Picking a used Mathews

[DroptineKrazy]

There no bearing issues in my Monster Chill R that I'm aware of.

 

[HuumanCreed]

There no bearing issues in my Monster Chill R that I'm aware of.

I'm ashamed to admit, but my Creed has survived 3 dry fired and 2 drop from the tree at 20ft+. Took it to shop all 5 times and only thing that was wrong with it was one of the washer being crushed by the string, shop didn't even charge me for parts. But again there are lemons out there with any manufacture.

 

[Bigterp]

Thanks for the responses everyone, you've given me alot to think about.




I'll have to create an archery talk account and check it out.

I picked up a used Matthews traverse on AT 2 years ago & it was a little less than 1/2 price I think around 450-500 bare bow…. I ended up needing new mods but LAS credited me the cost of them b/c they kept the existing ones. So that was cool. If that’s the path your on not sure of your budget but the trend on AT is last years bows are 800-1000 & 2 year old bows are 5-700 & then it kinda depends on how popular the model was. Not sure if I’ll ever buy a brand new bow again….. it was a nice upgrade for me & didn’t cost much. If I did that every 3 ish years it would be a current bow for about $150 a year I can live with that. My arrows & broadheads cost more………

 

[Halfstep]

I’ve never heard of this before I have a Lagacy I bought new in 2004 still going strong and a Monster Chill R I bought new (old stock) in 2018 no issues either. I have a buddy who just picked up a used Monster Chill for this past season and he’s loving it. No bearing issues either. I think a lot of this may be specific to the archer and conditions they’ve hunted in but again, I can’t believe Matthews would have not honored a repair for it if needed.

Most people only hang on to a bow for 5 years or less, not for 19 years like you have with your Legacy. Most bow manufacturers only warrant to the original owner. Mathews will fix your bow under warranty. But for all those who buy used bows, Mathews won't fix them under warranty but will still fix them, but the repair cost may not be worth it.

Cam bearing failure is rare. Even if the bearing is dry, the bearing isn't under constant rotation and doesn't generate any heat. Dry or near dry bearing rattle and that can be annoying so repacking them will make the quiet. Most guys just don't shoot their bows enough to have any bearing issues or any bow issues.

If a person has an older bow, over 5 years old, the manufacturer may not have major replacement parts for it any longer. Mathews is different in that they will repair or replace bow parts to any bow regardless of age. But most other bow manufacturers phase out their older bow major parts within 5 years and if you need parts, you may not get them. I would suspect that most bow manufactures have plenty of those cam bearings in stock but would be cheaper to just get the numbers off of the old bearings and find replacements from an online bearing store.

 

[Fuse Dude]

One thing I do have to give credit to Mathews is their warranty. If you buy their bow new they will take care of you. Nobody else is that good. If you have a BT destroyer and its limbs blow up they will not replace anymore. They will give you a lower quality new bow as a replacement. If you have a single limb Elite and you blow a limb, good luck, they don't make them anymore and new limbs are impossible to find, or not made anymore. Hoyt I have no idea about.

New limbs are not impossible to find, maybe find another dealer to source them.

 

[Halfstep]

New limbs are not impossible to find, maybe find another dealer to source them.

The Bowtech Destroyers were made in 2010-2011 and finding any new old stock limbs would be near impossible. I have a 2011 Bowtech Specialist which uses the same limbs as the Destroyers but have a 10-pound offset. I wanted to go with a lower poundage limb, so I bought some Barnsdale aftermarket limbs for mine which are actually better quality. Barnsdale makes some of the best limbs in the industry. Bowtech had some limb problems for several years but in recent years, Bowtech has finally figured out how to make a dependable limb.

 

[Plebe]

Most people only hang on to a bow for 5 years or less, not for 19 years like you have with your Legacy. Most bow manufacturers only warrant to the original owner. Mathews will fix your bow under warranty. But for all those who buy used bows, Mathews won't fix them under warranty but will still fix them, but the repair cost may not be worth it.

Cam bearing failure is rare. Even if the bearing is dry, the bearing isn't under constant rotation and doesn't generate any heat. Dry or near dry bearing rattle and that can be annoying so repacking them will make the quiet. Most guys just don't shoot their bows enough to have any bearing issues or any bow issues.

If a person has an older bow, over 5 years old, the manufacturer may not have major replacement parts for it any longer. Mathews is different in that they will repair or replace bow parts to any bow regardless of age. But most other bow manufacturers phase out their older bow major parts within 5 years and if you need parts, you may not get them. I would suspect that most bow manufactures have plenty of those cam bearings in stock but would be cheaper to just get the numbers off of the old bearings and find replacements from an online bearing store.

Still have my Legacy from 2002. And my Switchback XT from 2006. It may be common to frequently buy and sell bows now, but I’m not sure that’s been the norm for more than a decade. If that.

I actually put my Legacy into service 5 years ago when I had a drop away failure on my Switchback XT. It served me well on three nice bucks before I bothered to put a new rest on my Switchback XT.

I don’t have any experience with this bearing failure concern, but from the few minutes I took to look into it online, it seems neither new bows nor old bows are excluded, and it’s not like specifically a Mathew’s thing.

It’d be interesting to have more data on the issue. But, to your point, it’s nice to know Matthew’s will still take care of my 20yr old bow.

Even better, companies like Athens have transferable warranties. That’s attractive in a market where bows change hands every few years. IMO.

 

[Halfstep]

Still have my Legacy from 2002. And my Switchback XT from 2006. It may be common to frequently buy and sell bows now, but I’m not sure that’s been the norm for more than a decade. If that.

I actually put my Legacy into service 5 years ago when I had a drop away failure on my Switchback XT. It served me well on three nice bucks before I bothered to put a new rest on my Switchback XT.

I don’t have any experience with this bearing failure concern, but from the few minutes I took to look into it online, it seems neither new bows nor old bows are excluded, and it’s not like specifically a Mathew’s thing.

It’d be interesting to have more data on the issue. But, to your point, it’s nice to know Matthew’s will still take care of my 20yr old bow.

Even better, companies like Athens have transferable warranties. That’s attractive in a market where bows change hands every few years. IMO.

I've always liked the switchback. A friend of mine bought his son one for Christmas this year. I built a new set of string/cable for it and tuned it. Those switchbacks always tuned easy. Any Mathews single cam bows I have worked always tune easy. I've built a bunch of string/cable for those Mathews bows over the years. Mathews is a popular bow around these parts. I never seen any bearing problems with them either.

 

[Plebe]

Don’t know if they’re still available but the Screamin’ Bull cross axis quiver was a plus for some glory day bows…

Resources- Screamin' Bull

screaminbull.com

 

[HaunSolo]

I've contacted a couple shops - no luck there yet. One shop only has used left handed bows, and the other shop was too busy to help.

I did find a used bare 2019 Vertix for sale for $450. The guy who owns it is the original owner and says it only needs new strings. That seems like a fair price, no? If so, what's a good recommendation on strings?

 

[HuumanCreed]

I've contacted a couple shops - no luck there yet. One shop only has used left handed bows, and the other shop was too busy to help.

I did find a used bare 2019 Vertix for sale for $450. The guy who owns it is the original owner and says it only needs new strings. That seems like a fair price, no? If so, what's a good recommendation on strings?

that's a good price for a Vertix if there is nothing wrong with it. You'll need strings for ANY bow you purchase used. My go to is Catfish custom, Mike make great strings. But honestly any of the popular makers will do good strings. Some of the bigger builders have clearance too!

Its good to support small shops, but BassPro/Cabelas archery section has people that change out strings for $20 if that's all you want.

MATHEWS VERTIX CLEARANCE SET (ALL TAN WITH KIWI SERVING)-MAT

www.vaportrailarchery.com

MATHEWS VERTIX CLEARANCE SET (ALL LIMELIGHT)-MATHEWS017-CS23

www.vaportrailarchery.com

Mathews Closeout Bowstring Sets

Get a great set of strings for less online. Shop the Mathews Closeout Bowstring Sets from 60X Custom Strings. You won't find archery sales like these elsewhere.

www.60xcustomstrings.com

 

[Halfstep]

I've contacted a couple shops - no luck there yet. One shop only has used left handed bows, and the other shop was too busy to help.

I did find a used bare 2019 Vertix for sale for $450. The guy who owns it is the original owner and says it only needs new strings. That seems like a fair price, no? If so, what's a good recommendation on strings?

A good set of strings are going to cost you around $150+ installed. That will kick the price up to $600+.

 

[Nosaj]

If you are trying to work within a budget get the Mathews Zebra strings, they are fine unless you have a little extra jingle for the customs.

 

[Plebe]

If you are trying to work within a budget get the Mathews Zebra strings, they are fine unless you have a little extra jingle for the customs.

I shot my Zebra strings from 2006-2021 without issue, lol.

I had BCY X-99 strings made up and installed by a custom string builder late summer last year. They are awesome. Guy is affiliated with Hoyt, and didn’t even smash up my Mathews bow, lol. He was overly fair with pricing as well, friend of a friend.

 

[Halfstep]

I shot my Zebra strings from 2006-2021 without issue, lol.

I had BCY X-99 strings made up and installed by a custom string builder late summer last year. They are awesome. Guy is affiliated with Hoyt, and didn’t even smash up my Mathews bow, lol. He was overly fair with pricing as well, friend of a friend.

X99 is really good material. It is a blended material of 80% SK99 Dyneema and 20% Vectran. I've been using and building strings out of BCY's Mercury which is unblended SK99 Dyneema. It is proving to be very stable. The very popular 452X is a blended material of 67% SK75 Dyneema and 33% Vectran.

The newer and purer SK99 Dyneema is more stable than the older SK75 Dyneema. The older 8125 is SK75 Dyneema and what is used in the 452X.

 

[woodsdog2]

X99 is really good material. It is a blended material of 80% SK99 Dyneema and 20% Vectran. I've been using and building strings out of BCY's Mercury which is unblended SK99 Dyneema. It is proving to be very stable. The very popular 452X is a blended material of 67% SK75 Dyneema and 33% Vectran.

The newer and purer SK99 Dyneema is more stable than the older SK75 Dyneema. The older 8125 is SK75 Dyneema and what is used in the 452X.

Hearing good things about the bloodline fibers…. Absolutely no stretch and seemingly no need for fiber lubricant of any kind?!?!? Seems to good to be true?

 

[Halfstep]

Hearing good things about the bloodline fibers…. Absolutely no stretch and seemingly no need for fiber lubricant of any kind?!?!? Seems to good to be true?

Today's modern compound strings are made from Dyneema or Dyneema/Vectran blended materials. BCY Fibers, Bloodline Fibers, Angel Majesty and Brownell Fibers are the only fiber companies offering string materials today. The performance and reliability are going to be close to the same from these manufacturers. Vectran is a heavier stable material with very low elastic that is absorbent and can soak up wax or Silicon. Vectran can also get very fuzzy. BCY used to treat some of their materials to prevent fuzziness but no longer do. With the higher purity of today's SK99 Dyneema, the need to blend it with Vectran isn't really necessary like it used to be with the SK75. I like the BCY Mercury because it is a very small diameter and makes a very round and tightly packed string. It is easy to work with and the material is consistent in color and in size. With the cam designs on today's compound bow, the finished string diameter needs to fit the cam groove width or one can have issues.

I have used Brownell in the past but they sold out. I've been using BCY for a long times as well. BCY does a good job with the amount of wax they coat their fibers with making it easy to build strings with, not too waxy but just waxy enough for the fibers to pack together well. I haven't used Bloodline Fibers yet but would like to try it someday. I usually treat my string with some Scorpion Venom and it does a great job as protecting the string.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

Today's modern compound strings are made from Dyneema or Dyneema/Vectran blended materials. BCY Fibers, Bloodline Fibers, Angel Majesty and Brownell Fibers are the only fiber companies offering string materials today. The performance and reliability are going to be close to the same from these manufacturers. Vectran is a heavier stable material with very low elastic that is absorbent and can soak up wax or Silicon. Vectran can also get very fuzzy. BCY used to treat some of their materials to prevent fuzziness but no longer do. With the higher purity of today's SK99 Dyneema, the need to blend it with Vectran isn't really necessary like it used to be with the SK75. I like the BCY Mercury because it is a very small diameter and makes a very round and tightly packed string. It is easy to work with and the material is consistent in color and in size. With the cam designs on today's compound bow, the finished string diameter needs to fit the cam groove width or one can have issues.

I have used Brownell in the past but they sold out. I've been using BCY for a long times as well. BCY does a good job with the amount of wax they coat their fibers with making it easy to build strings with, not too waxy but just waxy enough for the fibers to pack together well. I haven't used Bloodline Fibers yet but would like to try it someday. I usually treat my string with some Scorpion Venom and it does a great job as protecting the string.

You work at a bow shop? You seem to know more than most of us on the subject. Me at least lol.

 

[Halfstep]

You work at a bow shop? You seem to know more than most of us on the subject. Me at least lol.

I have worked in a few bow shops over the years. I do have my own personal shop that is fully equipped. I do a little bow work as a hobby mainly building strings and tuning bows.

 

[Fuse Dude]

I've contacted a couple shops - no luck there yet. One shop only has used left handed bows, and the other shop was too busy to help.

I did find a used bare 2019 Vertix for sale for $450. The guy who owns it is the original owner and says it only needs new strings. That seems like a fair price, no? If so, what's a good recommendation on strings?

Gas has been good to me