Limb twist

[Bullie]

...can anything be done about it?  My buddy has an old Shakespeare that has some twist to it.  He was hoping to use it for bowfishing but it was not to be.

[Mitch H]

I have a 1974 Grizzly that just got the top limb twisted pretty badly yesterday morning. Had the bow loaned out and the borrower used the step through method to string it up.

Anyway, I just held the handle firmly and twisted the limb the other way several times.

So far so good......it is shooting fine again.....for now.

[agtex42]

Never hurts to try!! I bought a used Bob Lee with a pretty bad twist in the lower limb (unbeknownst to me at the time of purchase) but I was able to get it straight again with a few gradual twists in the opposite direction.  It took a couple of "sessions" spread out over a couple of days to get things right but it's been almost two months and the limb is still straight and the bow shoots lights out.

[Bjorn]

Just use firm hand pressure going the opposite way. Hair dryers and hot water etc. are no no's for me.

[Arkansas Osage]

I just bought a 48" bear supermag and was planning on using the step through method to string it because I don't have a stringer... is this a big no no? I've very good at the push pull and step through methods, I don't think I twist anything when I do them.

Always use a stringer on a recurve!

Bisch

[Whip]

Arkansas, the step through method was used for years on those old bows.  That's why so many of them have twisted limbs! LOL
Definately invest in a stringer.  It is very easy to twist a limb even when all seems right, even more so on a short limb bow like your SuperMag.  It's a good bow - treat it well and get a stringer.

[ursusmajor]

I just realized I had a limb twist on the lower limb of my BW 'curve. I hope I can get it back? Its the only curve I own. Almost makes me afraid to hav another. My LBs r bombproof.

[Bowwild]

Dummy me. I twisted the limb on a Widow MA II about 10 years ago.  I accomplished the feat by using the step through method. I have used a bow stringer every day since.

I had no idea how to fix a twisted limb so I sent it too Black Widow. For $80 they fixed it and I was happy.

Since then I've learned how to fix a twisted limb (I've bought a couple that had em). Just like above, string up the bow and carefully, (without over doing it and allowing the string to come off) twist the limb in the opposite direction and hold for 10-15 seconds. Repeat as needed. Has worked every time so far.

Oh yea. That MAII was a RH TD.  I am a lefty so I didn't feel nearly so bad.

[ursusmajor]

I hate to ask a stupid question. But how do u kno when u hav the twist out for sure?

[zepnut]

I have had good luck using a heating pad. Wrap the limb and turn the heating pad on. After a little while take the bow out and twist the limb in the opposite direction and hold it while running it under cold water.

[Shawn Leonard]

Make sure you keep it strung and hold the string in place so it does not slip off the limb tip and twist it the opposite way. A very well known bowyer(great one as well) told me to do it this way!! Heat and hot water are NO-NO's he told me as well!! Fiberglass has a memory and will return to its original shape with some coaxing. Hair dryers and hot water end up destroying that memory. Twist well past the point of original twist the opposite way, keep strung and let sit a day and than repeat. May take a few days but it should return to normal, ecspecially if just done with step thru method. The worst ones are the ones where they are left standing in a corner for years, they are tough to remove. Shawn

[yaderehey]

I think I have a Shakespeare that was one of those left standing in a corner for years.  I did a lot of counter twisting over several months and it would hold for a few shots but always ended up going back to the original twist.  I finally tried counter twisting with hot tap water and then had my son turn the water to cold while maintaining the counter twist.  The limb has been good and straight ever since.  I wouldn't use the hot water method as a first resort, but if I had another stubborn case I wouldn't hesitate to use it.