This spring I bought a new Bear Cheyenne and within literally 2-3 weeks of getting it I began to see tight, white horizontal lines crossing the limbs on the back of the limbs--looks like rungs on a ladder going up the limb--very evident on the black glass. I had seen these stretch marks, I will call them, on older bows but didn't expect them on a brand new bow in less than a month of shooting. They look as though they were drawn with a straight edge and white fine point pen and stretch from one limb edge to the other.
I sent an e-mail to Bear customer service about it since the bow is still under warranty and got this response back from Andy in customer service; "That is normal for our bows. But, if you would like to send it back for replacement you can. I can't guarantee it won't happen on the new one, but we can have you send that back for replacement."
I think it is amazing that they think that should be "normal for our bows." Is anyone else having this issue? I sure hope it doesn't happen on my new '59 Kodiak--doubt it will since it is a very different finish. If this is normal, Bear needs to check with some other bow makers on how to fix it.
I guess I won't send it back since there are no guarantees it won't just happen right away again. Not real happy with that situation, though.
I would send it back and take my chances on getting one that won't do it. Does sound kinda sketchy to call that normal.
every bear bow that's been shot much at all has been that way for the last 50 some years that I've seen while shooting.
Send it back. They will take care of you. Things happen and you never know who you are going to get on the phone.
I bought a 52" kodiak magnum last summer, maybe longer ago. It started doing it within 100 shots. I've got a short draw, so it wasn't from over drawing. I called Bear and got a similar response. I kept it because I got it at a deep discount. They seem to be right. I can't see where it affected anything and is still a smooth drawing bow. I hope this helps.
I'd see if they would refund your money and get a bow that won't have those issues.
I know they will take care of this issue but he seemed to be saying it could well happen again and I think it would since they all come out of the same factory and have the same finish.
I too would send it back in and try for another one. A new bow should not be having that problem!
Bisch
If everyone with this problem just kept their bow, then why would Bear make any efforts to correct the situation?
I'd keep sending bows back until they got the message.
I've had their new '59 for 6 months now without issues. Also, got some TD limbs that are flawless as well.
No doubt here SEND IT BACK :nono: :nono:
I'd send it back and get my money back and look for another line of bows to shoot.
Its caused by a combination of things. Type of finish, Layering it on without sanding between coats ect. It is completely in the finishishing process and does not effect the bow., I have refinished several hundred old Bears with it and once you sand through the finish the lines are gone. I do not know what finish that they use but it does seem to protect the wood really well and holds up for many years but it does craze in the working parts of the limb. The older Martins do it too. It is always worse on the back of the limbs than it is on the belly. this seems to indicate that it does not handle tension as well as compression. This also indicates that the finish is too hard or brittle.
God bless, Steve
If you are happy with the bow but not the finish, Keep sending bows back until one of 2 things happen.
1. You get a bow that it doesn't happen with or,
2. They get sick of sending you bows.
If its the latter, Maybe they will figure out a better finish.
If It were me Personally and I liked the bow, and it doesnt affect the integrity, I would just keep it and shoot it.
Yeah, it's not a structural issue--just cosmetic, and not too bad now but hoping it doesn't just continue to develop more of the lines.
I have purchased one of the new Super Kodiaks and a total of five of the newer take downs over the past three years. One set of take down limbs had that same crazing. I sent them back and they were replaced by a set that so far, haven't shown the same tendacy. All of the other new Bears that I have bought have not had this problem. One of the new red stipe takedowns that I bought used had it a lot worse than the set that I bought new. I was going to send them back but that set up is my best shooting bow. Everyone says that it doesn't hurt anything and I have seen Bears that were 50 years old with the same problem still going strong. So, I decided to keep this set of limbs. Yes, they do have a problem with some of the bows/limbs finish but they will also do what they can to make it right. The only issue I had was with the turn around time. I am not a patient guy by nature and the customer service turn around time was about 8 weeks.
I had a guy at a shoot tell me awhile back that he was surprised that the finish issues weren't a lot worse than they were. He said that the environmental conditions where they are made in Florida are so much different than the places where they are shipped to. Differences in heat, humidity, # of mosquitos in Fla., etc. He said it would be impossible to come up with a finish that would be perfect everywhere the bows were sent. I don't know, am not a professional furniture finisher, but it does make sense to me.
Other bow makers are scattered all over the country and sending bows everywhere without this issue. I don't think I buy that theory. Still mulling this one over.
I'd send it back personally. On a 50 year old bow, that's to be expected. On a 1-month old bow, I'd think the finish is too hard and brittle and might not age well. I'd definitely give them another chance, or possibly even two if I liked the bow, to make it right. If you get a third bow in that crazes like that right out of the box, then I'd just sell the bow an get another brand if that crazing bothers you.
QuoteOriginally posted by DennyK:
I'd see if they would refund your money and get a bow that won't have those issues.
:thumbsup:
If it really is cosmetic only....keep it and shoot it...????? I've seen soooooo many original bows with the longitudinal cracks....running north and south...it's now normal to me...!!! IF it's a true structural issue, send it back as instructed and get a new one. I do not believe Bear is being unreasonable here.Offering a new bow sight unseen by them is good business..! MANY bows show signs of crazing...ESPECIALLY on black glass.....I had a first year MAG riser Bear "A" handle takedown that had moderate crazing and a dealer traded me virtually anything I would take to get those limbs...!!! They had been crazed for nearly 40 years before I traded it....!!! It may not be prevelant on some of todays bows, but so what...if you like the bow, keep it and enjoy it. Just glad to see Bear Archery continuing their lin-up.....JMO....JOHN
Dunno... I have a couple Bears (Kmag, K Hunter and Tigercat) that are 45-50 years old and have NO "stress" cracks, longitudinal or horizontal. I think that I'd send it back and if I liked the bow try an other one.
I'd send it back. I have a 2 mo. old Bear Montana that gets used almost every day and there is no problem with the finish, and an early 70s Grizzly with no crazing problems. Where it is manufactured and finished should not be an excuse for finish problems.
Doesn't sound like a very solid business model. Make a bow you know has an inferior finish, and then just keep replacing bows when customers complain about it.
Sounds like they are very willing to try and make it right, so customer service is good. But it seems like getting the finish right would be an easier solution. It can't be that big of a nut to crack, bowyers all over the country make bows that don't develop crazed lines.
I'm on the third set of limbs for a takedown that's just over a year old. I've had the third set of limbs for 2 months now without an issue.
I agree that the horizontal stress lines are cosmetic, but it should not be happening on new bows within a month.
Hopefully they have the finish problems worked out now. I shoot the bow daily and no surprises so far.
Andy was always very helpful and handled everything quickly.
It was just disappointing to have it happen on a new bow.....twice, plus it's a pain the keep having to fool with returns.
To Bear's credit, they took care of my issues without question and I couldn't have ask for better customer service than dealing with Andy.
I really like Bear bows. I think I'd send it back & see what they sent me.
It must be the finish they use or something.
You paid for a new bow, it should look like a new bow for more than a couple weeks.
I'd send it back and keep sending them back till I got one that does, if they want to argue I'd get my money back.
Eric
Just one more reason I am going to stick with my Bears from the sixties...on them the finish issues like that just add to their character...I think things at Bear Archery were different when Papa Bear was in charge...seems to me he was their number one customer service rep
DDave
After Andy figures out the cost of shipping you a new bow every month for 15 months, I bet somebody Andy works with will figure out how pick you a winner.
At least you got a new pen pal named Andy out of the deal. Who knows? In 50 years a refinished bow signed by Andy might be a collector's item. I can almost see my unborn grandson holding a vintage Andy "ladder back" Bear in 2063.
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I bought a new Supermag 48" and it had those lines right out of the box. My Old 60's Bears have them, and so does my old Ben Pearson and Wing. They all shoot just fine.
Well, no sleep lost LOL. I just am amazed in this day and time that a big bow company wanting to get back big in the trad market would just tell you flat out that it is "normal" for their bows finish to go to crap right off the bat--just amazing.
Over the past year I went through a bunch of Bear bows. All brand new out of the box. Within the first few shots to the first week they ALL had those annoying lines. I sent them all back and now have a custom bow from another company. I had it happen on multiple sets of limbs on a t/d, a GG SK and an Ausable longbow. Sure, its cosmetic only to my understanding but I don't want to drop $500-800 for a bow and have that happen first week. The only Bear bow that was flawless was the new Kodiak. Not a problem at all with that one.
those "lines" will let in moisture --not a matter of "if".....matter of "when"
No way I could be satisfied with a new bow that developed cracks in it like that. I`ve had so many other bows that have had zero issues and for these folks to say its normal is crazy. They should look around a notice that the competition is "crack less" and do some investigating and improving their product.
It seems they are trying to sell bows from the "name" rather than the quality and service.Which in my opinion is really bad.RC
Agree with RC. I've owned a bunch of "Used" bows and none have had stress cracks. If this is a wide spread problem come on Bear, your company and founder are a pillar in our very being. I know trad bows most likely don't make up the majority of your sales but we are your history and your roots.