How to Replace the Battery on a Black and Decker CST1200 String Trimmer

  Shop for the battery used in this article!   Removing the Battery

1. Remove the housing screws

Use a screwdriver to remove the screws that secure the two housing-half's together.

2. Separate the housings

Use your fingers or a flat-head screwdriver to separate the top housing from the bottom.

3. Remove the positive battery terminal

This is done to cut the power while you work on your trimmer.

Cover the exposed positive terminal with some tape to prevent any contact with the battery.

4. Remove the lock button and spring

 This can simply be pulled out of the housing.

5. Remove the actuator and spring

Use your fingers to pull these out of the housing.

6. Note the wiring setup

Either make a diagram or take a picture with your phone to notate the wiring positions.

7. Remove the switch

Pull the switch out of the housing and use a pair of needle-nose pliers to remove the two wires connected to it.

8. Remove the battery

Pull the battery out of the housing and detach the remaining wire with some pliers.

  [Back to Top]   Installing the Battery

1. Replace the negative terminal wire

Use your fingers or a pair of pliers to replace the negative wire (white wire) to the negative battery terminal.

2. Replace the battery into the housing

Simply set the battery back into its original location.

3. Reinstall the switch

Use the wiring diagram or pictures to reattach the two wires back to the switch, then place back into position in the housing.

4. Reinstall the actuator and spring

Place the spring back onto the actuator, then replace the actuator assembly back into the housing.

5. Reinstall the lock button and spring

Place the spring back onto the lock button and tuck the lock button assembly neatly back into the housing.

6. Neatly tuck all of the wires into the housing

Tuck the wires back into their designation areas of the housing to avoid pinching.

7. Replace positive battery terminal wire

Carefully remove the tape on the end of this wire, then reinstall it to the positive battery terminal.

8. Reinstall the housing half

Finalize this repair by replacing and securing the housing half and screws.

    [Back to Top]
  Conclusion And that's how easy it is to replace the battery in an electric trimmer. Performing routine repair such as this will save you tons of money compared to repair shops, plus you'll gain the repair knowledge necessary to take on more repairs in the future. Shop for all our Black and Decker trimmer parts here.   [Back to Top]
What We're About