I just received my replacement limbs for my 101st. I pressed it, removed the cams/axles, relaxed the press, and now I'm having some issues. I have Gritty's Ultra press, and I can't get enough travel out of the jack to fully compress the limbs enough to get the axle/cable/string assembly back together. I'm trying to keep it all one piece so I can maintain my original tune the best I can (advice I received from RJ), but I cannot get the limbs compressed enough to even come close to getting the cams back in. Is this just a serious flaw with my press, or is there something I'm overlooking here?

Matt, I'm not at all familiar with that press. Allow me to do some research.

Couldn't find a pic of that press but among the ones, can you shorten the cable over the jack to allow more pressing? If I'm picturing it right, then you wouldn't get your bow in there right?

Can you provide a pic of the press with bow installed etc....

I know you can , you have that awesome camera now.

I had a similar problem. I think I might have already told you this in my "workbench" thread...but I can't remember. May have been someone else.

Anyway, I went to replace my strings using the Gritty Press. I pressed the bow, removed the cams, string, and cables (all in one piece just like you) but I couldn't get the press to fully relax my limbs so my bow was pretty much stuck in the press. So, I had to press it again and reinstall everything. I then took it out of that press and got the job done with the Bowmender.

Maybe I'm not understanding but you were able to get your bow fully relaxed (after removing cams and strings)? I don't see how you can't get it pressed back to the point of when you removed your strings.

Also, the part of the jack that the cable rests on...do you have it fully extended? It should give you another three inches. I usually put my bow in the press, pull the cable up so all of the press's pins are touching my bow, and then I shorten the cable over the jack.

Let me know if you need me to play around with mine to get yours working right. Be glad to.

Rob, here's a picture of the bow as it sits in the press. Excuse the messy bench, but it's all I have for now until I build my own place.



Finch, I ran into the same issue you did once I removed the cables/cams. I relaxed the press, but it wouldn't relax enough to get the bow out. I know I probably shouldn't have done this, but I just pulled out slightly on the bow evenly, and it popped out. That's one thing I'm not happy about with the press.

Anyways, I backed off the limb bolts (as per RJs suggestion) so I would gain a bit of flex there, and I even have the top portion of the jack adjust upward like you mention Finch, but I'm still about 2-3" short.

Rob, there is some adjustment with the links at the end of the cable where they hook onto the one arm, but you can only get up so many links until you can't hook it around the j-hook anymore. I have everything as snug, adjusted, and maxed out that I think I can get it.

Looks like you had a lot of slack in the cable when you pressed your bow before you took the cams and strings off, correct? That's why I pull up on the cable so the "arm pins" are touching my limbs, then I take slack out of the cable. Either way though...you probably wouldn't have been able to get the bow out of the press. IMO...it's a poorly designed press. It works but I (and I'm assuming you) didn't even THINK about this possible situation. I bet ole Gritty knew but forgot to mention.[&:]

I'm just thinking out loud here but could you cut some short pieces of 2x4 (or whatever) and put under the jack thus allowing you to fully press the bow? That way you will have more travel with the jack. Would that work?

Yeah, it's a serious flaw with this press. I certainly did consider putting a spacer under the jack, and was even going to go one step further and machine a steel spacer to put in there, but I haven't gotten around to it. I may actually get rid of the press after this is all said and done. Way too much of a headache. I will have to try the spacer in the time being maybe.

I don't think you would have any problem selling that on AT. There seems to be a high demand for them from what I've seen.[&:] Good luck man!

I do know you are pressing the bow incorrectly regardless of the press..........
Those lower pins against the limbs need to be down at the limb pockets.
You don't want to be levering all that force around the belly of the limb a couple inches up. [&o]

MGH,

Of course Matt is right. Right now your putting an extreme amount of pressure on your limbs. That pin in the press needs to sit on the limb AT the limb pocket. You could very easily damage your limbs.

(Not pointing at you MGH but I wonder how many people blow their limbs this way and then post them up blaming Bowtech)

I hope you not pressing this bow that hard in this way. PLEASE get the limbs in a correct position. When done, this may alleviate any issue you might have in not pressing it enough.


The pins at your cams could be moved up too. I'm sure you'll get enough press it the limbs at that point. Place the pins near the cams but still allowing room to work on the cam.

So....how did it go?