How do you check for a twisted limb?

[MikeW]

Brand new Blacktail and I can't string it this morning. I've been shooting it with the original string this morning and I'm headed out to my father in-laws in a bit and I wanted to take it out there and break in the spare string that came with it. So I unstring it and go to put the new one on it and it keeps slipping around the tip and won't stay on..same with the original string, now I can't get it back on either,keeps slipping around the nock tip. Yes I'm using a bow stringer and always have.

The only thing I can think of right now is a limb is twisted, the bow wants to cock to the side when I bend it which it never did before. I even had help keeping it straight as I put the string on and as soon as you release the stringer and put the pressure back on the bow the string slips.
????

This sucks! I wanted to shoot it all day today.
Help please

[hera]

Are you sure the larger string loop on the top limb ?

Are you sure the smaller stringer cap on the top limb tip?

[MikeW]

Larger loop is on the top limb, smaller loop on the bottom limb. The large stringer pocket I put on the bottom limb with the small loop. That's the way I've always done it.
??

[JimB]

Mike,a twisted limb is almost always caused be stringing the bow using the "step through" method.I am pretty sure that you don't have a twisted limb.It sounds more like something going wrong in the stringing process.What type stringer are you using?

[MikeW]

Thunder Horn...pocket on one end and little rubber deal that sits on top on the limb on the other.
And I do think I have a twist. I finally got the string on and when I start to pull it back the string starts to slide off to the side of the limb. If I came to full draw it would come out of the string grove and nock tip for sure.

Last night I left my bow on the kitchen table and when I woke up this morning it was standing in the corner on a limb tip(kids) I wouldn't think 8 hrs standing on it's limb tip would be enough to mess it up though?

I've never used the step through method.

[hera]

BT is high end bow,not easy damage under normal use.
What type your bow? 3PC TD?If yes,take it down and reassamblage again,then restrung and check again.
pull the string then put it back slowly,if string not right on the string grove,I think it is twice.

Or you can eyeball check .

[JimB]

Mike,the stringer sounds good.I wouldn't see any way that a bow could get a twisted limb overnight.something does sound funny.I guess we didn't answer your original question.To check for a twist,on the unstrung bow,sight from one tip,across the front of the handle,to the other tip.The sight window should be close to center.You should be able to see one tip pointed away from center.If the bow is strung,sight down the other side and use the string as a centerline for sighting and see if one of the tips leans away from it.                                     Now,occasionally a bow may get a slight twist from being in the heat,stored improperly etc. and often that fresh twist can be straightened by just hand twisting the limb back the opposite direction.Don't be afraid to twist it past center the other way.Often that is all it takes.         I bought an old bow once and it was shipped to me in hot weather.It had a slight twist and I hand straightened it.It is still straight,several years later.I believe an old bow with a history of improper stringing won't be fixed that way.    And I didn't mean to insinuate that you had used the step through method,mearly to say that odds were slim that your limb could be twisted.If it is a twist that just happened,I think you probably could hand straighten it.                Also you can check by pulling the bow part way back and easing the string down.Does it want to track in the grooves or is it trying to go off center?                                           If none of this works and you still think there is a twist,definitely call the builder.

[hera]

Eyeball check like this way.

[hera]

Eyeball check like this way.

[fowlarcher]

Pardon me for I haven't ever had to deal with a twisted limb, but it would seem that a bow would have to have a SEVERE limbtwist for that to happen. I wonder if your nocks are cut too shallow or your sting is too thick.

Hera is showing the way to eyeball a bow to check for limbtwist, and a tiller stick holding the bow drawn to 18" or 22" will show a twist better.

I'm sure you could get a more definitive answer if you could post pictures.

[adeeden]

I have seen Mike string his bow, and I can assure everyone he does it correctly. Thats a beutifull bow I may add as well and I hope it's not twisted! I wish I had a suggestion for you Mike but I'm coming up empty today.

[mikecc]

Call the bowyer and ask him for some tips. There has to be something weird going on. Norm is a super nice guy and I'm sure he'll take care of it. It's always best to call the manufacturer instead of inciting a riot on the internet.

[MikeW]

I'm at my in-laws now....

 

BT is high end bow,not easy damage under normal use.
What type your bow? 3PC TD?

Yes it is...it's 3 piece and I tried that. I can see that it's twisted now and tried to hand straighten it. It looks fine until I start to draw and you can see the limbs twist as I draw back and the string pops off. This is making me sick to my stomach right now. I tried calling Norm but I guess he is out today or doesn't take business phone calls on the weekend. I'm afraid to mess with it any more at the risk of doing more damage to it. Guess I'm going to have to wait till Monday to call Norm and send it back. I just don't understand what happened to it.

2 acres of land today, 1 of them wooded with a bunch of my targets placed out there and no bow now...guess I'll just drink a bunch of beer and enjoy my steak he is fixing me.

[JimB]

Well,I'm sorry to hear that.I was hoping it was something simple.I sure don't understand it but i think you are right.You need to get hold of the bowyer.Good luck with it.

[p1choco]

Sounds like a twisted limb.  I think the advice given above is just about as good as any.  Twist the limb in the opposite direction.  It worked for me the one and only time I've encountered limb twist and like you, my bow string came off the bow... when fired. YIKES!  I repeated the twisting process until the string was settling back into the string groove straight on after exercising the limbs to full draw.  Good luck.

[vermonster13]

If you warm the limb up with a hairdryer then hold it twisted in the opposite direction of the twist you can usually straighten them out. Just be sure to check the limb core to be sure it isn't cracked or the glue-line is giving out. For it to happen that quick without a stringing issue on a bow that was fine before is unusual unless it is a material failure.

[Shawn Leonard]

Ok, look down the limbs tip tp tip if one is twisted string the bow even if ya have to hold the string in place so it does not slip off, than while holding string in place grab the limb towards the tip and twist it the opposire way of the twist, don't be shy and twist it past the original point of twist.  heck to see that the string lays in both grooves, ya may have to do ths a few times a day for a few days but it will correct itself afte a few days. This is directly from Norm, do not use heat from any source be it water or a blow dryer. I have straightened plenty of limbs this way on bows from an old Bear to one of my own Blacktails. Shawn

[MikeW]

Just be sure to check the limb core to be sure it isn't cracked or the glue-line is giving out. For it to happen that quick without a stringing issue on a bow that was fine before is unusual unless it is a material failure.

I'm wondering now if that's whats wrong with it. The limb that was twisted seems too easy(mushy/weak)to twist back compared to the other limb that seems much stiffer.

 

Ok, look down the limbs tip tp tip if one is twisted string the bow even if ya have to hold the string in place so it does not slip off, than while holding string in place grab the limb towards the tip and twist it the opposire way of the twist, don't be shy and twist it past the original point of twist. heck to see that the string lays in both grooves, ya may have to do ths a few times a day for a few days but it will correct itself afte a few days. This is directly from Norm, do not use heat from any source be it water or a blow dryer. I have straightened plenty of limbs this way on bows from an old Bear to one of my own Blacktails

That's exactly what I did. I was able to get it straightened out finally and shoot it yesterday. It took a few times but finally it seemed to take and stay put. I still don't get why it happened in the first place though. I have a gut feeling there is a material failure inside the limb. I'm still going to talk to Norm about it Monday.

Thx guys...much apprecaited.

[Gordon martiniuk]

What Shawn says also you might want to try a diffrent bow stringer if it is a recurve with slim tips you might  
need a bow stringer that has a rubber block on the top end of stringer some bows are very picky on how they are strung but with the right stringer and a little pratice you will be ok Good luck and straight shooting