Strings and cables

Replace the string: Discovery

The Discovery has no cams. Slacken the string with Oneida's bracket press, the long weight bolts, two dowels and a helper, or (FireBrand-built bows) a short stringer. Make sure the cables sit in all three slides before you draw.

  • Difficulty Moderate
  • Time About 30–45 minutes (estimate)
  • For 1 Oneida model

From Oneida's Discovery manual and FireBrand's 2003 owner's manual. The short stringer needs the rounded draw stops on bows built after Feb 2001, so check yours first.

All how-to guides

We're still double-checking this guide against how we do it in the shop. If anything doesn't match your bow, stop and text us or call 270-318-2020.

Before you start

  • Never use a regular compound bow press on an Oneida. Only Oneida's bracket press (set 23 in apart) is approved for the Discovery.
  • Make sure the cables sit in all three slides before you draw the bow.
  • Stay under Oneida's maximum draw weight. Too much over-stresses the carbon cable rod and flexes the riser.
  • Wear safety glasses. The press, dowel and short-stringer methods hold the bow drawn, so go slowly and use a helper.

Steps

  1. Method A: set the bracket press 23 in apart, draw the bow and set it in the brackets so the string goes slack.
  2. Method B: turn the weight bolts counter-clockwise with a 3/16 in Allen, switching top and bottom every 2 full turns and counting, until the string is loose. Oneida says the long bolts relax the bow without a press.
  3. Switch bolts every 2 turns without fail. FireBrand warns more turns on one side can roll the center cable slide off its rod.
  4. Method C (two people): draw the bow fully while your helper slips a dowel into the gap between the outboard limb and power limb at each end, then ease down until the dowels are trapped.
  5. Method D (rounded draw stops only): draw almost to the stops and hook the short stringer over each draw stop against the hinge, then let down. Alone, stand on the string, lift the grip, hook the stringer with your free hand and lower slowly.
  6. Keep your bow arm straight and your face back whenever the bow is held drawn.
  7. Keep everyone's fingers out of the gap between the outboard and power limbs.
  8. Swap the old string for a new one of the same length.
  9. Check that the cables sit in all three slides before you add weight or draw.
  10. Put the weight back: lift the bow out of the press at full draw, turn the bolts back in the same count (switching every 2), remove the dowels at full draw and let down slowly, or reverse the short-stringer steps.
  11. Check tiller with a 12 in ruler from the back of each end cap to the string. If the top measures closer, turn the top bolt counter-clockwise until they match.
  12. Measure brace height from the middle of the string to the lowest point of the grip. Twist the string to raise it while the bow is in the press or on dowels.
  13. Wax the string and cables where they pass the slides. Never oil the slides.
  14. Put on a new nocking point (see 'Set your arrow rest and nocking point').
  15. Make sure nothing can block the outboard limbs. Never dry-fire.

Tips

  • Moving the draw-length axle to a shorter hole means the string needs more twists for the same brace height. (Discovery Owners Manual 2003 p.10)
  • If the bow ever locks at full draw, see the last step of 'Change draw length and let-off: Discovery'. (Discovery Owners Manual 2003 p.7)