Is it time to kick the cobwebs out of you favorite hunting bow? Every year we all hear stories of the buck that got away because of equipment failure. But it is one part of hunting failure that can be avoided with a little effort and common sense.
By doing the maintenance early, you can work with it longer and really be prepared for the hunting season in the fall.
The purpose of maintenance is to ensure that you have a bow that will launch the arrow that will have good smooth, stable flight and accurate results at the target. Generally speaking, good flight will have good results.
Begin by placing the bow on a table or in a bow vice with a white cotton cloth. The white cloth helps when if you have to look for a dropped screw or other small part. Examine the bow beginning at one end and working toward the other. Make note of any unusual wear of a part of the bow. Look for dirty wheels, frayed string or cable, loose arrow rest, loose nocking point or peep site, or any broken parts.
After the initial inspection, look at your notes and order or purchase the parts you are going to need to fix or replace these parts. If it has been a year or more since you replaced the cables or string, you will probably need to do it again now.
Unless you have replaced a cable or bowstring on your bow previously, it is probably a good idea to have the pro at your archery shop take care of it. He has the equipment to do so without throwing your wheels out or alignment. Remember that a compound bow is under tension all the time. When you release that tension, the wheels move as do the limbs, cables and string. Getting everything back together again can be a bit tricky.
While the bow is apart, check the wheel bearings and axles. Make sure they move freely. Pull the axles and lube them as a preventative measure. It is also a good time to lube the limb bolts.
Once these parts are taken care of you can do the rest of the maintenance yourself. Check the tiller. The tiller is the distance between the base of the limb, where it enter the limb pocket, and the bowstring. If you shoot a release, the tiller distance for the bottom and top limbs should be the same. Some archers prefer a slightly longer distance at the top limb. But, never more than 1/8th inch. The advantage to always having the limbs at equal tiller is that if there is a difference, you know that something moved and should be checked. Continue reading – https://dongasaway.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/preventative-maintenance-for-bowhunters-2/