Bow string pops off at release

[Hammmerboy]

Hi, I'm new here, and I'm hoping that someone can help me with an issue I'm having.

I have a Saluki Damascus that I've been enjoying for the last four years. It has been a great, fast shooter, and I've never had any issues with this beautiful bow. However, yesterday I was at the range, and after about sixty or so shots, when I released, the string came off! I inspected the bow and the string, and both seemed fine. I figured that somehow I must have not strung it properly. I eyeballed the brace height, which was admittedly a bit on the low side, so I adjusted it, probably a bit too low still, and tried shooting again. This time I got about six shots off, and it came off again! So, I inspected everything again, raised the brace height to about 6", tried again, and after the third shot it came off again! Well, I got out my phone, got on the Saluki website, and in the FAQ section it says the recommended brace height for my bow is around 6 1/2"... At this point I'm nervous about shooting it again without talking to Lukas, but he is somewhere between Brazil and Turkey teaching / participating in events. So, my question is, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??? Any ideas out there? Is my bow F***ed? or am I too much of a simpleton to see that there is a simple solution?

Thanks for any and all Input!

D-  

[moebow]

Hammmer....  Welcome to Trad Gang!  This is not a FORM question but an equipment question.  Please post on the Pow Wow.  You'll get better answers there.

Arne

[petalumapete]

You probably have a twisted limb.

[Hammmerboy]

Oops! Thanks Moebow-
And Petalumapete, checked the limbs, looked pretty darn straight...

[dkincaid]

It has to be an equipment malfunction. I bet it is a twisted limb as well or maybe a crack somewhere.

[r-man]

nocks to tight, to light arrow, string failing, chech servings, sure would like to see that in slowmoo

[DayTripper]

Did the string actually popped off or the loop slid down the limb? Could be that string loops are too large.

[r-man]

very light draw weight?

[Al Natural]

I'm leaning toward a twisted limb.

[FerretWYO]

Sounds like a twisted limb to me as well.

[Blackhawk]

I've only had strings come off a twisted limb.  I was thinking DayTripper may be on to something with loops too big.  

[Zradix]

Originally posted by Blackhawk:
I've only had strings come off a twisted limb.  I was thinking DayTripper may be on to something with loops too big.      

big loops X2...as a guess..

[Chuck Jones]

Pictures would help.

[LongStick64]

I would check the loops and see if possible they have enlarged at all. Also check if you are plucking the string.

[ChuckC]

If the loops are large and the string nocks are not large, that could do it.  or  a twisted limb.

Is that a "horse bow" with syahs (sp?) ?  That puts it into an unknown area for me.

ChuckC

[macbow]

Wow looked the bow up. Gonna take some different expertise to help.
 

[Bladepeek]

It could be a string problem. I had that happen with a brand new recurve with a brand new string by the bowyer. At the shot, the string popped off the top nock. In my case, the string was a silver and black two-colored string and the silver colored strands had all broken and the loop slipped much larger than normal - like twice as large. Yours is obviously a different problem, but you did say you had to twist the string up several times and it was still below proper brace height. I wonder if you have a bad string that is either stretching excessively, or the string, if a flemish twist, is not properly made.

We were both lucky as the string popped off after the arrow had absorbed most of the energy. If the string broke at full draw, it could get really nasty!

[Hammmerboy]

Wow- I leave for an afternoon and look what happens!

So, first, thanks to everyone for your replies. I took it out to the range today, determined to figure out the issue. I strung the bow, and checked it over, and indeed it did look just a wee bit twisted. I had my buddy pull the bow while I stood behind him, and the top limb twisted over to the right quite a bit. when he eased it off I noticed that it wanted to favor that side a bit. I took and held it at the riser and twisted it in the opposite direction, then held it for a bit, pulled the bow, and repeated the process a few times. At that point it looked pretty darn straight, but as I align the limbs, sighting down the back of the strung bow, it does look as if they may be a little out of plane with each other. Well, I decided to give it a test, and thankfully nothing happened. I managed to shoot at least three hundred arrows today without incident! I may find a way to film it, and I may give it a try next time I shoot. Again, thank you to all! If anything else develops I will be sure to post it!

Cheers!

D-

[South MS Bowhunter]

I had the same thing happen on a Test Bow from Black Widow.  When string it up to shoot I notice it had a slight twist in the upper limb no biggie I thought shot about 50 shot or so and then on one the string just flew off  

I inspected the bow restrung it and paid attention to the slight twist and you could see it would ride out of the groove.

I have all of this on film as I was filming  it to check my form.

[Fanto]

bows with a small twist may respond to "bumping" or in other words twisting them to correct , whilst unstrung.

i had a martin with a bit of twist. fixed it this way.