Welcome, I'm not sure of the year but I think it's pretty old. It looks to be in pretty nice shape but bows have come a long ways since then. Usually changing draw length requires adjustments to the cams but I'm not sure in this case. If it were me I'd look for something newer unless you can get it real cheap. I wouldn't suggest putting much money into it. Sorry not trying to be a buzzkill but in the long run you will probably be much happier with something newer.

 

well after making an adjustment on the wheel slots I have found that as pictured above the bow is set at its shortest draw length which the former owner said was set up by a shop for him at 30". I still can't quite understand how 30" could be the minimum on one of these stage III wheels, but that is the way it appears. Unless I short string it I don't think it's going to be possible for this to turn out like I had hoped it would. The stats say there are wheel sizes 6, 8, 9, and 10 for the stage 3. I only see a "zero" stamped into the wheels on it right now...could that possibly be the 10 size wheel?
I'm about to sell this and start over with my search with a little more knowledge and a little less money...oh well, you live and you learn...

 

You can put a shorter string on that. It will reduce the peak weight, but there's a lot of adjustment you can still make there. If you have access to strings on short order, try just putting a few knots in the string until you get the draw length you need, then measure what you've ended up with and get a new string made. Needs to be dacron material only - very important.

By the way, I believe that is what they called a "10-stage wheel" - you have 5 slots on one side and 2 on the cable side so you can make 1/4" draw length changes. The "stage 3" was a plastic wheel with 3 slots on the string side.

Related thread http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=367892 and look in the PSE specs from around 1993. You sure it's a Nova? This may be a rebuild - the low end bow at the time was a Polaris. Maybe show a pic of the riser?

 

Stash thanks for the information and reply. I've shot it a few dozen times and without having a lot to compare it to I do like how it feels, so I'd sure like to get it going. I will try the knot trick and see if I can't get myself in the right ballpark. It looks like I can get a string for fairly cheap. How much change in length on the string to reduce the draw length by 2"? Seems pretty substantial.
Right now my string measures 32 1/4" inches while fully tensioned and it looks like you can only order strings at full inch intervals. 31" seems like a huge reduction in string length.

Here are some additional pics:

 

Ok, I actually checked the bow for draw length and decided not to trust the PO on his information. It measured a little over 29" not the 30" the PO said. This made more sense since the factory sticker on the bow said 30" so an inch on either side with these cams. I decided to try and twist the string first and see how much I could change things before I started with the knots. It started at 32 1/4" with no twists at all and got it down to 31 5/8".
I checked the draw length and got it down to just under 28 1/2". I think I may try and order a 31" string and that should get me where I need to be. With a few twists I could even get below 28" if I'd like to.

 

I'm curious - can you post a pic of the factory sticker? I really think this is not a stock bow, From the pics it looks like the camo on the wheels doesn't match the camo on the bow, but I could be wrong.

 

And BTW Stash...I really appreciate that you've helped me with your advice to make this bow actually work for me instead of telling me it's a crappy old bow and I should get something newer...that seems to be the typical response when an older bow enters the conversation. I'm sure I'll eventually get something newer if I actually enjoy the sport/hunting with a bow, but with only a couple dozen shots made on this bow so far...I kinda like it.

 

The sticker is not legible...serial number is gone...the only things I can make out are draw length is 30" max weight 70 string length 32"

everything else is pretty much gone

I think the camo thing may be a lighting issue...the pic of the wheels was in different lighting...but I think the limbs pattern wise looks a little different than the riser...but I could be grasping at straws.
Is it possible that someone put 10 stage wheels on an early stage III nova? Either way, I think this bow getting much closer to my needs already even without switching out the string yet. I think a new string just might do it, but I am curious as to whether this thing has been hodge podged together.

 

Ok, I really need to quit posting in thread.

I looked up on the tuning charts and the '93-'95 models of the xld 900 had 10 stage wheels with size markings of F, G, J, L, N, and O. The 32" draw length size was listed as O which is what mine are marked as. The ATA on that bow was 43" with a string length of 35" while mine is 38" with a string length of 32"

I'm not really sure what much of this means...I just don't wan't to damage the limbs by short stringing and putting more stress on them since it's obvious the wheels don't match the rest of the bow...or at least the limbs.

 

XLD (eXtra Long Deflex) was a longer riser so made for a longer ATA bow and correspondingly longer draw length with the same cams.

If you did need to change the cams and cables, I probably would have suggested it wasn't worth it, but since all you need is a shorter string, no reason not to get the thing working for you. Don't worry about stressing the limbs - the shorter string will actually put less stress on the bow and will reduce the peak weight. Try to get the bow set so the middle slot is at your draw length - that way you have room to adjust either way by 1/4" increments. Best not to adjust the cable on the far side of the wheel, but if you do, make sure the cable is in the same slot in that side.

 

I used to work on these bow back when I worked at different archery shops. I think I might have an old pair of L cams. You will need to have a set of cables made to fit the L cams and a new string (which would be the easiest part). The hard part would be finding the specs for such an older bow and paying for the work done.

If you wish to keep the bow, and it was a great bow in it's time, I would suggest having it converted to synergy cams and 452x strings and cables (if the limbs are not wood). They looks like graphite limbs to me. It's an easy job and I believe a size 5 synergy cam would give you a 28" draw.

I have done this conversion many times and still have two of these bows myself converted. Big problem would be spending many times more for the conversion and strings and cables than the bow is worth. If you decide to spend the money, I would be glad to ship you the L cams or the #5 synergy cams. Once converted, the bow will feel great but will be much slower than a bow you can buy with the cost of the conversion.

 

huteson2us2,

I appreciate the offer but I'm going to stick with these wheels and I already ordered a 31" string for it. That will get me where I need to be and do it cheaply. If the only way I could make this work was with new cams and cables it was getting sold and I was going to start over with some important lessons learned.

 

Ok, so I installed the new 31" string and within 2 weeks it already has 3/4" of stretch. I was not expecting this. It is B50 dacron which I've read is more stretchy anyway, but I didn't expect almost an inch of stretch this soon. I've got 15 twists in the string just to get it down to 31 and 9/16" Any thoughts on this?
Had I know this I would have ordered a 30" string to compensate.

 

PSE has made dozens of versions of the Nova. My first compound was a 1999 Nova. Unlike yours, it did not have the steel cables.

It's likely that you won't be able to get this bow adjusted to your draw length with those cams. Unfortunately, new cams would probably cost several times what you paid for the bow.

You would likely be better off, at least on the financial side, selling this bow and buying another bow that fits you. It's hard to get new archers to understand how important it is to get a bow that fits you.

While the Nova is decades old technology, they are good beginner bows. Cheap with good ATA and brace height. PSE has probably sold millions of them. You should be able to find one at a good price that will fit you.

Allen

 

Thanks Allen,

Actually it fits me pretty well right now...but if the string continues to stretch like it has the last 2 weeks it won't. It isn't ideal, but for my first cheap shooting and learning experience I've really enjoyed it. I just would like to have a 31" string not approach 32" in length within the first 2 weeks.