Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Check the angle of the hook that engages with the sling and the angle the projectile fires at. Most problems with trebuchets come about either because the hook is angled too close to the firing arm, retarding the release of the projectile, or because it is too perpendicular to the firing arm, allowing the projectile to release too early. Experiment with firing the trebuchet with the hook in various position.
Check for twisting and buckling in the frame. Tighten all the joins and add additional beams across the corners. If the trebuchet shakes when the weight is released it will lose power and fire inaccurately.
Place the trebuchet on a rubber sheet and lay sand bags or other weights along it. If you have used a strong, light material and have done an efficient building job, the trebuchet may not be absorbing enough of the vibration and this may be throwing the shot.
Lubricate all the moving joints. It never hurts to do this and can make many problems that seemed insurmountable just disappear. Silicone lubricating spray works for almost all materials.
Look at how the counterweight moves when you fire. If the weight is suspended by a rope it can help to replace the rope with a solid beam attached to the firing arm of the trebuchet.
Extend the base of the trebuchet forward if it is jumping or tilting forwards. Make sure the base is straight and has contact with the ground all the way along.
Decrease the depth of the sling or basket if the projectile won't release from the trebuchet. If you get the release mechanism just right the sling doesn't need to be much larger than the projectile.