Exploding Bowtech?

I keep hearing story's about how Bowtechs are unreliable ie, cams cracking, cables not lasting long, limbs de-laminating..all sorts. The thing is, I see very little evidence of this on AIUK?

Anyone out there seen any real evidence of this?

[pyroarch57]

Yes, i`ve seen a few on the U.S forums, wasn`t a pretty sight!

[Bald Eagle]

If you dry loose a Bowtech, consider it DEAD!! If you draw back a Bowtech, for safetey's sake make sure you have an arrow nocked! They are the fastest bow on the planet and one slip, terminal!!

[pyroarch57]

Yup, that`s why i have a Hoyt

[Stace]

I'm still waiting for my Allegiance to return from Wales Archery.

I'd only had it about three months when things went.... 'wrong'.

Everything seemed fine until that fateful day.

I was shooting one Tuesday evening at the club, I'd shot about 2 dozen arrows . As I drew the string back (it actually got about 4-5 inches, the cable slipped off the lower cam groove causing the limbs to compress and resulting in me getting a smack in the mush with the back of my hand. The string was completely slack and still attached to the release aid!

Looking at the damage, the axles had bent and damaged the C clips causing so much cam lean that it was almost touching the limb. The cable had also frayed of course.

As the bow was still so new, it was sent straight back to Wales via a local agent and I haven't seen it since. It has returned to Cornwall once but was sent back again by the local agent once I'd spoken to Wales and convinced them that I had not dry fired the bloody thing - I was drawing not releasing when it went BOOM!

They've so far replaced the axles. cables and string but to be honest, I'm not entirely sure I have the confidence in it anymore. If they couldn't find anything that caused it, what's to stop it from happening again?

I sent an email to Bowtech but like most huge companies, they haven't replied.

I haven't shot for a month! I want to get back ASAP.

Sorry to hear that Stace I hope they get it fixed soon. It may be just a one off. I have always liked the look of Bowtech bows and would strongly consider one, I'm just getting a bit wary of the little horror stories that seem to be doing the rounds.

[Marcus26]

Stace's story is a bad one, but not a common problem. Actually saw a Hoyt do the same thing on the weekend.
We are a Bowtech dealer (and other brands) and sold a HUGE amount of Bowtechs. The only warranty claims we have had was for a 80lb Allegiance, which is outside of Bowtech's normal spec range and an Allegiance which was not pressed correctly.
That's about a 4% claim rate, which for a bow with so much bad press is good. Talking to the distributor in Oz and they have sold a huge amountw ith an even lower rate than that.

Bowtech will not respond because that's what they have distributors and dealers for.

Bowtech's limb example is why few companies post on ArcheryTalk, it's full of idiots posting utter BS about products.

[Watch_Man]

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

If you dry loose a Bowtech, consider it DEAD!! If you draw back a Bowtech, for safetey's sake make sure you have an arrow nocked! They are the fastest bow on the planet and one slip, terminal!!

A friend in our club has fired his release aid twice through his Allegiance and also had a dry fire. Apart from the cables coming off it seems OK. Perhaps he is the lucky one.

[andrew.paterson]

Originally Posted by Stace

I'm still waiting for my Allegiance to return from Wales Archery.

I'd only had it about three months when things went.... 'wrong'.

Another case of getting on to the retailer to either get a replacement or give you a full refund. As was posted in another thread you are entitled under consumer protection. You are using a potentially lethal item if it goes wrong, and it is understandable that you may not feel confident using the same bow in the future. Maybe even ask the retailer in question to guarantee that the 'fixed' bow will not do the same, then if you do get injured with a similar failure in the bow their public liability insurance can take a hit.

A really good source of information is the Citizens Advice Bureau. Just email them your circumstances, and they can advise you on how to resolve it.

[Watch_Man]

I agree, the onus is on the supplier for the first six months to prove the bow was not faulty, after that it shifts to you the customer.

visit http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/