Fred Bear t/d owners

[Trooper]

Am I correct in assuming that the screws on the handle where the limb fits are there only for fast discernment as to upper and lower limb?  Would it be OK to shoot the bow without those screws?

[Irish Archer]

Trooper, If you're speaking of the latch system, 3Rivers sells a repair kit, including the screws for $30.00. I wouldn't shoot it without a screw.

[d. ward]

Trooper I shoot my Bear take down with no latches.The latch is only to keep your limbs from flying out of the handle should the string break....All the limb presure is in the rear of the socket....bowdoc

[Trooper]

I think the screws I'm talking about are called the locater pins.  I pulled them off and been shooting pretty much all day with no problems.

[Orion]

But why trake them off?

[Trooper]

"But why trake them off?"

My favorite set of limbs have been "creeking" when I draw back ever since I got them.  I tried everything I could think of.  The creeking noise would stop for a while and then start again.  After close examination of the holes in the limbs that those screws fit into I can tell that the holes don't line up exactly with the screws and are rubbing.  I thought about drilling the holes bigger but there is a like a brass insert in the holes that the screws are supposed to slide into.  Instead the screw head is rubbing against that brass insert which is causing that "creeking" noise.  The inserts are real snug and I can't get them out; so I took the screws (locator pins) off the handle part and everything is fine.  The bow is super quiet and shoots fast.  I have several sets of limbs and this only happens with these particular limbs which happen to be my "hunting" limbs.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

I am guessing you have a newer set of limbs with the brass inserts?? I refer to the screws as "Fool Proof" screws as they  keep you from putting the limbs on the wrong end.. I have removed them for other reason, and it is fine to shoot without them.. You may want to opt for reaming the holes out a bit.. The little leather pad on the latch will sometimes get hard and squeak too.. That is typically  a first arrow type squeak that goes away after shooting a bit.

[M60gunner]

I have/had the same creek noise when I shoot the first few arrows of the day. OK for just shooting no good for hunting so I put a piece of a plastic sandwich bag between the limb and the socket when I assemble the bow. I picked up the idea from an old post here? I think after reading what others have said the pin was pushing some plastic into the hole and helping with the creeking.
I like the sound of the "no pin" method. No extra stuff to lose. I will try it.

[Trooper]

Thanks Earl E.  You're right, it is a newer set with the brass insert.  Thanks for the tidbit on the leather pad on the latch; I'll keep that in mind too.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

The other quick fix is to file the screw head down a bit.. Put the screw in a drill and file the head down.

[Bill Carlsen]

This may or may not be relevant because I had the same problem with a different brand bow. The creaking got so bad I couldn't hunt with the bow and it wan another case the noise going away after a few shots. Long story short, it turned out the locator pins were friction fitted. I removed them and epoxied them in place and the problem was solved.

[Orion]

Interesting.  I only have one Bear takedown, and it's an older model.  No bushings in the limb alignment holes.  In fact, the holes have started to elongate a little.  I tightend one up with a little epoxy.  This set of limbs doesn't squeak, but another set I had did.  I put a little mole skin on the latch where it presses on the limb when closed.  That stopped the squeaking on that set of limbs.  For other alignment mechanisms, I've heard of using string wax on the pins, or vaseline or even grease to stop the squeaking.  May be worth a try.

[Trooper]

I pulled the pins (screws) out and the problem went away.  What confused me was that the creeking noise only happend with those particular limbs on a particular handle which is my hunting bow!  I have 6 handles and more sets of limbs.  This only happens with this one particular set of handle and limb combination. I think it was the screw head rubbing on that brass bushing that made the noise.  The older limbs do not have the bushing and thus are supper quiet.  Go figure, maybe Fred knew what he was doing; none of the limbs made in his time had those bushings in the holes!