Tac 15i cranking issues and bolt turning out

[Bowgadget]

Well, after reading all the positive feed back about this unit, I took the Plunge! I picked one up 2 weeks ago. The local Pro shop had one set up already, and thats the one I got. Well after getting it home and going over all the material do's and don'ts ect... it was time to shoot a bolt. I shot several and wow, pritty impressive. I had a harder time then normal cranking back my last shot, about 2/3s of the way back it seamed like a binding feeling. I shot that bolt and I heard somthing hit the floor. I looked around and found a bolt. the bolt fell out of the right hand side of the receiver, it connected to the the string crank. the one on the oppsite side was still snug. Well I reinstalled the bolt, double checked all the bolts on the whole unit again and nocked another bolt, I shot several more with no issues. I ordered all the goodies for a upgrade, dropaway rest, optimizer of the scope,timney trigger kit,silencing hardware for the trigger and a set of quad limb silencers! Everything came in yesterday except for the trigger. Today I started to paper tune and after several shots it got hard to crank back again.The bolt fell out of the same place while cranking it back! I tried putting it on safe and would not go, tried letting it back down no luck. I had to fire it instead. found collar split in half were the bolt goes in to the receiver. sounds like a lemon to me!!! I took all goodies back off and away it went. Still waiting on a call. Is there anyone with a similar problem?

 

[Twanger]

I had something like this happen.
The bolt on the left side of the ratchet drum was missing and I didn't know it of course.
The bow became increasingly hard to crank as parts wore from the stress.
I sent it to PSE who fixed it promptly and rushed it back to me in time to harvest two more does before the season ended.

I've had absolutely no problems since this fix.

 

[Bowgadget]

Thanks for the feed back twanker. Did you also have issues retracking the string and problems putting the safety on?

 

[Twanger]

The safety will not go on until the trigger is cocked.
This is a known 'quirk' of the Tac15i.
I manually cock the trigger using the little finger of my right hand and reaching inside the action of the crossbow and pushing down on the hammer until it clicks.
Then you can put the safety on.

I've had no problems with the string.

 

[Bowgadget]

I think, reaching inside the action of the crossbow and pushing down on the hammer until it clicks is a flaw in the sysyem to say the least!!!!! Well I sure hope that is not the case when it comes back from PSE. I would like to see if this is a ongoing problem from anyone else!!. I called the pro shop to check on it and was told, it was sent back for repair on 8/18/2012..... Not to be a stick in the mud, I should have pushed it for a new one! I dished out a good penny on the "new" unit so far. I was told 2 weeks, lets hope its less so PSE can make good on the turn around maybe a couple dozon of arrow for the problems HOW ABOUT IT!!!!. I'll keep all of you posted!!

 

[WildWillie]

Bowgadget -

I had one of the bolts come loose on me as well(posted about it this time last year). I tried to keep an eye on it, but it happened again about a week later. About 2 weeks after that the opposite side bolt sheared off (I am assuming it was because of the extra torq that bolt was under when the other one backed out.

Anyhow I sent it back to PSE and the replaced the entire upper in short order (Was without the bow for about 2.5 weeks).

I have had my Tac for over a year now and after some initial problems it has been shooting great. I am about to change the whisker biscuit to the drop away rest. (Was hoping the AeroRest would be available before hunting season but I cannot wait on that any longer)

WildWillie

 

[Bowgadget]

Did anyone give a reason for the bolts backing out? Maybe PSE should locktite them in to prevent this from happening. I am under the 30 day PSE return date if not happy, thinking of calling and request a new unit today. I should not have to wait 2.5 weeks if they have one in stock. I need time to play around before the season to setup and work out the bugs.......

 

[kcpredator]

I've had the same thing happen to me while sighting in the tac.. after about the 3 time it backed out i used an old trick of putting finger nail Polish on the threads and put it back to gather no problems so far only time will tell....

 

[djdcsi]

I've had the same thing happen to me while sighting in the tac.. after about the 3 time it backed out i used an old trick of putting finger nail Polish on the threads and put it back to gather no problems so far only time will tell....

Yeah same happened to me. I saw the bolt before it was completely out and would cause a problem. I then, used a small amount of blue loctite. That was the first year I owned the bow and it's held for 2+ more years since with no problem. If you use loctite it's always the blue, never the red unless you want it permanent.

 

[Bowgadget]

Thanks for the feed back. I am Still waiting on my tac from PSE!!!! I WAS TOLD 4 weeks, its now 5 weeks and the NEPA Pro shop is giving me a run around. I called PSE and they tolld me I needed a RA #. Called Shop for the # and owner refused to give it to me. He stated it would be like giving out his personal ID out. I never heard of such a thing,something smells like fish to me. I called last week and spoke to one of the techs at the newly opened pro shop.and he stated it was just sent back a couple of weeks ago!!!!. If this is the case, for a newly opened shop, thay will not last long! I have shot a total of 12 arrows out of this thing. I spent over 625.00 dollars on upgrades that have been collecting dust for over a month now. Opening day is in a couple of weeks and I can not even use my bow due to a hand injury. I,m totally disgusted with the hole dealing. Sorry for bleeding out my problems,but come on!

 

[Bowgadget]

Update!!! I CALLED PRO SHOP AND ASKED ABOUT MY UNIT. OWNER SAID COME DOWN AND PICK IT UP........? It came in yesterday, lucky I CALLED I GUESS I picked it up and it was handed to me in its case like a hot potato, I removed it and notice that the dowel rod was bent in the block that the rope is attached to. I showed owner and he felt instead of sending it back for another 5 weeks, he would streighten it with a pair of pliers. It came out ok, so back home it went. I took it out when I hit the house and saw that the main reason why it was sent back was NEVER REPAIRED BY PSE!!!!! I lost it. I called pro shop and asked if he looked at it when it came back? HE SAID NO, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED he A S S U M E D. The bearing housing that broke was never repaired, bearings are exposed. He called rep and a new bearing is on it way.......? Please advise........... CALL PSE ?????

 

[djdcsi]

Sorry to hear that, and I woulda lost it too!

To clarify: The thing I described above was my 2ed go round with this same problem. The first time it was exactly the same as yours. I didn't know yours was actually damaged. First time: I had trouble cranking, noticed the bolt had backed out, found the cracked housing, etc. I bought one of the first bows sold to the public way back, and thru a dealer off the internet in Maine. When this happened I immediately called PSE. They said send it to the dealer. I said no way, because I live in Idaho & don't know them from "Adam". Then he asked for the sales receipt and such which I immediately provided. He had me remove the part as an assembly and ship to him. He also gave me a PO authorization, claim # or whatever it was, and said to address to him personally and he'd ship back to me the same method as I sent it. I had stressed to him that time was critical here. I sent UPS 2ed Day with tracking. Of course after confirming their receipt, and giving them about 5 days and hearing nothing, I called and ask for the Tech by name. He had already shipped it back.

Overall I had a great experience working thru that single person and he gave me great service. All in all I think the bow was out of service 10 days, maybe 12, can't remember exactly. Since then I had always kept an eye on that area. I also made a habit of putting a wrench on it rechecking torque. Then one day it backed out but I caught it before any damage was done. Right then and there is where the blue loctite came in.

If any way possible I'll ALWAYS go direct to PSE. They don't seem to like it & want you to support their dealer, but IMO with your bad experience no one can blame you for NOT. I'd say screw the dealer because he sounds like a real tool! Those bolts turn as the carriage moves which can/will cause them to lose torque. Anyway, that's my saga and can confirm that area needs extra attention by the user because bad things happen when the bolts loosen (**** breaks).

What's the latest on your bow?

 

[Bowgadget]

Thanks again for the info. on your unit. I'm at a stand still, I dont no if the tac is safe to shoot. No help from the TOOL (LOL). I took advanged of the down time and installed eveything except the timney trigger. I shot it to paper tune the Ultra rest SThdX. dead center left and right, nock low, lowered it and a shot bullets after the move. I checked that bolt before shooting and it was tight. Shot 3 bolts and it was loose! I had some Loctite 242 on hand and so far so good. Im still leary on the hole top half of that bearing missing! Before Slamming PSE anymore I'll call tommarow to see if it was even sent back.

 

[Bowgadget]

Update on tac, I attached all the goodies, need to shim front sight to hit at 20 yrds and hit it dead on first shot. I was working my way back to 60 yrds for the optimizer zeroing and while cranking back I heard the dreaded crack of a limb..... I got in my truck and ran over this thing until it was flat!!!!!!!!!!!! (just kidding) Called PSE and tech was aware of the bearing not being repair after 5 weeks and the limb took the cake on this unit. Sent it back and it will be around 2 weeks for a brand new one. I think I'll burn some sage weed around the new one to remove any bad spirits..... bowgadget