and two-cycle engine oil to an Eager Beaver trimmer could damage the engine beyond repair. To keep your weed trimmer working properly, combine 1 gallon of gasoline with 3.2 oz. of two-cycle engine oil from a plastic gas container. First, secure the lid on the container and gently shake the container for several seconds to thoroughly mix the oil and gas. Store the fuel in a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight and away from direct heat. Always shake the container before adding the mixture to the trimmer. Consider marking the container with the words “weed trimmer fuel” so you can identify the contents in the future. Don't use mixed two-cycle fuel that's sat for more than a month, though.

Trimmer Line

• The Eager Beaver weed trimmer requires .080-inch or .095-inch trimmer string to function properly. Using an improper size of line will leave you with less-than-desirable results. Install line by wrapping a piece of it, measuring 14 inches long and folded in half, around the spool that is located under the trimmer head. There are two notches located on the side of the spool where you must insert the ends of the trimmer line. Before you can remove the spool, you will need to turn the knob on the trimmer line counterclockwise. After you install the trimmer line, reattach the spool and knob to the trimmer head.