Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I was forced to consider another cable slide when my shield cut feathers lightly clipped the cable of the Patriot. I've since used three slides and settled on one given how smoothly it draws. Hopefully, someone considering a new slide will find this useful.

1. The factory slide is rough. You can almost feel the cable dragging across the slide when you draw and the cable shows the wear. From what I understand from this forum, others experience wear from the factory installed slide as well.

2. Bomar white virgin teflon slide - This one is very similar to the Sims slide for a little less cost. It provided a little more fletching clearance, but I could still feel the cable moving through the slots. I took it off after a few shots.

3. Alpine Archery roller slide - This is the one I'm sticking with. It's not as simple as the others, and it has two of those dreaded e-clips to hold the axle in the bracket, but the draw was noticably smoother and caused no noticable wear on the cables. I've shot this slide about 1200 times without any issues.

This slide holds two plastic rollers on a steel axle mounted within a rubber bracket. The bracket also holds a white teflon cylinder, the inside of which makes contact with the cable guard rod. There is quite a bit of friction holding the wheels together in the bracket, and they're hard to turn at rest. However, the pressure of the cables moving through the slide turns the wheels and eliminates any potential friction on the cables. It seems that this keeps the slide quiet, despite the moving parts, and creates the smoother draw that I liked.

I chrono'd this slide against the factory installed Bowtech slide and it was about 2-3 fps slower, but the ultra-smooth draw cycle outweighs this trade off - for me anyway.


Just my two cents for those considering a replacement on their Bowtech...........

Fritz

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Thanks for the tip Fred. I may have to give one of those Alpine slides a whirl. Do you think a roller slide with less friction between the wheels would be even better? Personally I have found the NAP and PSE slides to both work reasonably well in terms of clearance and overall perceived feel but am always looking to try new things.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I installed the Alpine Archery slides on my son's PSE and it was noticably smoother. A big improvement.

His bow is the Nova model which is PSE's least expensive model so almost anything that we do to it is an improvement. It is a pretty good shooting bow, just not as smooth or as fast as the top of the line models.

I did not check the change in speed.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I'm sure that less roller friction would be a good thing in terms of speed and cable wear, but I'm not sure what kind of noise might be generated from loose rollers. Maybe a Mathews guy can comment on how easily the cable rollers function on their bows and if anything is audible from the roller assembly. I'm not even sure it would be possible with this design given the softness of the rubber bracket. The rollers seem to act as spacers as well.

Is that another Mathews patent? It would be nice to see a Bowtech with roller cable slides.

Fritz

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I don't know if it is a Mathews patent...probably Martin or PSE as they seem to hold a patent for everything...;). On a related note, I think there are other "issues" with those roller cable guard setups and that is why you are not seeing them on other companies' products though I could be mistaken and it may just be a patent issue.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Thanks for the tip Fritz. I was having the same problem. I switched to the Sims Teflon with no problems so far.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I have 2 mathews 1 has the rod I got A muzzy zero effect rest with their slide. any how on my new bow it has the wheels I feel no differance BUT I never thought of it till now!
I really did'nt need A new thing to think about when I'm shooting:(

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I switched to the Alpine exactly 1 week after I got my Pat Dually. World of difference. I used a bit of gear oil I have for fishing reels on the spacer btw the wheels and lost no speed. They still don't spin with your finger but they spin easier than before.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I have a feeling that after all the comments about the cable slide that there may be an upgrade in the offing. ;)

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I may try oiling them myself.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

IMO you'd be remiss not to give them a go Frank. Actually I've been meaning to post about the same thing Fritz did about them just haven't had time and I wanted to have at least 10 shooting sessions with it on before I made comment. I'm at 8 and 7 are 3D and very happy:D

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

The Hicks tournament slide (white) is the best I've found so far if you are having a clearance prob. Doesn't pull the cable/string over too far like the Sims and some others and allows for plenty of clearance w/ 5" Right Helical feathers.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Where can you purchase the Hicks slide?

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Good questin Mike. I have not had a chance to try the Hicks either and have not seen them anywhere locally. Jeff?

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Jeffrey B. got his from me...:D;)


I've got a few I can let go but not too many. Drop me an e-mail at [email protected]

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Dear [email protected],

If there are any left at this late hour could you please send me a Hicks cable slide for experimentation. Email is on the way.

:)

Frank

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

JeffB sent me a Hicks slide when I was being frustrated by clearance problems on my Liberty. I had tried the Sims slide & fully agree that it pulls the cables over way too far. Makes it look like the cable is coming off the side of that large idler wheel.

I'm shooting some fat 2413's with 4" feathers for 3D with no contact problems at all.

I believe you can find the Hicks slides at Lancaster for around $6.

Thanks again Jeff!:)

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

That is for the hunter slide, not the tournament slide.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

No prob Jeep!:) Glad to oblige!

Yep I got mine from Pat. I was just the middleman getting it to Jeep [8D] Any of the major distributors should carry them though, so your shop should be able to order them. I'm sure Lancaster can get them pronto if you need to do mail order.

They have a website here Last time I was on the site I noticed there is a 3D and a tournament slide. I believe that the 3D is what they re-named the white target slide Pat sent me (either that or Pat just had the wrong name:D)

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

You guys be sure and let me know how these two slides stack up against each other........especially on a Patriot if possible.

Thanks,

Fritz

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

I bought an alpine glide slide for my 2002 Mighty-mite and loved it's smoother feel, but it placed the cables to far out towards the string. I replaced it with a simms and put it on my stalker- where it rides smooth to this day.

When I started went to replace the factory slide on my VFT patriot I went straight back to the Alpine glide slide. It provides very close to if not exact ample cable clearance as the factory slide with the rollers providing no visable wear.
My chrony showed a 2 fps increase:) with the Glide slide, which I quickly took back by serving in my down cable:(.

RE: Cable Slide for Bowtechs
 

Thanks Jeepnut but I believe Pat has one heading my way...;). I will be sure to comment on how it compares to the stock slide as well as the NAP and PSE versions.