KAP Surprise - how to align the limbs?

BigShot

New member
I'm shooting a Kap Surprise club bow (black plastic riser) which isn't amazing, but the most obvious issue is that the string doesn't come down the middle of the riser.

Is there a way to align the limbs on such a bow, and if so, how?
 

Bald Eagle

New member
Yep,put the bent limb in a vice, heat the limb tip up GENTLY with a hot air stripper being careful not to blister the varnish, when hot put a piece of wood above and below the limb tip and clamp together with both hands and gently lift or lower the limb and hold 'til cool!
 

TJ Mason

Soaring
Supporter
Fonz Awardee
American Shoot
The other option is to "bump" the limbs. Set the bow up and hold the riser firmly against something solid, then give the offending limb a few moderately hefty shoves in the desired direction, checking the straightness after each shove.
Any straightening of the limb will affect the life of the limb though, so it might be better just to leave it - it'll shoot consistently, even with the string out of line.
 

Whitehart

Well-known member
Might not even be as drastic as that assume you are looking at the string in relation to the handle which being plastic and can bend will not be straight. All that matters are the limb tips being straight especially on this bow as it will stop the string coming off at full draw.
 

BigShot

New member
Thanks folks. :)

Bald Eagle - Heating the limbs sounds drastic. It's probably not but I'm not sure the club would be too happy about me trying that. I can see the sense in it, but I might have to give that a miss.

TJ - I may try the shoving method, though as you said it may affect the life of the limb I think I will probably leave it be and just save for my own bow a bit quicker.

Whitehart - I hadn't considered the possibility of a bent riser. There are a couple more the same length in the club so I'll see if any of them are better. If so I may have a game of swap-the-bow-parts and build something straight out of the available bits. No sign of the string coming off at full draw (well, it's not, at least) but I'll ask someone to take a look tomorrow and see how it is.

Thanks again. :)
 

Bald Eagle

New member
In the good old days we put slithers of plastic under the limb on one side to raise it slightly to align the string, that may also be an option for you!
 

BigShot

New member
That sounds a likely solution.
I'll have to have a proper look tonight and see if it is limbs or riser that's not straight. I'll have a crack with some shims (perhaps discarded fletchings) if it does need a tweak.
 
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