A twisted Limb

[Rookie@51]

I would like to ask it there is a way to fix a twised limb on a bow that has been stored a long time? I have a friend who has a Bear bow of undeterminded name that he says has a twisted limb on it, thus the question. Any help will be passed along and thanks for your help.......Dusty

Yes, if the twist is not too bad. A couple spring clamps and a hair dryer or heat gun will do the trick.

Bisch

[Bowwild]

I received a bow once from a bowyer with an upper limb twist. The twist wasn't real bad but the string was about a half-string width out of the string groove upon let-down from full draw. I could feel a little "bump" when I drew the bow and let it down without shooting. Of course when you pay top dollar for a bow you want it PERFECT!

I called the bowyer and this is what he told me to do.

With the bow strung get a good grip on the twisted limb with two hands and twist it opposite the twist. Twist it until just before the string would slide off the limb and hold it for 5-10 seconds. Then check. If still twisted do it again.  One try fixed mine.

By the way, the bowyer told me that many archers will slightly torque the bow when dry drawing and letting down causing that little bump as the string comes down to the edge of the string groove before dropping into it.  Apparently we don't let down a bow the same way we shoot them.

I won't even look at an unstrung bow without a stringer in hand!

[bigwood95]

I had the same problem with a fred bear bearcat that I recieved from a cousin. I was able to fix mine by carefuly heating the limbs with a hair dryer, twisting them by hand, then running them under cold water to set them. I had to repeat this several times before they were right. Dont use a heat gun thinking it will be easier or quicker, you could end cracking or delaminating the limbs.

[Shawn Leonard]

Do not use heat, fiberglass has a memory and heat can erase that memeory. Do as Bowwild said, you may have to do this a few times over several days but the twist will correct itself. Do not be afraid to twist it well past the point of the original twist. You will get a feel for it, as said make sure you leave it strung will doing thjis and hold the string in place so it does not pop off. Shawn

[Blackhawk]

I would not use heat OR water.  Listen to Bowwild.  

String it...twist...repeat if necessary...and leave strung. Most twists will disappear.

Too much heat can cause the same problems as if leaving your bow strung up in a car on a hot day.

Water can enter areas of the limb that are unprotected due to scuffs, scratches, etc. where the finish no longer protects.

[Ranger44]

I just bought my first recurve since I was in high school in the 70's.  It came from an auction sight and had an unmentioned twist when it arrived.  I used the "twist the opposite method" after doing some research here.  It took quite a while but I think I got it fixed just last night.  No heat but lots of persistence.  It was a pretty good twist that was too much to even draw the bow.

[DEP]

I have used a Cresent wrench and surgical tubing to apply over night pressure to a twist.  Worked for me.

[Bob Morrison]

What Bowwild and Shawn said. Don't try it with foam cores.

[Bjorn]

Just working by hand against the twist has worked for me. You don't need hot water or heat, and they can cause the glue to fail as others have said. If it works for Mr. Morrison that's certainly good enough for me!