Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

Well, as I sat here this morning getting ready to micro-tune my Patriot's broadhead flight, I noticed a 5 inch splinter on my lower limb. Having occurred so close to our PA archery season, it'll be interesting to see how quickly Bowtech can get a new set of limbs out to me.

On a related note, is there any way to salvage the Sims Limbsavers that I currently have affixed to these limbs, or am I now stuck with that replacement cost as well?

Fritz

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

I feel for you.:( Maybe if you want to pay a little the can overnight a set of limbs to your dealer. Just out of curiousity what year bow is it. Is this a problem with the 2004 too. I had the limbs replaced on my 2003 Patriot.

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

It's a 2004.......this should be under full warranty, correct?

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If your the original owner it is LIFETIME warrenty. I had no trouble getting my limbs replaced.

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

Slide a razor blade under the plastic the LS is attatched to. Rub the sticky side with a bit of denatured alcohol. Rub on the sticky side with your thumb until all the glue is gone and plastic is clear. Clean your new limb and re-install with a new set of 2 sided stickies. Mine came with an extra set.

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Dang, that's not good to hear seeing hows I've got the same bow.

Maybe Bowtech can remove the limb savers for you.
I've had them pop of of bows in the past and just gel superglues them back on. But since yours didn't pop off I'm not sure how to get them off w/out making it look like you damaged the limbs removing them.

On a lighter note, if mylimbs did splinter I could trade up to 70#ers instead of the 64#ers I've got.
Hope they get it worked out quickly for you.

This is the very reason I have 3 bows ready to hunt, same thing happened to me several years ago w/ my Z-light. I learned a lesson that year. My bow was ready in time, but I was very worried there for a couple of weeks.

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

I'm almost tempted to ask for a new bow given the finish on this one. The grip area is now a shiny aluminum because the finish has come off. I've been pretty happy with this bow except for the finish and now this limb situation. It's a shame that this had to happen right before the season[:@].

I am the orginal owner and the bow is registered with Bowtech, so hopefully this will be as smooth as possible.

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Sorry to hear about that mrfritz. [&:] I guess it's a good thing there is still 3 1/2 weeks till our season opener. If all works well you should have time to get everything tuned up for Oct 2nd. ;)

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Man whats the deal with all of these cracked/splintered limbs recently.

I too shoot the 04 Patriot. I love the 3 BowTechs I have owned but I am picking up a trend here. If this obvious flaw isn't taken care of for 05' I may switch back to hoyt or perhaps move on to something else[:o]

But then again, It may not be a design flaw. These bows could have been pressed in the wrong type of bow presses for the parallel limbs.

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

Using the right press is very important when pressing the parallel limb bows. I use a Bowmaster at home, so no pressure is put on the riser (pressed at the limb tips). At work, we use the new Apple presses with the jack on the end. They work beautifully. It certainly doesn't hurt to back out the limb bolts before pressing, either. With the older presses you just cannot get close enough to the limb tips to keep from stressing the limbs excessively at the pocket. It's possible to cause splintering that isn't apparent, until having shot the bow. Hopefully, as people learn how to better press the parallel limbs, we'll see less and less problems.

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

I'm not sure what press my dealer uses, but it's only been pressed there a handful of times. At home I use a Bowmaster as well so hopefully that diudn't cause the problem. I like that little press too much........

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I have used the bowmaster countless times on my bowtechs with no problems.

Call your dealer and ask him if he has had any other issues with cracked limbs. Perhaps that may shed a little more info.

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Spoke with him today and he seemed surpised by the news. He said he had an '03 limb go bad last year, but hadn't heard anything since. He's not a big Bowtech seller though, since he sells Hoyt and Mathews as well.

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You will have them in 5 days unless you make special arrangements. I just went through this for the second time.

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Has anyone called Bowtech to find out what the cause is? I just put up my Mathews LX for sale to buy a Patriot, now I am reconsidering.

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I've got an email with photos sent to Pat Dinan (Bowtech_Shooter) who's usually pretty good about helping us out. I'll relay any incite he has on things if he provides it.

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i'm surprised c903 hasn't chimed in here yet. [8D]

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Oh it's coming........................



There are starting to be several stories regarding various limb problems that should be causing someone at the factory some concern.

RE: Time to really test Bowtech customer service...
 

Limbs have been ordered and hopefully will go out today.

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I agree wih JeffB on this.

I've been shooting Bowtechs for as long as they have been around and have never had a problem with their limbs until I let a local dealer press it to put in a peep, while I was shooting other bows. As I was leaving I noticed a crack originating where the limb enters the pocket. It appears that the limb was crushed against the pocket when he pressed it, and grew from there.

Now, if your bow was never pressed then that obviously doesn't apply, but I think it will turn out that the majority of these cases are the result of bow press operator error.

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Are we all then in agreement that the Bowmaster is a good press for the parallel limb design?

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Is this an exclusive club, restricted to one-sided views?

I aready responded on ANOTHER (different) cracked Bowtech limb thread. Basically what I said was; I personally consider that Bowtech's "great service" song has fell from the Top 40 list.

Did not "Yugo" have "great service?" ;)

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I wonder if we'll see a similar trend with the Outbacks since they also sport a more parallel limb design?

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If I remember correctly that was the theory floating around this board concerning the Mathews limbs when they went to the roller guard design. Something about the limbs being "prestressed" ore something like that.
That theory may be as old as the "new Legacy" days. But I never saw it materialize.
Anyone else remember those threads?

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i hope you aren't lumping me into the "exclusive club." [8D]
i don't own a bowtech and therefore have no experience with their cutomer service.
i was just poking some fun because i read through the heated debate on the other cracked bowtech limb thread. :D

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He would not give a counterfeit dollar to Bowtech...but he sure doesnt mind giving his two cents worth .:eek:

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I sent an email to Bowtech today requesting information on the CRACKED LIMB theory. I wrote to the top guy plus the tech guy. Hopefully they will provide some insight to what is going on.

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No! Pulling your leg too. ;)

akaSharkey:

Presently, it appears it is safer and cheaper to give 2-cents worth of opinion than a counterfeit dollar for a Bowtech. ;)

It appears that some of today's bow designs may have exceeded the limitations of certain materials. However, if breaking bows and lost time ain't no big thing, go for it. :eek:

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Those that are familiar with the parallel limb design know the limb tips are all that move, and very little. Pressing these bows in an old press, as you would a more vertical limb, puts excessive stress on the limb at the pocket. I've had an 02 Patriot, 03 Patriot Dually, 04 Liberty, and worked on all the other parallel limb bows. Using a Bowmaster at home has caused no problems. Using the new Apple press at work, the same results. If these bows are not pressed as close to the limb tips as possible, cracks will be more a real possibility. And seeing that cracks are originating at the pocket, leads me more to believe pressing improperly may play a big part in this.

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Is this an exclusive club, restricted to one-sided views?

THSI IS A EXCLUSIVE CLUB IF ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS BASH BOW COMPANYS[:@]

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I don't understand what is going on, but something surely seems to be up with Bowtech's bows lately. When they first came into the bow market, you didn't hear of too many problems, but since more and more people are shooting their bows, this limb problem has creeped into the picture.

Maybe I'm thinking too much but could this be a design flaw in the parallel limb design? I understand the limbs don't move very much, but that stress and shock has got to go somewhere, especially with the low stretch strings and cables they are using. Maybe there is more stress on those limbs than once thought.

I hope they get it corrected and make a public statement about it. Time will tell just how great they really are. If they don't make an anouncement, and try to disregard this issue, I'll think less of them. Hopefully its something simple like a faulty batch of limbs and not something more critical like design errors.

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I think you've missed C903's point.

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I've seen cracked limbs on just about every major manufactuer of bows out there.Sure, Bowtech is experiancing some major problems and it's a shame that the guys are having to deal with it just before bow season starts.Bowtech has a quality product on the market,and even though I shoot a Mathews,and people may feel this site is "slightly" slanted towards Bowtech,I still feel bad for my fellow bowhunters in their time of need.Also,I don't get any kind of joy in the fact that it's not "my bow companies probelms".After saying that,I just can't help but wonder...Is this,or could it be a result of this insane quest for speed, pushing the limits of these bows with lighter,faster arrows,and turning a blind eye towards everything else to achieve being the "fastest"?Just a thought,and I certainly hope everything works out for Bowtech and their customers...Bob

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Just an update. Called the shop yesterday and the limbs haven't come in. The hunting shows are really making me itch to shoot! I suspect they'll be here today or Monday.........fingers crossed.

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i have the same problem brought the bow back tuesday and the pro shop said they wont be in till next week iam hoping monday got some new arrows to try.. and like you said the huntings shows dont help none.. ps are you putting the limbs on or the shop

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I'm going to let the shop put the limbs on under my supervision. From what the Bowtech techs are saying, we have to be careful that the bows aren't being pressed too close to the limb pockets. I can't remember how mine was pressed at the shop, but it was in a more traditional bow press.

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the shop i go to to have 3 differnt presses and they look pretty new so i am hoping they do a good job.. i just like doing everything my self that way i know it as good as it can be.

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Look for Apple press. I think they are the ones that should be used on parallel limb bows.

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are the apple presses yellow?

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The Apples are yellow. The new ones have a small hydraulic jack on one end. The jack is what is actually used to relax the string.