bow will not string

[toddster]

Hi all, I got a longbow off ****, looks okay and made a flemish string (which I have made many), strung bow, but bow slowly comes back relaxed and will not stay strung.  I twisted string up some more and tried again the same.  So I made a endless loop string put it on the 65" bow string was 62" and same thing.  Thinking might be a twisted limb, but wanting to see if I am missing something?  Did notie that the upper loop was not sitting in grove right, so made another with smaller loop same thing, this is why thinking twisted limb?

[Charlie Lamb]

Todd... this is one of those situations where a picture would help immensely. For the life of me I can't imagine what you are describing.

First off let me say that a twisted limb on a longbow is pretty uncommon. I wouldn't think it's that.

Unless you make the worst strings in the world they shouldn't be stretching 3"+ which is the only way I can imagine the bow "relaxing".

[JRY309]

Is this a selfbow or laminated bow? When you say it comes back to a relaxed position,is the string coming off the nock grooves? When you first string it up does the string run down the center of the limbs or is it off to one side?

[JamesV]

This is very strange, have seen some terrible bows over the years but never one that could unstring it's self. Try this before you string it next time measure the string follow, string the bow and when it unstrings it's self measure it again............James

[Looper]

Sounds to me like your string is too short. Make one with a timber hitch in one end, so you can shorten it easily.

[madness522]

Check the string grooves to make sure they are cut in deep enough and are in line with the string when strung.  I have seen a self bow where the string grooves were not cut deep enough and the string would roll out of the groove.

[stickflngr]

If the bow is 65" groove to groove, then a 62" string is an inch to long. It should be 61" and if its Dacron it will stretch some and have to be twisted up. Good luck, Kenny

[Ssamac]

Does it slide down out of the grove or up over the grove?
Upper limb or lower limb?

This is hard to picture.
What is the brace when you first string it?

Sam

[MSwickard]

61" string and loops need to be small.  Is the string coming undone?  If so with the flemish you are not locking the loops in correctly.