Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Since Muzzyman88's Allegiance thread is no longer getting any love I'll just ask on a new thread.

On new Bowtechs there is a small end cap on the end of the limbs where the cam's axlegoes through the limb.

Are these end caps designed to allow the cam to rub against them with no ill effects?
There is very little to no[/b] room between the cam & limb cap on any of the ~20 some odd Bowtech bows (except the Guardian) at my dealer so obviously this isn't a freak thing.

Not looking to slam, just trying to figure this out.

If this was the intent of the design so be it, just curious if that is the case. And no, the cam is not rubbing the limb itself, just the end cap.

Did the end cap replace the need for a nylon bushing and if so, will it wear out?

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

dave, if you get the cam off you'll see there is a raised area on the cap itself that is a built in spacer. yes, it is designed that way. there is supposed to be contact between the 'spacer' area of the cap and that central part right around your axle (which i can't think of what its called right now) on your cam, but not much else. the spacer i put in that area was very thin, and only the size of the raised area on the cap, so i didn't change the intended contact points, i just added a little tolerance because although i put new limbs on - i didn't want to have to worry about it.once the worry sets in,you know -its all over.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Thanks for the clarity on the issue.

Unless my eyes and memory are deceiving me-I think I could see more of a raised area on the 2007 cams than I could on my cam, or it was just more exposed to the eye.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

FWIW,I found out from someone who has taken an Elite down that they use actual plastic shims between their limb & cam.

Would those in the know consider thisa better system?

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

last i heard they were using better limbs - and that's where the difference is. i'll say also that i wrote in to elite for some string and cable lengths - and kevin responded w/ not only the lengths - but a complete diagram of the strings and cables for me to work off of. i'm also beginning to hear glowing reports about their customer service and bows. they may be here to stay.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

DaveC,

I have an Elite E-500, it does have the the shims(4 of them ) and the spacing of the cams are all uniform to the limb.
No rubbing in sight, what so ever, with plenty of space.

Gibblet,
The string and cables are woking out mint on my bow, you made for me.
You are right, Elite may be here to stay, been hearing good things about their customer service lately as well.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

The cap on the limb tips is there simply to reinforce the tips of the limbs and prevent any splitting there. They designed the cams so that they don't need to use the cheap plastic spacers that so many manufacturers use. The sealed bearings take the place of the spacers that others use.

The spacers is a way to cut manufacturing costs becasue a little spacer is much cheaper to produce than the extra aluminum that must be machined off from the billet so that the spacers aren't needed. Also the tollerences can be held much tighter machining aluminum with sealed bearings than a molded plastic spacer.

The spacer method is not the superior system. Think if there was a plastic spacer of some kind on the wheels of your truck.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Ok sounds good so far.

But in the past I have worn these cheap spacers out and had them easily replaced. Is there any chance with the limb cap to cam rubbing I am going to wear out the limb cap (or slowly deminish it's original size).
If so- then what?

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

No, the limb cap is touching inner "ring" of the sealed bearing, whichis stationary,not the cams so thereare no wear issues.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

that's where its touching in theory. and i believe my hoyt cams had sealed bearings, and a teflon spacer, and bowtech used spacers in the past w/ sealed bearings. doesn't mathews use sealed bearings too, anda spacer? not sure. anyway, i'm not sure that's the reasoning or use for teflon washers anymore. are you sure about it? and, really, the limb caps are just a cheap plastic substitute if they aren't just cheap plastic. i'm not saying anything about bowtech - just that to my knowledge that post wasn't quite jiveing - and i'm happy to be corrected.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Before Bowtech started using the caps they drilled a hole vertically behind the axle to keep the limbs from splitting. Now they cap them.

Mathews uses two sealed bearings in the idler wheel and one bearing and one bushing on the cam. The only teflon spacer is between the bushing and the limb.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Try as I might I cannot see a raised area on my 2006 cams. That look flat as can be all the way to the point I can no longer see. I can see the silver circle of the bearing and they are defiantley rubbing outside of the silver circle, rubbing on the silver part of the cam.

What I do see is a gap on one side of the axle anlged and then flush on the other side of the axle (semi- twisted). I cannot get a piece of dentle floss between the cam and the cap in the locations where it rubs the cap.

Will this matter in time, I dunno.

Looking tonight I noticed my cam is less than 1/16" away from the actual limb at rest. I don't remember it being this close, but never paid too much attention.

Time will tell....

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

DaveC, without actually seeing it, its hard to tell. My shop did tell me they had to replace cams on a 2k6 Tribute because the bearings were not pressed into the cams correctly. Is it wearing on one side of the cam or both? If its one side, that might make sense. Meaning the cam is "shifted" to that side of the limb split. That is actually what I was thinking was wrong with mine.

Just a thought.

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

I've been trying my best to get some photo's up here but my camera and wifes adobe program aren't cooperating.

I've taken several photo's but once you get them on the screen it just doesn't look near as explanitory as it does in person.

Here is one attempt-

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Errg. The progarm at work is sooo easy. This danged adobe 5.0 hates me[:@].



Here is another, sorry for the poor quality-

RE: Are the Bowtech limb end caps supposed to be wear items?
 

Here's a better one-