PSE Levitate Warning

[TheGreatBamReno]

Have one. Shot the crap out of it side by side with a V3X 33 debating which to buy. Both are excellent bows and you should shoot both. Ultimately wound up with the Levitate because it's the one I could not stop thinking about and wanting to shoot again after the fact. It's simply really fun to shoot.

The V3X 33 though is an absolutely incredible bow. It felt rock solid, incredibly accurate. It's so good it almost seemed boring, if that makes any sense; to the point that, if I was buying based off what bow shoots the best, I wonder if I made the wrong decision. But I don't care because I'm smiling ear to ear with the Levitate.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Well leaving for pronghorn opener tomorrow and the levitate spontaneously exploded. Feeling lucky I only got a few scratches on my face, looks like the axle that holds bottom cam broke in half. I had an arrow with a broadhead on it at full draw, miraculously found it, didn’t send it into anyones house or my leg. First bow I’ve had explode…. Terrifying, 0/10 would not recommend.

 

[Billy Goat]

Well leaving for pronghorn opener tomorrow and the levitate spontaneously exploded. Feeling lucky I only got a few scratches on my face, looks like the bolt that holds bottom cam broke in half. I had an arrow with a broadhead on it at full draw, miraculously found it, didn’t send it into anyones house or my leg. First bow I’ve had explode…. Terrifying, 0/10 would not recommend.
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When did it explode?

It looks like the cam hit something and that might have broken the axle. I can't figure out how the axle breaking would have damaged it like that? Maybe it hit the cable guard after break? I don't know.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

When did it explode?

It looks like the cam hit something and that might have broken the axle. I can't figure out how the axle breaking would have damaged it like that? Maybe it hit the cable guard after break? I don't know.

Exploded at full draw, i was pulling through shot when it happened but shot hadn’t broke. I had been shooting all day, probably 50+ shots.

 

[Buffalomtn]

Well leaving for pronghorn opener tomorrow and the levitate spontaneously exploded. Feeling lucky I only got a few scratches on my face, looks like the axle that holds bottom cam broke in half. I had an arrow with a broadhead on it at full draw, miraculously found it, didn’t send it into anyones house or my leg. First bow I’ve had explode…. Terrifying, 0/10 would not recommend.
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Since you found the arrow did you happen to look at the nock and see if it broke?

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Since you found the arrow did you happen to look at the nock and see if it broke?

Arrow was about 2-3 yards in front to my left, nock did not break, think I’ve pieced it together, axle broke at full draw, bottom cam came up into the riser, breaking on impact then hitting my face, lower limbs launched 7-10 yards in front.

 

[ncavi8tor]

Tagged

NC

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[TheTone]

Holy crap that is a catastrophic failure!

 

[ncavi8tor]

Can't help it!

NC

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Well heard back from PSE, they are giving me no problems with fixing under warranty because they knew the axles had been over-harden in the “original” run of levitates. They claim it wasn’t an issue but could see a situation where everything aligned perfectly and it could snap. In my case, 80lbs bow set at 74lbs, tuned with little to no cam lean and 575g arrow, far from a maxed out or extreme rig. Got a black eye and two cuts on my face but could have easily been catastrophic, cam flew up under pressure and had to have missed my forearm by millimeters.
So just a heads up to any levitate owners or people thinking about buying one. I got mine 6 months after release, so wouldn’t say early/original run. PSE knew there was an issue but hasn’t done anything. Has to be one of the most expensive bows ever released, going to lose $50 on shipping, $200 on strings, down a bow for season and $500/600 when I sell it, probably more because I made this post but feel like people should know. Cannot recommend.

 

[Super 91]

Man!!! I hate that happened, and although you got hurt, at least it wasn't something like losing your eye or breaking your arm or severe lacerations. I had a Hoyt explode on me once, so I know the feeling of cams exploding, string whipping you and limbs flying. I also have a bow limb start to fail at full draw, you could hear it cracking and I let down just before it cracked in two and the bow came apart. No matter what, it's a scary, freaky feeling.

My buddy just got a 70 pound Levitate and we shot it a good bit here in my basement shop before he took it home. He's very pleased with it and is shooting great.

I just ordered one and should have it in a few days. It will be just like his. I hope it will be okay, but it is just off the production line, so I hope it has the updated axles.

Sorry for your loss, I'm sure you were enjoying the bow prior to that. Totally sucks to have it happen right before you were to leave for the hunt too. I sorta know these feelings. My truck is in the shop and we are supposed to leave in a few weeks. I ordered a new truck last Nov and I just made the first payment, have yet to lay eyes on it because Ford can't tell me where it is in transport....got a 2020 Honda Rubicon 4 wheeler with like 30 hours on it maybe, supposed to take it on the hunt, now it won't start......I expect to feel the pins from the VooDoo doll any minute.......feel cursed the last few days. So yeah, crap happens. Hope PSE does better than just let's fix it. They should give you a new bow and compensate you for the other accessories that were destroyed due to their failure to send you new axles and warn you about the potential failure on the ones you have (had) now.

 

[Jbehredt]

Oh man. A real life Point Shoot Explode! Glad you’re not any worse for the wear.

 

[ncavi8tor]

You shouldn't be "down" one red penny since they've admitted it's their fault!! That's piss poor CS in my book!

NC

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[Yoder]

Haha in the next year or two you won’t be able to get a flagship bow under $2000…. it’s an investment…..

I'll just wait for one of you guys to sell yours used for half price in a year or two.

 

[WCB]

As soon as they admitted knowledge of the issue I wouldn't have taken anything but all my money back including strings...and WTF they can't do a call tag for pickup?

 

[3forks]

Well heard back from PSE, they are giving me no problems with fixing under warranty because they knew the axles had been over-harden in the “original” run of levitates. They claim it wasn’t an issue but could see a situation where everything aligned perfectly and it could snap. In my case, 80lbs bow set at 74lbs, tuned with little to no cam lean and 575g arrow, far from a maxed out or extreme rig. Got a black eye and two cuts on my face but could have easily been catastrophic, cam flew up under pressure and had to have missed my forearm by millimeters.
So just a heads up to any levitate owners or people thinking about buying one. I got mine 6 months after release, so wouldn’t say early/original run. PSE knew there was an issue but hasn’t done anything. Has to be one of the most expensive bows ever released, going to lose $50 on shipping, $200 on strings, down a bow for season and $500/600 when I sell it, probably more because I made this post but feel like people should know. Cannot recommend.

Was it the first day on the job for whoever you spoke with at PSE?

Unreal that PSE isn’t doing more on this.

I’m not sure if you already have, but this would really pick up momentum if you posted something like you did here on ArcheryTalk.

 

[ncavi8tor]

Yes, please post this on ArcheryTalk General Section with the pictures! I will grab some popcorn!

NC

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[MattB]

Haha in the next year or two you won’t be able to get a flagship bow under $2000…. it’s an investment…..

In the next year or two you will be able to buy that bow new in box for $1,250 or so. So, no….

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Man!!! I hate that happened, and although you got hurt, at least it wasn't something like losing your eye or breaking your arm or severe lacerations. I had a Hoyt explode on me once, so I know the feeling of cams exploding, string whipping you and limbs flying. I also have a bow limb start to fail at full draw, you could hear it cracking and I let down just before it cracked in two and the bow came apart. No matter what, it's a scary, freaky feeling.

My buddy just got a 70 pound Levitate and we shot it a good bit here in my basement shop before he took it home. He's very pleased with it and is shooting great.

I just ordered one and should have it in a few days. It will be just like his. I hope it will be okay, but it is just off the production line, so I hope it has the updated axles.

Sorry for your loss, I'm sure you were enjoying the bow prior to that. Totally sucks to have it happen right before you were to leave for the hunt too. I sorta know these feelings. My truck is in the shop and we are supposed to leave in a few weeks. I ordered a new truck last Nov and I just made the first payment, have yet to lay eyes on it because Ford can't tell me where it is in transport....got a 2020 Honda Rubicon 4 wheeler with like 30 hours on it maybe, supposed to take it on the hunt, now it won't start......I expect to feel the pins from the VooDoo doll any minute.......feel cursed the last few days. So yeah, crap happens. Hope PSE does better than just let's fix it. They should give you a new bow and compensate you for the other accessories that were destroyed due to their failure to send you new axles and warn you about the potential failure on the ones you have (had) now.

Yea definitely feel lucky, injuries could have and probably should have been a lot worse, I got off easy

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Was it the first day on the job for whoever you spoke with at PSE?

Unreal that PSE isn’t doing more on this.

I’m not sure if you already have, but this would really pick up momentum if you posted something like you did here on ArcheryTalk.

Yea I’m not happy, why I posted. I did not talk to PSE, this is what my shop told me. Shop has been great to work with though, they are just as or more fired up than I am. I’ve been hunting for the past two weeks so haven’t had time for too much contact, but have a bit of a break now, going to push some more and see what happens. I have an old AT account with very little if any post history, I figured I’d just get dismissed as a newbie.