Author Topic: I got some good news and I got some bad news. (Read 1701 times)

Graybeard · « **on:** September 03, 2004, 04:06:53 PM »

Good news is the Horton bow is here and I finally finished putting it together.

The BAD news is I can't pull it back to lock the string in place. No way Jose.

In times past I hunted with an 80-85 pound pull compound bow with no trouble. I've easily pulled and slowed let down bows to over 90 pounds. But now because of my bum shoulders which both need surgery I desperately don't want to let the doctors do I can't use a regular bow.

So I thought his was gonna be the answer. Nothing to hold back. But I can't cock the sucker to worry about not holding it back. Today I ordered one of those string things with the handles on it that is supposed to reduce the effort by 50% so they say. The bow is a Horton in 175 pound pull.

So my questions to you guys are.

Are you able to pull back the string and cock your bows in the 175 pound range without mechanical help? Do the string things work? Will I likely be able to pull the string back with it? Must I get one of the crank things to do this?

Or am I just so far over the hill and weak it's hopeless? :eek: Until now I've never seen a bow I couldn't pull back. I sure have now.

Book · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2004, 04:49:23 PM »

I hunt with a 185 lb 99 model Excalibur Exo-Mag, I am able to cock it without anything, I have a crank, but never use it. I tried the rope thing, but with only one hand and a prosthetic hook I found the rope thing impossible to use. When I first put the Exo-Mag together I tried several times to cock it and could not do it. I thought I had purchased something that was going to be useless. I finally made up my mind to try one more time to cock the thing. What I found is that you get close then give a snatch and it latches up. I can now cock the thing even in a climbing tree stand. I also have a bad shoulder on my left side, my right arm is the prosthetic hook. I bet you can cock it Gray Beard, just give it the good ole Alabama pull. Think about how much you hate Auburn and go with it man. Book

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2004, 05:13:35 PM »

Quote

I bet you can cock it Gray Beard, just give it the good ole Alabama pull. Think about how much you hate Auburn and go with it man. Book

I'll try the method you describe when I take it out so I can actually fire an arrow to release it. I wasn't planning to fully pull it to engage the trigger, just wanted to pull it to "almost" that point and wasn't even close. It is a compound bow type and for sure never broke over.

I'm no ball fan of any type. Could care less for the Bama vs. Auburn thing. My Alma Mater is Jacksonville State Univ. and I don't even know if they are still playing ball. Haven't seen a game or listened to one in over 30 years.

jh45gun · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2004, 05:56:44 PM »

Bill. The rope thing may work for you but if it was me I would buy a crank I have seen them work and they are effortless. If your shoulders are that bad even the rope will put pressure on your shoulders I would think though I never used one I can pull back my 150# Barnett but then with shooting 16 inch bolts I do not have to pull as far to cock it either. If the rope cocker does not work the crank will for sure. Jim

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2004, 06:35:15 PM »

Bill,
Contact Ten Point Corp.. They make a device they call an Acudraw that they install on their bows. They can, however, be used on other brands of X-bows. It is permanently attached into the sides of the buttstock, so you dont have a "crank thing" to carry around. The only thing that detaches is a small crank handle with a socket head, which can be carried in your pocket.
It also keeps your string centered as it draws.
I use one on mine, and it enables me to continue to bow hunt. :grin:
Hope this helps you solve your problem.
Best,
TnNuc

jh45gun · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2004, 07:27:16 PM »

TnNuc What kind of bow do you have it on? I have to agree with you it is a nice system my buddy has one on his 10 point xbow and it works well. Jim

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2004, 09:45:47 PM »

GB,I have a Barnett Rhino Mag w/150 # pull and I have no trouble cocking it.They make a type of winch thing (crank,whatever) you can place on end of bow to cock it,but they are very high in price.Tell you what,I'll let you use my Rhino and I'll use your Horton this bow season,if you think you can cock my 150#.................Rick

Digger · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2004, 12:37:13 AM »

I used the ACUdraw on my Excal Exocet 175 lb draw, only takes between 5 and 10 lb pressure to crank. Dan Miller of Horizontal Archery did mine.

Digger

Horizontal Archery
37432 Fifth Ave.
Sardis, OH
43946 US
740-483-2312

GaryL · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2004, 03:53:50 AM »

George I am good from 150 - 175LB on my xbows with the string cocker, however on my 185 and 200lb models I have to use the crank. The ACUdraw is a good way to go if ya have the $$ to get it installed. Excalibur has the crank-a-roo which is a little better on the pocket book but do not think it would work with the horton as the rear of the stocks are different.

XCOP · « **Reply #9 on:** September 04, 2004, 04:12:36 PM »

I CAN cock my 200# Exomag without an aid, but only a very few times before my fingers give out. I can however shoot extensive practice rounds with the rope cocker. It works very well, folds up and fits in your pocket, and is a lot faster than a cranking device. The crank takes a lot less grunt though.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #10 on:** September 04, 2004, 04:31:04 PM »

I have two arthritic shoulders, and an artificial right hip.

Being right handed, I used to cock my 150 lb Horton with my right foot in the stirrup, bent over, grasped the string and then pulled while straightening my back.

With the hip replacement I had to switch to my left foot, and the job became tougher, but I used this method for 3 years before buying a rope cocker.

I expect the Exomag to be tougher than the Horton (I haven't shot it yet), because it has recurve limbs, and you're holding the maximum weight at full draw rather than at a let-off value.

I know I haven't helped much, but its probably worth it to get together with someone familiar with cocking a crossbow, and work with him on technique. It may be as simple as that.

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #11 on:** September 04, 2004, 05:23:01 PM »

jh45,
I have a Ten Point with the acudraw system. When reading the owners manual and some other literature, I noticed that Ten Point stated that the acudraw could be installed on some other brands of X-bows. After seeing how it is attached, I think it would be a simple task to install one. I think Ten Point will do it for you if one doesn't want to tackle the job.
It's a lot slower than hand cocking, but it is effortless.
Best,
TnNuc

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** September 04, 2004, 06:44:52 PM »

I've tried cocking it again and still cannot. I'm holding my right foot in the stirrup and using both hands on the string and pulling with all I have in me. I tried the jerk technique when at the end of what I could pull and it just ain't budging.

I'm not a little or weak guy. I'm 5' 7' and 250 pounds, a former weight lifter. This is a challenge I've not yet been able to conquer tho.

Next time my two older sons are here I'm gonna have them give it a go. I'm sure Matt's stronger than I am at my age and Bobby is bigger and stronger yet. Now if they can and I can't I'll chalk it up to I'm just no longer strong enough. BUT if they can't cock it either??? Well I'm gonna think something is wrong.

I'll give it a go with the rope cocker when it arrives and if that's not adequate contact Horton for advice and perhaps one of the crank cocking devices.

jh45gun · « **Reply #13 on:** September 04, 2004, 08:24:12 PM »

Rick I can cock my 150# Barnett Ranger recurve ( I guess you can call it that exept it has a straight prod)

fairly easy. I tried cocking my buddies 10 point with out using the crank and whiile I could do it I did notice that it was a lot tougher at 175# Maybe the Horton has less letoff than the 10 point does which would make it harder to hand cock yet? The rope cockers is supposed to relieve the pressure by half so maybe that will work for Bill. I hope so as it is a lot cheaper than a crank. I see that they some one maybe it is horton has a crank that strapps on the end of the stock I do not know what they cost never priced one.

GaryL · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2004, 03:56:35 AM »

Graybeard if you want to do it with the rope aid, do as I did for a short while! cut two 2x4's long enough to stick through the stirrup
and stand on them

ya I know funny but it works. I did this thru a complete 30 target 3-D course. The 2x4's let you gain height
and will let you cock the bow. This way you can play around with it :wink: I am 5'8" and could not cock my 185lb Exomag at the time :eek: .

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2004, 11:56:21 AM »

Well for the life of me I'm not sure I understand what the height the boards gain will do for me but what the heck I'm willing to give it a try here at home. I don't see that as an answer in the woods tho.

My target and broadheads and the rope cocking device should all show up along toward the end of next week I think. They are coming from Cabela's and they usually arrive sooner than they tell you they will so I kinda expect them next week late.

I hope to have one or both of my older son's over to give it a go also. If neither of them can cock it then something has to be wrong with the bow I'm thinking. I just can't believe I can't cock it myself. I really am a pretty strong fellow. When the shoulders hurt bad I can usually do something I need to and suffer afterward. With this I just can't seem to get it within 8" of where it would lock in place. That's a long way short of being there.

Book · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2004, 12:43:38 PM »

Maybe something is wrong with it? It is hard to cock these things the first few times, but I am thinking you should be closer than several inches from latching it up. Book

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** September 05, 2004, 01:09:05 PM »

I can pull it to a certain point a long way from where it needs to go OK. But then it locks up like I was pulling on a rock wall and will not buldge another inch. Since I have no previous experience with cross bows to fall back on I'm not sure what to make of it yet.

When the string cocking device gets here I'll give it a try. If either Matt or Bobby drops by in the mean time I'll have them give it a go. I know as much younger than me as they are they are both stronger than me these days. For sure if they can't and I can't using the string device I'm gonna have to get with Horton for advice. For now I don't know if the problem is me or the bow. I really need to sort that out first.

Digger · « **Reply #18 on:** September 05, 2004, 01:40:58 PM »

Are you sur the safety is off the string wont engage the holding mechanism if its on. Just a thought

Digger

GaryL · « **Reply #19 on:** September 05, 2004, 01:49:30 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard

I can pull it to a certain point a long way from where it needs to go OK. But then it locks up like I was pulling on a rock wall and will not buldge another inch. Since I have no previous experience with cross bows to fall back on I'm not sure what to make of it yet.

Graybeard I may have miss-read your problem, I was reading it as you could not make the last couple inches to full draw(latch catching) not that it was locking up. I was a little short like 1" from full draw with mine and do to my height could not pull the last 1", so I cut a couple 2x4's as I stated and stood on them. This gave me the extra height from the stirrup to pull to full draw/latch. I now read it a little different such as you may have a cam/wheel locking up as it should not just stop. Some cam/wheel xbows pull hard but not lock up.

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #20 on:** November 25, 2004, 12:57:28 PM »

Graybeard, I'm curious, did you ever get that Horton cocked?

If so what was the problem.

Pete

Graybeard · « **Reply #21 on:** November 25, 2004, 01:33:19 PM »

Quote

Graybeard, I'm curious, did you ever get that Horton cocked?

If so what was the problem.

No. I gave up on it and turned the project over to my oldest son. He can cock it by hand for a few shots and using the rope cocking device as many times as he cares to shoot. He got it sighted in and took it a couple times and then we were notified of the recall. That killed most of the rest of bow hunting time for him so he had to use a vertical bow.

Gun season is now open here and so the Horton will not see the woods again this season. He will be doing a report on it but there won't be any photos with deer in them.

I tried it with the supplied crank cocking device and got it to cock once. On the second attempt the gears stripped out on the cocking device and I had to have assistance in getting it off. That's when I turned it over to my son. I'm afraid that at this point with all the trouble I've had with it my report would not be a good one. He can take a fresh look at it and report from the standpoint of not having my problems with it.

At this time he has it back after the recall repairs. It is sighted in again and ready but with gun season in progress there will be no more bow hunting until next season for him.