Anyone else having problems with theirs splitting?

Anyone ever seen or heard of this problem before?

What causes it?

How can I fix it?

Help?

Washington Hunter

Are these new?

If not, usually I only get about 400 to 500 shots out of a leech. After that they will do the same thing.

If there new, it could be an adjustment on were they are placed on your string. It looks as though they are close to your cables, they may be getting caught on the cables. I shoot a BowTech Extreme Solo and I had the same problem of catching cables, I just moved them further down the string and now I only wear them out.

All my leaches eventually split and the tips fall off. Does this alter your shot? I got tired of running to the pro shop to have a new one put on, so I've had a bad one on now for a couple of weeks now.

If you plan on using leeches, then my advice to you is GET USED TO IT. Those things seems to come apart after a week of hard shooting. I tuned my bow with them on and without, and found it to be the same, so I leave them off until season, and then I only put 1 one above the peep about 6" below the cam.

I've used leeches since they hit the market and love'em. They do wear out, but Ive found that some last alot longer than others, maybe minute manufacturing defects . I've had some that lasted as little 100 shots and others that lasted at least 600. I do know from past experience that once they are in place they cannnot be moved without taking tension off of the string otherwise it will damage them, drastically reducing the # of shots you will get out of them. Hope this helps.

I currently use leeches with mixed results. My next string silencers will be a series of 5-6 "cusion buttons" (the littly round rings that one would use under a nock set if you use a release)threaded on the string where the leeches would normally be placed.
They are made of the same material and have less of a tendency to fly apart.

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it.

I've shot maybe 100 - 150 shots with these leaches on, that's a real bummer.

I sure wish I would have known this before I spent the money and put them on. It really seems like a waste now.

How are Cat Whiskers compared to these? We have a whole bunch of packages of these in our archery gear, I just figured I'd try the 'new age' stuff to see how well they worked. So far so good, but these aren't as durable as I'd like.

Should I put the Cat Whiskers on? Would they work just as well as the leaches? Will they hold up better?

Thanks again everyone!

Cat whiskers will outlast your string. They wont be as effective as leeches, but they will silence your bowstring. They do usually take a few more fps than leeches

My experience as well !

One thing I did though with my leeches .......was when I lost the outside peices ......and just had the part that the string holds and a little extra on both sides ......(usually that part would fly off not too long after)........so I took some electrical tape and cut it and wrapped it around that remaining part..........lasted like that for a year on my Ultra 2 without coming off!! It wasn't as quiet.....but was still quiet enough !

Did that make sense !! [8D]

That is what I have been doing for quite some time on all of my hunting bows. Not only do the last long but also can actually increase speed if placed in the correct position. Their noise and vibration dampening characteristics are not as good as leeches or cat whiskers but still considerably better than nothing at all.

Something Sims should do with the leeches is what Bowtech did with their squidees and what is used on the rubber eliminator buttons.....have them fit around the string instead of through it. Though the squidees loose their arms after extended shooting I cannot see where this would be a problem with the leeches.

Sims Leech "Ultras"....