Fix Limb Twist '63 K-Mag

[TBinMN]

I picked up a '63 Kodiak Magnum off the auction site a while back.  I is in great shape overall but has some slight twist to the lower limb - the string drifts to the right side of the groove when strung and drawn.
What is the best way to try to take this twist out of the lower limb of this bow?
I know this is the place to ask - any help will be greatly appreciated.
Terry Beaudoin

[TBinMN]

[PAPALAPIN]

Unstrung...soak it in hot water then twist it slightly in the opposite direction.  Be sur to dry it thouroughly when you are don.

I hope this is a Type III  Kodian Magnum,
DO NOT EVEN STRING A TYPE I OR TYPE II.  They WILL crack up on you   WALLHANGERS ONLY

[TBinMN]

Jack,
Thanks for the advice - pretty much what I remember from many years ago.  How hot do you think the water should be - by feel, or should it be too hot to touch?

It is a type 2 in very good shape.  I have shot it quite a bit (100+ arrows so far) with no sign of trouble - in fact, the initial twist seems to have mostly corrected itself after shooting it.

The bow seems very solid - I been at this bow thing for 35+ years and I'm looking this bow over very closely.  Any early stage signs of trouble I should be looking for? I bought it to shoot/hunt with as is the case with all of my bows - I'd really hate to cause damage to such a cool, little bow.  I guess I'll have to sell her to someone OK with a wallhanger if she is really in danger of cracking up.

I am taking your advice very seriously as I know you have more experience with most of these older bows than I have.

Thanks again,
Terry

[Danny Rowan]

Terry,

The type I and II 63 Kmags were prone to blow up without warning. Bear got the problem fixed somehow with the type III.

Danny

[Bjorn]

Not to contradict any expert advice; before you try any water or heat I would suggest a procedure called 'bumping'.
With the bow strung bend the tip area in the direction opposite the twist and hold it for maybe 5 seconds-don't apply any more pressure than necessary(10 pounds).
Repeat this for 15 minutes to 1/2 hour. Leave it strung overnight and repeat in the morning if needed.
I have straightened many limbs like this.

[d. ward]

I'am with Bjorn.Best to avoid to much water or heat at first just in case there are any sections of corewood exposed where the finish may be chipped.If water gets onto the corewood you may have more problems.And the bow was originaly laminated at somewhere between 120-150 degrees any more then that can delaminate the bow as well..keep us posted bowdoc

[PAPALAPIN]

Do what da Bowdoc say,  good advice BJORN

I think Bear finally solved the problem with the type III by puting more class to riser contact area on the limbs.  Kinda ruined the  dogleg effect but solved the problem.

If it were my bow, I would hang it on the wall.  Maybe you can find a collector that will swap you for another year model.  I have a '69 available, but can't recall the draw weight off hand.

[d. ward]

One other thought was.Bear Archery kind of realized after the fact.The type one may have suffered more damage from the step thru stringing tecneak rather then actual bow failure...The bows were for the most part broken at the strike plate arrow rest area.The twisting of stepping thru just hammerd em...bd

[d. ward]

Whooops I did forget to mention always us a bow stringer,but you guy's already knew that...bd

[TBinMN]

Just got a chance to check up on this thread - lots of good information.

Bjorn - that is exactly what I tried today - after seeing the slight twist correcting itself after I had shot the bow earlier, and it seems to have completely corrected the problem.  I'll keep an eye on it.

Bowdoc, I'm glad I waited on the water/heat method, sounds like I might have been pushing my luck...  I only use a stringer on all my bows as I was lucky enough to have a great teacher who (long ago) told me that he'd wring my neck if he EVER saw me not using my stringer.

Darn-it, having shot this bow quite a bit last night (before Jack's advice) I really like how she shoots.  I also have a '64 Kodiak and this bow shoots amazingly well by comparison - especially considering how short it is.  It is the first shorter bow that I have really enjoyed shooting.  I was hoping to use it as my bow for tight spot hunting situations.

By the way, alot of you guys gave me great advice back when I was looking for the '64 a while back.  Having found one - I can say that I can see why many have said that they are one of the special shooters Papa Bear created.  It is my Whitetail bow this year - I've got a good feeling that any deer that gets within 20 yards or so will be in big trouble this year    
Many thanks,
Terry

[TBinMN]

Jack,
Sent PM
Thanks,
Terry