Abstract: An apparatus for cutting vegetation that includes a fixed gearhead from which a rotating driveshaft extends. A spool, including a spool housing and a spool element, are located below the gearhead and are coupled to the drive shaft to rotate in unison with the drive shaft. A cylindrically shaped deflecting ring extends between the top of the spool housing and the adjacent rotating protective disk. The deflecting ring prevents cut vegetation from winding around the portion of the driveshaft that extends between the gearhead and the spool.