what would you do? help
 

i was out back shooting today when, at full draw, i heard a 'tick' from the bottom of my bow. not too loud, but not quiet. i let the arrow loose and examined my 2004 patriot s/c's bottom limb. ouch! :( botom limb has a crack. this is the 3rd set of limbs that has cracked on this bow. its a 70lb set of limbs, set at about 68lbs. haven't even pressed this set. i'm, well, depressed is the right word, but throw in a tablespoon of pi$$ed off also. i've called the shop and will take it in tomorrow. he said he'd send it to bowtech, and has already called them about it. i feel like demanding, in a nice way, a brand new bow. something must be wrong with this one, either with the limb pockets, or the riser, or something. what do you think i should do? what would you do if it was you and so close to hunting season. i'm across the country from bowtech, about as far as you can get, and not getting it back for 3 weeks would be terrible so close to hunting season. and the way things are going timing wise, if they send this bow back the new limbs will probably break right in the middle of season.

RE: what would you do? help
 

First off that sucks. Now a few questions.

1. are you shooting too light of an arrow?
2. has the shop been putting the bow in a press that could be damaging it? When it was reapired before you may not have seen what they did.
3. could you have somehow have hit the limb on something?

Bowtech will stand behind the bow 110%. I have not heard of any limb problems with Bowtechs bows. Every once in a while it will happen but it sounds like something else is going on. Wjem I used to work for a Pro Shop I saw a number of failed limbs from various companies. If the customer kept having problems (more than 1 set of limbs in less than 6 months) it was usually a couple fo things. Mostly too light of an arrow, leaving the bow in a hot car, altering the bow so it was out of specifications.

Once again sorry about your luck & I wish you good luck on getting corrected. I'm not saying it's your fault but expect your dealer/Bowtech to start asking some of the same things I mentioned.

RE: what would you do? help
 

no, not too light. i shoot gt 75/95's. i think they are 7.9 gpi. shop has 2 different nice apple presses, been in business a loooong time, and sold and worked on lots of bows. rated in top 5 shops in north carolina. haven't hit the limb on anything. i haven't done anything to them, or the bow. it hangs in a nice shaded room here in the mountains. only goes in the car if i'm taking it to the shop. i hunt out the back door. i take good care of it. i'm happy to have anyone inspect it and show me what i did to it. i certainly wouldn't do it again, but don't believe i've done anything at all that would cause this. there is a chance something ain't right with it. no?

RE: what would you do? help
 

Yes the bow could have something wrong with it. Limbs can go bad & sometimes a bad bunch may even come into the factory without them knowing. I would have the dealer send the bow back to Bowtech. Generally in these types of situations they will more than glad to perfrom the warranty in the factory. I can't speak for Bowtech but Ihave seen other companies do it.

Good luck, Bowtech Shooter should be on here soon & he will be able to help you out.

RE: what would you do? help
 

Gibblet! if this is the 3rd set of limb's you've gone through I'd almost think that there's something wrong with the riser or limb pocket's. What's the chance of getting 3 bad set's of limb's?very low, I would think.I feel your pain ,but I have a new 04 Patriot Dually and have no problem's at all. I know the limb's are different on these 2 bow's but this is the first I've heard of anyone with limb problem's from a BowTech product . I agree BowTech is a top of the line company and I'm sure Pat and BowTech will bend over backwards {110% for sure}to get you up and running for hunting season. But I'd definetly mention it to them anyway's.

RE: what would you do? help
 

Something is very very odd?.........I have heard of one limb cracking (which happens now and then with any limbs) and one complete failure due to a shop installing the limbs incorrectly, but never heard of anyone with 3 sets of limbs cracking.

You said the last set wasn't even pressed yet? They HAD TO be. You can't install limbs without a bowpress and pressing the bow.
Just from a casual standpoint I would immediately look at how the dealer/yourself is pressing this bow. These are NOT easy bows to press. In fact they are probably the HARDEST to do correctly especially without the right press. So much so that Apple has designed a press specifically for VFT style bows.
PRessed incorrectly can put too much stress in certain areas of the limb causing potential problems.
An indication of this would be the limb cracking in a similar area each time?

Talk to your dealer first and see what he says.........or call BowTech and explain the problem thoroughly.
You may want to have your dealer strip the bow down as well and measure the riser and pockets against another model to eliminate something else that might be stressing the limbs such as a bent riser. If all is well with the riser and pockets I would suspect the way the bow is being pressed........3 sets of limbs don't just crack for no reason.

RE: what would you do? help
 

i think the middle set may have been bad. they started de-laminating on the bottom edges after maybe 50 shots and it just kept creeping toward the limb pocket, gathering more and more limb material on the way - but still not much. this set cracked about 2.5 inches from the limb bolt pretty close to the center and running parallel with the limb. the shop owner backed this pair out 1/4 turn each before giving me the bow and said it should help them last. its hard to believe its not my fault, but i really can't think of anything i've done, really. i sure hope bowtech will stand by their product, and that has been my experience, or help me figure out what i may have done to cause this so i don't do it again. if it doesn't look like i did it do you think i would be going to far to ask them for a new bow? at this point, if its not me caused, i really feel like i should just have it replaced.

RE: what would you do? help
 

well of course he pressed the bow to get the string on it. i'm saying i haven't pressed this set. i did press the last set, using wwag's press. but i didn't press it much, just enough to get the peep out. when i pressed it i had a support, or bar, under the cam, under the idler wheel, and on the inside where the limbs meet the pocket, just like in the picture.

RE: what would you do? help
 

You should never shoot a bow with cracked limbs. I'm very suprised the owner said that.[:@]
I would have no problem asking for a new bow after all of this mess.

RE: what would you do? help
 

Gibblet,
BowTech has terrific customer service......
Warranty stuff should be handled by the dealer, but obviously if you keep losing limbs there is something more at work here and I would be a bit leary of the guy who worked on that bow. You had delaminating limbs and the guy backed the bolts off and gave you the bow back to shoot like that?[:-]
Did you notice the other sets cracking after the bow was serviced or string stuff installed that required pressing? I'm telling you , an out of spec press can be a KILLER on bows. Most good shops like Len's for instance will not use a worn out press........they have a lifespan and once they get sloppy, your BOW is gonna get sloppy and they should be replaced. BowTech is constantly renewing their factory presses to ensure that bows are not stressed incorrectly.
I would call BowTech directly tell them you have a very odd warranty issue and explain exactly what has gone on with this bow and listen to what they recommend.

RE: what would you do? help
 

i guess i'm not being clear. of course he never handed me back a bow with cracked limbs and said shoot it. i should have said "when he installed this last set of brand new limbs" he backed out the bolts 1/4 turn and said it would put less pressure on them and, in turn, they would last longer. it could be the dealer, he's the only one who pressed this set, but he's sold about 80 bowtechs this year - he sells so many he's got a tally by the register, sells matthews, hoyt, hca and others and works on them all. he's been doing this a long time. when the middle set started delaminating i called him, he said bring it in, looked at it, and said i'll have them replaced, but it would be ok to shoot it until the new ones come in. there were no cracks in the limb. all 3 times have been the bottom limb.

RE: what would you do? help
 

After your explanation of the limb cracking in the midle & up from the bolt it sounds like the bowshop is to blame when they pressed the bow. The VFT style bows are very hard to press (as Matt has stated as well) with a standard bow press. I have also seen a few bows that slipped in the press & hot the metal where the rollers are which ended up with the limbs delaminating on the side.

It sounds like you dealer isn't that good & I would look for another dealer to solve the problem correctly.

either way good luck & I hope you get things worked out. Something is wrong & I would bet it's damage by a press.

RE: what would you do? help
 

both sides started de-laminating, not just the one that could have hit the press, but it didn't because i was there.

RE: what would you do? help
 

after 3 sets of cracked limbs i would definately be asking for a new bow, something just isnt right there.

RE: what would you do? help
 

gibblet

that's fine you asked for opinions & I can see nothing anyone says really matters. I was just offering an opinion, you did ask for them. I don't know what kind of answer you are looking, except that something is wrong with the bow. If you feel the bow is the problem then talk to your dealer. If I purchased a bow & had 3 limbs to go bad & felt it wasn't the bow shops fault or my fault I wouldn't shoot it anymore.

Bowtech is a great bow company, they back their products. I have not heard of any problems like you have mentioned so to me it sounds like something else is wrong. Thats my opinion & I guess thats not what you wanted to hear. I do not shoot for Bowtech, I do own one but honestly I mostly shoot my 2 Mathews because I just really like them. The guys on here that shoot for Bowtech are great people & I have had the pleasure of meeting most of them. They are honest people that really care about helping people.

I'm sorry your not hearing what you want to hear.

RE: what would you do? help
 

dude, all i said was i was there and the bow didn't slip in the press and hit the metal. i'm taking in what is said, and continuing the conversation. perhaps you read my post with a different inflection than i intended because you are definately going somewhere using your own road signs and not our conversation. but its cool and i appreciate your and nubo's and matt's, and everyone elses input. thanks everyone. i'll let y'all know what happens tomorrow. i haven't heard about this before either, and with all the presses and all the bowtechs out there and all the people pressing their own, that does lead me to think it just may be the bow - or this would be more common - but it could be me, or the press at the shop - i'd really like to find out though.

RE: what would you do? help
 

With the next set of limbs you get put on the bow, have them install a new set of limb rockers and limb bolt washers. There might be a blemish on one of these that's causing uneven pressure on the mounting surface of the limb??

RE: what would you do? help
 

thanks wwag, ya know - they ain't even scratched yet, i mean not even one little tiny scratch. i mean it doesn't even look like a hunting bow yet.

RE: what would you do? help
 

well i guess a solution has been reached. still don't know why though. bowtech will not entertain ideas about replacing the bow as its a warranty issue, understandable imo if it ends here. the sales rep asked the dealer to inquire about my arrow weight, nothing else. when that checked out ok i was told the bow wouldn't be shipped for them to inspect, but that they were 2 day air mailing, free of shipping charge, a new set of limbs to the shop. dealer and rep had no idea why this was happening, dealer suggested both sets of limbs were ordered so close together it may have been a bad batch, but couldn't say for sure. he didn't feel i had anything to do with it, he said the bows were made to have the he!! shot out of them like i do. i am happy they are air mailing this set and i don't (we'll see though) have to wait the 10 days for them to get here ground. he (dealer) was very ready for me to be confrontational with him and about bowtech, but when i wasn't he warmed up real nice like. i'm about twice his size and nicer than i look so that was understandable. i still just left wondering what happened. its easy for me to blame the shop owner, who by the way is on a million peoples shooting staff and has helped develop some of the more popular archery products currently in use, or bt, or me, but until i know what did it, or if this set lasts, i'll keep my mind open about it.

RE: what would you do? help
 

How do you screw up a bow in the press? Also is hard to press becasue of the parrallel limbs?

RE: what would you do? help
 

Sounds like you have been way more understanding then I would be at this point. I sure do hope this will take care of the problem. Keep us posted.

RE: what would you do? help
 

You could always do what I did when my Parker limbs broke two times in three years - get the limbs fixed and use it as a backup. I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but are you going to trust this bow after three limb cracks?

RE: what would you do? help
 

that's it bobco, right on the head. but i ain't got the $ to get a new one right at this time. i feel a bit like i'm stuck, like my attitude has got to be - 'oh thank you sooooo much for fixing this $650 bow 3 times. i 'm sooooo lucky you guys fix stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!" if i had the $ right now i might fly out to oregon and smash it on their front lawn and go buy a matthews (oh no i didn't) out of spite. whoooo, that felt good. (ok, venting session over). i'll be happy as a clam with it if it doesn't happen again, really like the bow, but i think i'm inventing a new type of panic. instead of target panic, i'm getting limb crack panic, better known as bottom limb fever. i'll update as necessary.

RE: what would you do? help
 

bowtech did in fact 2 day air mail my new limbs to the shop. i had them installed yesterday along with a new string and cable from a guy named aaron, a.k.a. gipper (string shop), over on a.t. beautiful set, appears well made, all the extras, $50 tyd within the week. shooting a 75/95 (7.9 gpi @ 27.5 in) with 100 grain tip and blazer vanes and set at 65# i was shooting 294 fps. oh, its a 2004 pat sc, 29" in draw. this is surprising to me since at 70# i was shooting 296. i guess i've removed the peep since then. anyway, i'm happy as can be right now and hope this doesn't happen again. added some new limbsavers and put the sims leeches in the string (before shooting 294) and its super quiet. pulling 65# is like taking candy from a baby, i can't believe it. shoulda done it a long time ago, guess it was an ego thing. also picked up a hicks release, whoooooo, crisp! so, PLEASE CANCEL THE BOWTECH POSSE! I'M HAPPY, I'M HAPPY.

RE: what would you do? help
 

Hope your new limbs work out for ya. I'll say this about Bowtech. I love mine and will be ordering a new Pro 40 in 05. I've had serious problems with my 03 Pat DC. All was taken care of and I am 100% satisfied. They sent me a new one. Seems a few around the message boards always play the "must be a pressing problem" card. I was assured my problems were'nt a press issue by bowtech. I never did get a real reason why I recieved a new bow. Even after all the blame game bullshi+. Don't matter anymore to me. Like I said, I'm 100% satisfied and will be buying from them again.

RE: what would you do? help
 

gibblet:
you said
. shooting a 75/95 (7.9 gpi @ 27.5 in) with 100 grain tip and blazer vanes and set at 65# i was shooting 294 fps. oh, its a 2004 pat sc, 29" in draw. this is surprising to me since at 70# i was shooting 296. “ I HOPE YOU STAY LUCKY”

I do not know if you have seen my Bowtech postings on speed, but I do believe different limbs can make a difference. My bow was bought @ 28.5” and 60# although there were 4 modules & I usually shoot @ 30”.

My Pro Shop Owner Personally took this bow back to the factory to have the speed checked but all they appeared to do was give it a new BC.

So my Hypothesis is, if I had a company that built, checked, & evaluated the bow limbs as much as Bowtech say they do, I may grade them. And any limb that seamed to have a defect whatsoever, but not bad enough to discard, I would put it on a bow not rated at 70# and 30” draw. Because in my conspiracy mind, I may believe that each level of math a bow hunter had to transverse, the less likely they are to see the defect.