Pre Season Maintenance: Release Aids

Notice how the unprotected bolts have surface rust and the trigger mechanism is rust free.

A high quality lubricant is a must for proper maintenance

A release aid is something that most people just use and forget about until the next time it's needed. Same way with windshield wiper blades. When it's pouring outside and you jump in your vehicle, the first thing you reach for is the switch so that you can see to drive. When is the last time you sat down in your vehicle on a sunny day and thought about those streaking blades that are in need of replacement?

Same with a release aid, grab it and start shooting. These things need a bit of maintenance also. I have seen them frozen up so tight that a ball peen hammer couldn't separate them. Most common problem I have witnessed is a rough or sloppy trigger mechanism. If it cost's more there is a very good reason for it. You get what you pay for when buying a release aid!

More times than not this problem is due to the lack of lubrication to the seer or roller. I would recommend that you lube the release at least twice a year. Even more if you get caught in the rain or snow.

An old friend was hunting with me one morning and lost his caliper release somewhere near his tree stand. He was climbing up the tree and it just disappeared. I asked him why he took it off and he said that the Velcro strap was annoying while climbing. The following Monday I gave him one that had a leather strap with a buckle on it.

One year later to the day, same friend, same tree stand, looking up at the same tree, see's something hanging from a sapling next to the tree he was about to climb. Yep there it was, his release aid.

After fetching it from the hiding place in plain sight he tried it out. It was still in good shape. After a good lube and shooting it performed like new. He is why I bothered to write all of this, he had made an adjustment and applied a synthetic lubricant that contained "Teflon" the day before the hunt and a year later was still shootable.

It's worth taking a minute to add a few drops prior to hunting season to ensure a flawless execution. I would say that it is just comfort in the back of your mind. I don't usually think about equipment breakdowns or failure during the season because of the confidence that's built preseason.

For those of you that use a thumb type release there is something you need to address also. Of coarse you will need to lubricate it but you also need to inspect the jaws for burr's. Whenever I purchase a new release aid of any kind there are 2 things that I do. First lube and shoot. Second inspect my string loop after 300-400 shots. If there is any fraying going on this tells me that some quality time needs to be spent polishing the jaws and mouth.

I have been using "Tri Flow with Teflon" for 10 years or better now and have no complaints. As far as a polishing compound for the jaws, a friend gave me a can of "Jewelers Rouge." This is a pasty substance with very fine particles mixed in for "cutting" or "smoothing." I am sure it comes in different ratio's of abrasiveness but a fine abrasive would perform quite well.

This stuff works really well with a Dremmel tool. The same a Hygienist would use to polish your teeth with. I have used the same string loop for 3 years and it shows very little wear. Give it a try.

Good Luck.