nocks falling out

[Birddogtwo]

Hello
I've been lurking for a while. This is my first post. I flyfish. hunt birds and started shooting a 3D course last year. This year I have enough confidence in my ability to bow hunt for deer. I live in central NH (Sanbornton). I have recently begun having a problem.


I have a 2010 Fire Cat 29" draw length @61 lbs and I have been experiencing nocks falling out in flight. This has happened with bothGold tip 5575 expedition hunters and 5575 XT hunters. I'm not opposed to gluing the nocks in but that seems to be simply masking the problem. The nocks don't appear loose and today I was shooting XThunters for the first time . On the last 3 D target (# 15) the nock came out on the way to the target. I had hoped switching to the XT hunters would correct the problem. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

David Rivers
DAR@metrocast.net

[Hutch~n~Son Archery]

Hello
I've been lurking for a while. This is my first post. I flyfish. hunt birds and started shooting a 3D course last year. This year I have enough confidence in my ability to bow hunt for deer. I live in central NH (Sanbornton). I have recently begun having a problem.


I have a 2010 Fire Cat 29" draw length @61 lbs and I have been experiencing nocks falling out in flight. This has happened with bothGold tip 5575 expedition hunters and 5575 XT hunters. I'm not opposed to gluing the nocks in but that seems to be simply masking the problem. The nocks don't appear loose and today I was shooting XThunters for the first time . On the last 3 D target (# 15) the nock came out on the way to the target. I had hoped switching to the XT hunters would correct the problem. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

David Rivers
DAR@metrocast.net

Hey David, I live right down the road from you. I am in Gilmanton. The first thing that came to mind is the center serving is to thick. This will cause the arrow nock to stay some what gripped when released. Thus the nock falls off in flight. It is possible they used the wrong size for the center serving.
Some here use a emery board and lightly file the nocks to fit slightly snug. Not tight at all. I used a smaller diameter serving and it solved my problem.
BTW welcome to the forum!

Hutch

[Destroyer]

I've had trouble with them too but not during flight. It seems like the specs or tolerances have changed or something, the standard GT nocks don't fit very tight anymore.

I would just glue them in with superglue.

[rjd]

Center serving is a good possibility or just poor fitting nocks. Just use a plastic bag over end of the arrow and shove the nock in the arrow. The plastic bag will fill up any gap and you still can remove them is one trick. Another that I have used is to on the raised portion of the nock dab several coats of fingernail polish to the portion that goes into the arrow.

[Destroyer]

The plastic bag will fill up any gap and you still can remove them is one trick.

Unless the plastic from the bag was even all round the shaft it might throw out the nock alignment.

dab several coats of fingernail polish to the portion that goes into the arrow.

Haven't tried that, should work. Fletchtite is good if you need to remove them too.

[MLN1963]

Good tricks mentioned already and I would add one more thing to look for. Check to make sure the nock end of the arrow isn't split. Put the nock in and try spreading the arrow shaft gently looking for cracks around the shaft.

For the plastic bag I would start with something very thin first: saran wrap or a wal-mart bag. You don't want to split the end of the arrow shaft!

If you are a mechanic type and have it laying around I would try some blue LocTite 242 or 243.

[MLN1963]

I agree that nocks shouldn't fall out. I thought that LocTite being much less permanent that super glue would be better solution if it came to that.

Does this happen on all arrows or just some? GTs have .246 inner diameter if that helps you in your nock search. I find that my Hammerhead string with .020 serving material is pretty tight on nocks. The only other serving size I have is .016 and it is way too small.

[bfisher]

I agree that nocks shouldn't fall out. I thought that LocTite being much less permanent that super glue would be better solution if it came to that.

Does this happen on all arrows or just some? GTs have .246 inner diameter if that helps you in your nock search. I find that my Hammerhead string with .020 serving material is pretty tight on nocks. The only other serving size I have is .016 and it is way too small.

Mark,

Something you can try is a couple short pieces of serving laid along the string and then serve over that with the .016. This is just like having a couple more strands of string only it'll just be under the serving, making the whole things slightly larger in diameter. Another option is to use the .020, but serve it tighter. There is no cut and dry formula for serving size as different string materials have different diameters, how many strands are used, and how tightly the serving is put on.

I use Easton CB bushings and G-nocks almost exclusively. The nocks have an ID of .098". I try to end up with a final serving/ string diameter of .010" or a hair less. The nocks will be a little snug but as you shoot the bow the serving will wear a little and the serving will compress making for a nice fit.

[bob cooly]

I would not glue your nocks in with superglue. It makes replacing a damaged nock really difficult and you cannot change your fletching orientation while tuning your bow.

[Destroyer]

something is wrong

My nocks are genuine GT's and the shafts aren't split, bs excuse that is. I wonder if GT is getting them made somewhere else or they are just a bad batch.

you cannot change your fletching orientation while tuning your bow.

Have no need to change them once I've tuned a bow so it doesn't matter to me. If you don't use too much super glue you can still get them out. Just a drop will hold them tight.