STRINGMAKERS: HELP!!! Bad string or twisted limbs?

[Soilarch]

So I bought myself and my dad recurves here lately.  Along with it I bought some B50 and "good" serving..and built an endless jig.  

After making one string too short for dad's, and one too long for mine I thought I had it figured out.  

I FINALLY got a string on my recurve tonight and it's acting like it has a really lower limb.  (limb kicks in)  I decide to "flip" the string and the upper limb kicks out.

So I'm thinking I made a string that is...lop-sided..for lack of a better term.

Is this the case?  How on earth did I accomplish this...did I just get lazy and not keep enough tension on the jig?  Did I get some strand twisted up before the appropriate time?

[frank bullitt]

T. can you post some pics? Are the bows used? This will help. Too short, shouldn"t cause the twist. How do you string the bows? Steve

[Bjorn]

Hmmmm..........endless loop or Flemish twist?  

[Soilarch]

Endless, I bought a used Predator (funny story, emailed hunter's niche they say 60", guy who sold it said 58" and the limbs say 59")  It's a 55" string so I'm going to say 59"

I've been 'carefully' using the step through. I actually tried to make a stringer via endless loop method and thats what taught me the loops CAN be uncentered.

By lopsided I meant the loops are at exact opposites.  I think this is what's happening. I HOPE this is what's happening.

Family is in and I don't have the heart to pull out the jig and make another one tonight with them all there.  The two I made for my dad's grizzly have done fine...albeit one was to short.

[Bjorn]

Endless loop causing limb twist? Well maybe vermonster will be along soon to clear this up?

[vermonster13]

If one bundle side is longer than the other it's possible I'd guess.

[Pat B]

I don't think you can have a lopsided string. You would be able to see the slack side compared to the taught side. Has this bow not shown twist before this string?

[vermonster13]

You may not see it if you put some twists in the string without checking first.

[LBR]

Sounds to me like you have a bow problem, not a string problem.

Chad

[Guru]

what Chad said......

[freefeet]

Are you're loops sitting in the grooves correctly?  I'm kinda thinking that loops that are too small or too big, or with serving that is too wide to fit into the grooves, may make a difference if they're not riding the grooves evenly - though i could be wrong.

Try a flemish and see what happens.  :-D

[vtmtnman]

Originally posted by LBR:
Sounds to me like you have a bow problem, not a string problem.

Chad

   

Make sure the string grooves are rounded, open, and even.

... or (with tongue planted firmly in cheek), you could take Killdeer's advice and make a left handed Flemish string and pull her back where she belongs.  :^)

[Orion]

Yes, if the string isn't too big for the groves in the bow's limb, it will self-center when strung, even if the loops aren't perfect.  I agree with others that you have a limb problem.  You said you're using the step through stringing method.  That's almost a sure fire way to twist a limb, whether you're careful or not.  Check the bow for limb twist when it is unstrung.  It may or may not show then, depending on the severity of the twist.  And, when strung, draw the bow and slowly let it down.  If the string doesn't come back down in the string groves on the back of the limb(s), or if they slide into the groove at the last second with an audible click, it/they are twisted.  Good luck.

[Rob DiStefano]

   bowstrings don't twist bow limbs, 'bad' bows cause that condition.        

you have a bow issue, not a string issue.

there is NO WAY that either a flemish or endless string will, on its own, twist a limb.

if the string loops aren't sitting properly in the limb nocks, either the limb nocks aren't properly cut (very typical) or (in very rare occasions) the string loops are way overly too thick (and not seating properly in the limb nock grooves).

the problem in question will ALWAYS fall back on the bow, an issue with the limb nocks, limbs, overall bow design.

[Walt Francis]

What Rob said!

Do yourself a favor and buy a couple of stringers.

[Rob DiStefano]

in addition to what i already typed ...

if you don't check the string loops in the limb nocks after stringing, making sure they're aligned properly with the limb nocks and the center line of the limbs, leaving the string loops off center can induce limb twist - not a fault of the bow, that's an operator issue.

[Soilarch]

Orion, that click you describe is exactly what was happening.


I made up a new string today and spent a lot of time eye-ball straightening the limbs before I put it on.  No heat has been used yet, as I feel pretty loss right now.

BUT with a new string, and some twisting here and twisting there she "looks" straight as can be now.

*If nothing else I got to make another string...and at this point in the game that means a better string! LOL  I don't know what I'm doing different now but the 2 colors are finally staying separate.  (I think I was just serving too tight.)

Thank You, all.  This is the place I come running to when I want to throw my hands up and yell "Where's My Compound!?"

You guys have kept true so far.

[Ceb]

I agree with others, a bow problem, sounds like you may be making progress. A twisted limb can be straightened if not too severe, there is an article in I believe the current Traditional Bowhunter Magazine describing that exact process. Not to hard to do. Buy a stringer, step through stringing has ruined many a bow.

[Rob DiStefano]

yep, what ceb just posted.  step-thru stringing is a no-no ... either use a stringer or learn how to properly use the push-pull method safely.