I haven't bought new traps in years...
Bought some new traps in June.
Finally got my mind into tuning them up. Dozen done so far.
Rest of them should be tuned this week. Maybe...lol
-I cut chain in half and add mid-line swivel
-Make sure all (factory and add on) J-hooks are closed tight
-Put name tag on
-Drill out end swivel hole so Quick Link can go through (I use Quick Link to attach my Cable Stake)
-Take pan off (I replace with Brass bolt, washer and nut, more later)
-Widen pan post with screw driver (so washer can fit inside with pan, more later)
-Lightly file sharp edge off under side of pan (Bridgers, not necessary, just don't like sharp edge)
-File notch square, notch and face and feel for burls on edge of notch and file them off
-File dog square and check for rough burls
-Attach pan with Brass bolt, Brass washer and Brass bolt. I replace stock bolt and nut with Brass.
-I place washer inside the posts, with the pan. This will take the side-to-side wobble out of the pan. No wobble. I put bolt through and get nut on.
-With screw driver and nut driver I tighten bolt to draw the pan posts tight together. Now the posts are straight and tight. Then back off bolt to desired pan tension.
-With a washer inside the pan post, the pan will lean to one side. It's not level. So I just gripped pan with the channel locks and bent it level/flat.
-I set trap to check if pan sits level with jaws and fire trap to see if it's tuned proper
If pan drops too low before it fires or drops and doesn't fire...
I use channel locks on the frame, where the dog is attached and pull back from trap, trying to bend that part of the frame away from pan.
That will pull my dog away from the pan notch and will raise the pan when trap is set.
This may take me 1 or 2 times or more of bending that frame so my pan sits level when trap is set. It may take a few times, but the pan will sit level. And that's what I want.
Any questions how I tune up a trap or if you need help...pm me
