Need help installing a new bowstring

Lady Arwen · 02-20-2004, 09:59 AM

Can this be done using the portable type bowpress? Does it matter if you install the cables or the string first? If someone could give me a play-by-play of the correct process I would really appreciate it. Never done this before and there are no archery shops to help. Thank you! BTW the string is a Berry. Hope it is a step in the right direction for me.

jsasker · 02-20-2004, 10:37 AM

If you still have the old stuff on your bow take off one end at a time putting the new one on as soon as the old one comes off--it makes it easier to figure out if you can see how the old string or cable is on before hand.As far as step by step---i'm not the person to be listening to--just trying to give you some helpful tips with my limited knowledge

hdsanders · 02-20-2004, 12:12 PM

I have always done it the way, jsasker, mentioned. Take one off and pull the other though at the same time.

Black Frog · 02-20-2004, 12:19 PM

LA- Are you installing string AND cables? If so, here's a tip that may help if you've never done something like this. Before you take anything apart, take some accurate measurements of your current configuration (brace height, a-to-a, poundage, draw length) so you know what everything should be at when you've switched it all over.

And, it may help to just do ONE thing at a time rather than all cables and string at once. If you replace just one cable first, you can then compare your new measurements to the ones that you recorded earlier. That way you've only changed ONE variable and you know that the new cable is the one you need to alter to bring things back to the way they were originally.

So if you simply replace that first cable and you see that your cam timing, draw length, poundage, etc changed, you know that you may need to twist or untwist that NEW cable to get it all back to normal. Once you have that new cable all set, then go ahead and replace the second cable (for a twin or hybrid) and redo this procedure. It may save a few headaches....

Hope that helps some-

titleist_03 · 02-20-2004, 01:21 PM

I was wondering the same thing Lady Arwen. I have a custom string coming and a Bowmast portable bowpress and am planning to put it on myself. I'm planning on doing one side at a time and I'm going to take pictures of how it is before I start taking things off. Does anyone know if there is a website that goes step by step? The only problem with that would be that all bows are different. I have a Hoyt Magnatec.

Lady Arwen · 02-20-2004, 02:41 PM

Yes, I should have specified that I am changing string and cables. I will definitely take the advice about doing one thing at a time. I would never have thought of installing one thing and then checking all of the measurements etc., though. The reason that I am changing the string/cable in the first place is because of string/cable stretch, so hopefully the measurements on the bow now will be sort of close to where they are going to have to be. I was so pissed when I learned that my problems with the bow not going to full poundage was due to string stretch that I never bothered putting everything back to square one. I just asked around this BB for opinions and ordered my new string the same day!

titleist_03 · 02-21-2004, 09:02 AM

Anyone know how the bowmaster goes on your bow? I was on the website and they had the hooks on the end of the limb but the other end was off of the limb. I figured it would lay against it. Also what are the leather pieces for?

muzzyman88 · 02-21-2004, 09:16 AM

What was said is excellent advise. I use a portable press as well and it works fine. Saved me a lot of money using it.

One thing I also advise. If you are putting everything back to factory specs as far as string and cable lengths. Take a board and put a nail in one end. Take your new string, put one loop and on the nail and measure it for the correct length. If its too long, you can twist it a couple times to get the length exact. Then put it on the bow. I've been doing this and it works.