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Mach 34 - cracked riser (false alarm! finish issue)

2.1K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  Smada962  
#1 · (Edited)
I was inspecting my Mach 34 last night and noticed this crack. No idea how long it’s been like this because it’s not in an obvious or easy to see spot. I backed the limb bolts down to get a better look and tried to gently poke at it with a razor blade to see if maybe it’s just a surface crack in the finish but I really can’t tell, and now am worried I’m screwed. Any hope at all this is just the finish? I bought this bow from a very respected shooter who only had a few hundred arrows through it, and I’ve only shot maybe another 2-300 at most, so it hasn’t seen a ton of use.

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#4 ·
I sure hope so too. I first noticed it halfway through my 3-d league night last night, and as stupid as it may be, I finished the last 10 or so targets with it as is. But I was worried every time I drew back. It could have been like this ever since I got it for all I know though. One thought I had is maybe I try to gently remove the finish in that spot to see how it looks underneath? I could always slap a little gray paint over top when I'm done to cover it back up.

If I bought it new I'd be looking for them to replace it quickly, but since I bought it used I doubt they will do anything for me. I still reached out to PSE just to see but am waiting to hear back.
 
#8 ·
don't panic aim the crack with a micrometer after shooting 100 arrows measure again and again... if the crack widens it needs to be fixed. don't worry, every repair will only strengthen the carbon. it's exactly like you can do with MTB carbon frames, aluminum too, but it's difficult. solve any repair through a company for the repair of carbon bicycle frames, they will definitely help you
 
#9 ·
Looks to me like a slightly sloppy lay up in that area, but it's hard to tell. It is in what I would believe one of the highest stress points of the bow though.

The more I look at it though, it looks like "mini" trowel marks from lay up. Maybe contact PSE and send the pic for them to look at?
 
#11 ·
UPDATE:

PSE got back to me pretty quickly and said I could send it in and they'd do what they can to get it back to me before my turkey season opens 4/27. I'm first going to see about removing some of the finish to see if the actual carbon frame is cracked or not before I go through the hassle of boxing it and shipping it. I'll do that tonight and report back what I find.
 
#14 ·
UPDATE:

PSE got back to me pretty quickly and said I could send it in and they'd do what they can to get it back to me before my turkey season opens 4/27. I'm first going to see about removing some of the finish to see if the actual carbon frame is cracked or not before I go through the hassle of boxing it and shipping it. I'll do that tonight and report back what I find.
I don't think I would go picking at it. If left alone PSE might say its good to go, or they might fix it on the cheap for you (or even free if it's a factory flaw). If you mess with it the chance of either happening will get pretty close to zero.
 
#15 · (Edited)
UPDATE #2:

So I got home from work and began very carefully working away at removing some of the finish to see if it cracked underneath, and it appears I am lucky and it’s just a surface crack/finish issue. I’m about 98% sure that I am fine, but I am going to keep a very close eye on it going forward.

I feel kind of bad now having posted this as one of the last things I was looking to do was worry anyone else with a carbon bow, but I was understandably quite worried once I initially saw it. Thankfully it appears to be a false alarm and now hopefully I can break it in with a big tom in a few weeks.