String change fail

[1jeds]

I decided that I'd learn to maintain and tune my own bow this year. I have an EZ Green press and needed a new string on my Hoyt Ventum 33 so I figured I'd start there. Fresh new catfish customs string/cables came in this week and I was pumped.

After swapping them out and tying in a nock set/d-loop I started to draw it back on the draw board. Well the string popped off and my cams/limbs are bent to hell. I should have taken pictures before, and even though I changed one at a time, I second guessed myself when it was all together because the cables didn't match the stock pictures online. That was an expensive mistake.

I guess I'll wait a few weeks for the 2025 announcements, I was hoping to keep using this bow for a while (it's the 2021 model).

 

[Ho5tile1]

Man that stinks sry to hear that man hope you have a back up bow. At least you learned something that will carry over to the next bow. If it was mine I would for sure get it fixed take to the shop you got it from if your able Hoyt may help you out worth a shot I hit my VXR cam on my tree stand years ago and bent my cam to hell as well took it to the shop told them it was my fault and Mathews took care of it free of charge. I’d get it fixed and get a new bow and keep it as a back up bow. I keep 3 bows set up just for hunting. I hunt with one till I kill a something then switch to the the next and so on. Well for sure take many pics next time and good luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Billy Goat]

Did you press it and put things back?


Limbs should be OK, it's possible a cam bent, but might just be messed up strings/cables.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Did you press it and put things back?


Limbs should be OK, it's possible a cam bent, but might just be messed up strings/cables.

Unless he dry fired it on the draw board?

 

[Billy Goat]

Unless he dry fired it on the draw board?

Half draw and cable or string slips off, limbs should survive.

Hoyt limbs ain't what they use to be, but should survive that.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Half draw and cable or string slips off, limbs should survive.

Hoyt limbs ain't what they use to be, but should survive that.

As a dry firer of bows, it’s a bad feeling.

 

[Billy Goat]

As a dry firer of bows, it’s a bad feeling.

Got a buddy that has dry fired every bow he owns.....



It's a sound that carries pretty well.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Got a buddy that has dry fired every bow he owns.....



It's a sound that carries pretty well

I’ve only done it twice, but within 2 weeks of each other. Dry fired my bow, replaced the cams, went and shot the bow and did it again. 2 of the dumber moments of my life.

And that’s a noise you’ll never forget. It’s kind of a twang with a heavy dose of regret and sorrow.

 

[Billy Goat]

I’ve only done it twice, but within 2 weeks of each other. Dry fired my bow, replaced the cams, went and shot the bow and did it again. 2 of the dumber moments of my life.

And that’s a noise you’ll never forget. It’s kind of a twang with a heavy dose of regret and sorrow.

He dry fired one day he got it back.


And I know I have stopped him several times.


Drop away rests, nobody watches their arrows. I use a blade, and shake like a crack baby, gotta keep an eye on things.


I have had a few nocks blow, it's a sound and smell you don't forget.

 

[1jeds]

Did you press it and put things back?


Limbs should be OK, it's possible a cam bent, but might just be messed up strings/cables.

I didn't dry fire on the draw board, but something is messed up. It's a 33" ATA bow, took measurements before and after the string replacement, everything was good. After the cable mishap, it's now sitting at 30" and I can't press it without the limbs hitting the metal part of the press due to their angle. I'll try to mess around with the placement of the fingers and see if I can get things situated.

 

[Billy Goat]

I didn't dry fire on the draw board, but something is messed up. It's a 33" ATA bow, took measurements before and after the string replacement, everything was good. After the cable mishap, it's now sitting at 30" and I can't press it without the limbs hitting the metal part of the press due to their angle. I'll try to mess around with the placement of the fingers and see if I can get things situated.

Pulling cable roller might help a little. Will let the limb tips out a little and gain some clearance on the limbs possibly.

 

[MattB]

With the advent of cameras in cell phone, I have adopted the practice of taking pictures of most everything I am going to take apart when I think I might have doubts when putting it back together,

 

[1jeds]

With the advent of cameras in cell phone, I have adopted the practice of taking pictures of most everything I am going to take apart when I think I might have doubts when putting it back together,

Some lessons I like to learn the hard way unfortunately. Hopefully someone else sees this and avoids the same mistake, that is the intent at least.

 

[roosiebull]

Got a buddy that has dry fired every bow he owns.....



It's a sound that carries pretty well.

I’m not very smart but it only took one dry fire to cure me of that, and that was 22yrs ago with a brand new Hoyt ultratec

It may have not been wise, but I just had the string put back on and life was good. Today I would automatically change the string/cables, but back then I was happy to get everything pre stretched before the bow had a single arrow through it

I think bows were tougher back then and stored less energy, because nothing was damaged besides my wrist which still has my dry fire brand permanently on it

 

[roosiebull]

He dry fired one day he got it back.


And I know I have stopped him several times.


Drop away rests, nobody watches their arrows. I use a blade, and shake like a crack baby, gotta keep an eye on things.


I have had a few nocks blow, it's a sound and smell you don't forget.

The other day I thought I had a nock break, but it was an insert weight that came loose and blew the nock out on the shot, it was not a good sound, I thought I had just dry fired my bow, but the arrow was in the target with no nock

Took a minute to figure out what had happened. It made a lot more noise than I would expect

Have a tiny dab of fingernail polish on the threads of them all now. I usually hear them if they get loose, but I guess I can’t rely on that anymore

 

[Billy Goat]

The other day I thought I had a nock break, but it was an insert weight that came loose and blew the nock out on the shot, it was not a good sound, I thought I had just dry fired my bow, but the arrow was in the target with no nock

Took a minute to figure out what had happened. It made a lot more noise than I would expect

Have a tiny dab of fingernail polish on the threads of them all now. I usually hear them if they get loose, but I guess I can’t rely on that anymore

I use some easton products, Dr Doug? It's a red gooey substance, makes me feel like it's better than loctite.


I can't find it now, but pretty certain this is the same stuff.

Whoops, we couldn't find that.

Link works for me, it's VIBRA-TITE-Reusable threadlocker

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Got a buddy that has dry fired every bow he owns.....



It's a sound that carries pretty well.

That's me. When I walk in the shop, they ask me if I dry fired another bow and then point and laugh at me. Stupid heathens.


About two years ago, I dry fired my bow twice in the same session. Second one damaged the string but bow was fine. There's a reason I shoot Hoyt. Everything else I've done it on (never DF a Mathews so maybe...) has folded like a cam taco.

My excuse is that I'm just chronographing my peep.

 

[ArcheryFool]

So what happened exactly do you know ? I’m wanting to start working on my own bows and trying to learn and avoid these mistakes

 

[1jeds]

So what happened exactly do you know ? I’m wanting to start working on my own bows and trying to learn and avoid these mistakes

I'm pretty sure I routed the cables incorrectly. If you do one at a time you should be good. It's not difficult to do, just make sure you take pictures/video before to be safe.