ok i am doing something wrong!

[moreammo]

i picked up a Martin ml-10 longbow in a trade.

The brace height is set at only 5 inches or so, I checked online and martin recommends 7.5 to 8 inches. so i set about adjusting it. i popped the string off and un spun it a bit and put it back on. now the brace height is 6.25 inches. i stopped there though because i noticed something. the string is further from the top limb than it is from the bottom limb, by a decent amount. i would say that the brace height actually only changed on the top limb, strange enough. i unstrung it, respun it back the same number of times and now it looks right but the brace hieght is two low.

What am i doing wrong

[Tubby]

I don't think you're doing anything wrong, I think the lower limb is too stiff and not flexing in tune with the upper limb.

[muzzlebrake]

If you kinked the string when you twisted it, the string may be too long. If not, twist her up some more. Strings stretch, sometimes a lot, depends on string type I think. If you can't twist it enough without getting kinks, then you will need a new string. As for the tiller part, I don't have a clue expect maybe the bottom limb relaxed a bit after a while when you tightened it up. When you get the brace height set right, you will know. Lots quieter.

[El Paisano]

Doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong, but sounds like you have a tiller issue with the bow. Twisting the string changes the whole length of the string and should not affect the upper or lower limb differently. Take it to a good bowyer for a look-see. You have some around Austin.

[bob sarrels]

You need to be at the recommended brace height. Your bow may be a bit out of tiller. The lower limb should brace positive to the upper but only 1/4 to 3/8 positive. That measurement is taken from the fadeouts to the string. If you want to bring her by I will be happy to have a look.

[moreammo]

Thanks everyone! Bob I will try and get by next week if you are available. I know your plan though, get me to come by then next thing you know i have another Bow!

[meangene1969]

I had a ml10 and mine looked the same. Cool bows but would shake your teeth out.

[moreammo]

Thanks Gene! it could be normal, just through me way off when i saw it.

[froghunter]

If it was stored in a corner setting on the bottom limb it could be warped or it could be tillered for shooting 3 under. Im just guessing though listen to Bob Sarrels he knows what he is talking about.

[Ol Man]

Many times if you are not close to the proper brace height the bow will seem to look out of tiller. Martins are known as stiff bows anyway. I would twist up the string until you get it in the 7 1/4" area...shoot it some! Sometimes tiller is not as critical when you shoot 3 under as you tend to draw harder on the bottom limb.

[GILBERT]

You need to be at the recommended brace height. Your bow may be a bit out of tiller. The lower limb should brace positive to the upper but only 1/4 to 3/8 positive. That measurement is taken from the fadeouts to the string. If you want to bring her by I will be happy to have a look.

Follow this man's instructions. He is a bowyer, and knows what he is talking about. NO DOUBHT!

Back in my early days of bowmaking i would encounter bows that would come out of the presses with a stiffer (stronger) bottom, or upper limb. You could tiller those bows but as soon as you started drawing them back they would increase poundage on that limb very rapidly. On those bows you could tiller them, and if it showed 1/8" tiller at 7" brace height , it could be 1/4" tiller at 7 1/2". As your bottom limb is doing by just increasing the brace height. I coined the phrase back then as "GAIN TILLER". Some of those bows did shoot ok i guess but they were not well balanced limbs. The regular joe probably could not tell the difference in how they shot....the good shooters could very quickly.

Get with Bob Sarrells, i have seen his work, and to just say that he is good would be an understatement. He knows his business.

GILBERT