Bow breaking strings

[USMC0311]

I have had my 62 inch recurve break 4 strings in the year I have owned it. 2 padded looped 10 strand strings 1 12 strand string and one 18 strand string. They have all broke about 6 inches from the top loop. Does anyone have any ideas why this would be happening.

[LBR]

What string material?  Are you tying anything on the string in that spot, like silencers, wind indicator, etc?  Does the bow hang from that spot on the string, etc.?  Just trying to eliminate the obvious.  Other than that, I don't know.

[crafty]

hmmm.    That is very interesting and i would have to guess it is because of the dynamics of the bow if they all broke like you described. I dont build bows but i do build plenty of strings and it doesnt make sense for them to break in the same area with out a contact point.

Usually on wheeled bows if they break in the same spot it is a burr on the cam or some rubbing of some sort.

Is the string contacting the limb at the point of the break?

Is there any frying before it breaks?

A picture might help too.

[USMC0311]

No the silencers are below where it breaks. And it's hung up but where the hook hits the string is above where it breaks. It has everyone stumped that I have talked to.

[USMC0311]

The string does not contact the bow where they have been breaking.

[Hermon]

"A picture might help too."
I also would think it might help.

[gonefishing600]

How much twist do you have in the string to achieve proper brace height?

[Eric Krewson]

I had a Bighorn,70#@28", that did the same thing, I was shooting 2114s out of it at the time(20 years ago). I mentioned this problem on one of the early bow sites, Dan Quillan answered point blank" you are dry firing your bow with the light 2114s, shoot a heavier arrow".

I thought "what does this old goat know", and kept breaking strings for a while. One day I made up some 2018s to hunt with that were about 100 gr heavier than my 2114s. Never broke a string with these heaver arrows and never shot the 2114s again.

Turns out I had short changed the advice of a wise old man. Had I listened in the first place, I wouldn't have had to eat near as much crow.

[Rigs]

I was wondering the same thing as Eric...  I built a bow for a guy and he complained about breaking strings.  He had sent me the bow with his arrows in the tube.  I knew what the problem was the minute I saw the arrows and really sure after I weighed them...393 grains total weight out of 60#...  6.5 gpp...ouch!

Happy hunting,
Jason

[gringol]

Great post, eric.  The nuggets on this site are amazing!

[rick7]

a ton of knowledge on this sight

[Caughtandhobble]

Just a thought, check out where you hang the bow. The bow may be rubbing on something and wearing your string to the point of breaking. Don't ask how I came up with this one, lol.

[r-man]

4 possibles, dry fire, bad string,dammage during transport or storage, or your cat likes to chew.

[jwhitetail]

The only time I had one of my bows break a string, I experimenting with using arrows that were lighter than 8 gpi.  I have always made sure that I stay in the 9 to 11 gpi with that particular bow and I have never had an issue.  

As others have said, maybe that is your issue.

Good Luck.

[USMC0311]

I am shooting 680 grain arrows so I don't think they are to light. I hang the bow up and it sits on the brush button. When it is in transport I put it in my back seat. I don't know what is going on. I figure it has part to do with my draw length and the bow.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

What type of string material?  Flemish or continuous loop?

[USMC0311]

Flemish twist fast flight

[Bud B.]

Can you post a pic of the broken string? All pieces? Is it possible the string is coming untwisted?

[USMC0311]

I have a pick of an old one but I don't know how to post it on my phone. I keep forgetting to when I get to my computer. I will try to remember when I get home.

[LBR]

Were all the strings made from the same spool of material?

Other than too few strands on the skinny ones, I'm stumped unless it was just a spool of faulty material.