Clanking noise

[Ssamac]

Hi
Getting a clanking noise from my bow on release.
PSE takedown recurve 50# using Easton Legacy alum shaft, 2016, 3 fletch 5" 125gr field point.
If I let back on my draw a bit (let it back from my cheek a bit) it does not make the noise. Only at full draw. The tip is clear of the riser for sure so it's not hitting, etc. Brace is 7 1/2 per the specs. Checked limb bolts and they are tight. Arrow flight is OK. Just noise.

Bow was not super quiet before but this is really noisy.

Any ideas what's happening? Suggestions?

Thanks
sam

[McDave]

What is your draw length, and have you done any bare shafting or anything to see if your arrows are correctly spined for the bow?

[Ssamac]

Hi McDave

Yes, I bare shafted with 1917, 2016, and 2117. The 2016 cut the paper clean. When fletched the produce the current problem. What I don't get is why the "clank" as they clear the bow. Also, why they don't clank if I don't draw quite all the way to the cheek.
My draw is 27". Arrows cut to 28 and about an inch is clear of the bow at full draw.

Thanks
sam

[McDave]

These are the things that could be causing the clank:

Your release.  Possibly you are pressing down on the nock at full draw and it is rebounding off the shelf and hitting the riser, or there could be something else in your release, like a pluck, that could be throwing the shaft into the riser.

The nock point could be too low.

The shaft could me too stiff or too weak.  If you have arrows on the weak and stiff side of the ones you are using, you might try them to see what effect they have on the clank.

[TSP]

A 2016 w/ 125 gr. point out of a 50# bow should be fairly close to the correct spine if you have about a 28" draw, but as McDave suggested your string nock may be too low and the shaft may be striking the shelf.  Try raising the nock 1/8" to a 1/4".  

Silencer placement on the string or type of material used can contribute to noise.  Fur strips can 'buzz' if they get loose, and most any silencers placed too close to the loops can be ineffective.  

If still noisy, try raising brace height by 1/4" to 1/2"...sometimes the recommended specs don't work for a given bow.  

If still noisy, check the tiller measurements from the string to the riser fadeouts on both top and bottom limbs.  For 3-under shooters bows tend to like even to 1/8" positive (i.e., distance is the same or 1/8" more for the top limb than for the bottom).  If shooting split fingered a 3/16" to 1/4" positive tiller (top limb) should work.  If the tiller is off for your shooting style that might contribute to extra noise.  

Finally, be sure your limbs are aligning properly by sighting down the length of the string with the bow strung.  If a limb seems a bit crooked, 'bump' it back into alignment by unstringing the bow and twisting the limb in the opposite direction of the bend, holding it there briefly.  Then restring the bow, check for limb straightness, and if it's ok shoot and check for noise again.

It's unlikely that all of this stuff is a problem but any one of them might be.  Checking them one at a time might help determine the culprit by the process of elimination.  

Hope this helps.

[hart2hart]

Padding the limb pockets might help..did my Sage.
Try cock feather in.
Shooting off the shelf?? A small piece of leather to create a ridge lessens contact.(That will also raise/lower nocking pt. a little.
Mike

[Ssamac]

Ok I'm going to try changing the brace and then the nock (one at a time)
I have a hair cover on the shelf, but I'm not sure what you mean by a ridge. Do you mean a ridge that is on a 90 degree angle from the riser? I can try that too but let me try the other 2 things first. I'm also going to shoot my 2117 arrows to see what happens with that.
Once I get the clank out, then I'll start to progress to padding limb pockets to overall silence the bow. I don't have string silencers on the bow, btw, but will add them eventually to try to get it very quiet. I doubt this quality bow will ever get dead quiet, but the current noise is ridiculous.
Thanks all
sam

[Ssamac]

I also will have someone watch to be sure that I'm not doing anything odd with my draw or release, but I've been shooting the same for years now and don't make anything else clank.

Really miss my Checkmate Falcon bow. Someone made it disappear from my garage one day and I just can't replace it. That 50 pounder was smooth as silk and totally quiet. None of these issues. Gone forever and they don't make them anymore and you never see them for sale. I would never sell mine that's for sure.

sam

[NBK]

Every time I had an arrow slap the riser I had assumed it was due to improper spine.
I found out that it was me.
I either torqued the string or most commonly collapsed a bit on released which dragged my ring finger more.
Like you, some bows it never happened with and others all the time which I'd account to grip and torsional stability of the limbs.
It happened more frequently when I shot a lot and fatigue set in and less when fresh and doing blind bale work.
FWIW.

[Austin Brown]

Originally posted by NBK:
Every time I had an arrow slap the riser I had assumed it was due to improper spine.
I found out that it was me.
I either torqued the string or most commonly collapsed a bit on released which dragged my ring finger more.
Like you, some bows it never happened with and others all the time which I'd account to grip and torsional stability of the limbs.
It happened more frequently when I shot a lot and fatigue set in and less when fresh and doing blind bale work.
FWIW.

What he said, I used to fight it also and it was from string/bow torque.

[hart2hart]

"ridge" or  a tiny piece of leather to create bump.
On shelf or riser...or both.
I cut a tiny vacumn hose about 3/4" long..split it in half lengthwise..and run half out on shelf and half up riser face.Install Velcro over both and shoot.Many people use small piece of toothpick but I like v hose.It has a little sponginess to it.

[Ssamac]

I'll try the bump. I do this on my Red Wing Hunter under the leather on the riser. Makes the arrow fly better on that bow. I think I used a split clear plastic fish tank hose like the vacumn hose and worked great.

As for the torque, I have to have someone watch since you can't really see yourself unless maybe I take a video and watch it.

Thanks again to all for your help.
BTW I tried going up the spine and down and same difference.
Boy do I miss my Checkmate!

sam

[Ssamac]

OK Here's what I did

Put felt under the string in the grooves at the tips
Raised brace from 7 1/4 to 7 3/4
Put a hair strip on the shelf. As suggested, put a small strip under the hair at the high point of the radiused shelf.
Raised the nock to the appropriate height with all the adjustments + 1mm more.
Added a 1959 style leather arrow plate in place of the small felt plate that was there.

Noise is gone at full draw. Just a small pop sound as would be expected. I'll add hair silencers later in the summer to complete the package.
I also note that it's just as quiet with 2016 as with 2117 which is nice. 2117 give the best flight and stability. Not much difference to note in speed.

Still not my old Checkmate but pretty decent for a cheap bow.

Thanks to all for your help with this.
Now let's get back to St. Jude's Auction!

sam