How do I get the spool off my Toro electric trimmer

1. Pull the spark plug wire from the top of the spark plug. Bend the wire to the side to prevent accidental starting.
2. Place trimmer on its side with the trimmer spool head facing you. Press the two tabs on the side of the spool head with your fingers.
   

1. Hold side of the head and slowly allow the head cover to push away from the inside of the spool head. There is a spring between the spool head housing and the spool that pushes out when releasing the cover.
   

1. Pll the knob and spool out of the spool head. The spring should come out on the back of the spool.
   

Electric Trimmer
1. 1 --> Unplug the Toro trimmer power cord from the electrical outlet.
   
2. 2 --> Lay the trimmer on its side. Hold the spool housing tight in one hand and twist the cap counterclockwise with your fingers. If necessary, use a pair of large slip joint pliers to start turning the cap. The cap is the center piece of the spool.
   
3. 3 --> Pull the cap off the spool and remove the spool from the housing.
   

You have to hold in the two tabs at top of spool assembly

ALM Manufacturing
Part number TR035
http://www.almmanufacturing.com/en/grasstrimmer/grass-trimmer-parts/toro/item/1845-alm-tr035-spool-and-line.html

According to this large online parts distributor, that part has been discontinued.

http://www.partstree.com/parts/?pn=88035

I found this one on Ebay....it looks like the spool with the knob for a 10" electric trimmer. I tried!

http://cgi.ebay.com/TORO-PREWOUND-SPOOL-ELECTRIC-TRIMMERS-PART-88180-/280505426528?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item414f6d2260

All I know to help you would be parts replacement as plastic parts are wear items and have to be replaced. Here is a parts w/diagrams breakdown of the 1981 model year Toro 1100 trimmer. I hope this can be of help. You can order parts here to replace your "worn out" string head and spool.

http://www.partstree.com/parts/?lc=toro_consumer&mn=51300%2C+1100+Electric+Trimmer%2C+1981+%28SN+1000001-1999999%29

you can try a smaller string size, this should help. Tim

With most trimmers, you may have to push the spool casing inward and then turn. It should unlock fairly easy. You may also want to spray the divider crease on the spool casing with some kind of lubricant like WD-40 or Tri-Flow to facilitate the process of detaching the spool casing from the body. Good luck. I hope this helps.

Onve you remove the cover the spool should pull straight out. Be careful, there's a spring under the spool that can fly out and get lost. You need that spring to re-assemble.

I am having the same problem - the spool should just come off by turning it counter-clockwise but is completely stuck. This model does not have any tabs that need to be pushed in to get the spool off. Very frustrating!

I have an 11" Toro trimmer and was having trouble deciphering the symbols on the base. The key is having a method to gain some opposing force to unscrew the cap that holds the spool. I have an oil filter wrench called the round wrench. It is a steel bar with an attached length of rubber belt that can tighten around cylindrical objects. I used that to oppose the unlock direction on the trimmer and "voila", no tabs to push no trick with the button, you just need opposing force.