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Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? #6451976 02/05/19 06:02 PM 02/05/19 06:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 39 OR B Brady wayne OP trapper
Brady wayne OP trapper B Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 39 OR	Hey guys. Im struggling here. I have had at least 10 cats pull out of my duke number 3 coilsprings this year. Im considering up grading traps next year with the Mb 550's i notice there is no adjustment for the pan on them but they come about 2 lbs with a 2 coil trap verse 4 coil at 4.5 pounds. And I also think the closed jaw option would maybe help me out. As long as the jaw spread is no more the six inches in oregon they dont have to be offset. Any thoughts or opinions on this for me before i get my money out? Thanks

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6451979 02/05/19 06:06 PM 02/05/19 06:06 PM
Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 11,421 Maine, Aroostook Posco trapper
Posco trapper Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 11,421 Maine, Aroostook

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452011 02/05/19 06:41 PM 02/05/19 06:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,954 E central Il G Golf ball trapper
Golf ball trapper G Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,954 E central Il	I don’t think you will be disappointed in the MB 550’s compared to just about any trap out there. I would not consider the closed jaw version in an attempt to eliminate pull outs . The only pull outs I typically experienced with off set jaws were coon and smaller badgers , both caught by a front foot. From what I understand the tension can be changed by bending the dog .

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452017 02/05/19 06:48 PM 02/05/19 06:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,831 East OK & West AR Okiecntry trapper
Okiecntry trapper Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,831 East OK & West AR	In my experience the new ones are more than 2.5 lbs for 2-coil. Unless they are over 4 lbs I leave them alone. See the link for Rob's tips on how to adjust pan tension. http://www.mntrapline.com/pan-tips.pdf Last edited by Okiecntry; 02/05/19 06:49 PM.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452022 02/05/19 06:59 PM 02/05/19 06:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks T tbn trapper
tbn trapper T Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks	I can't count how many cats have been caught in Duke 3's over the years by an old timer. Likely not the trap.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452034 02/05/19 07:09 PM 02/05/19 07:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,698 Nevadafornia L Lazarus trapper
Lazarus trapper L Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,698 Nevadafornia	Pan tension has zero to do with catching bobcats, in my opinion. I caught 90 cats last year with the 550 and a good friend of mine caught over 100. Pan tension for all of those cats was straight out of the box. Pan tension is only relevant to avoiding nontarget catches, in my opinion. The only complaint I have ever had with the 550 is that you can't INCREASE the pan tension; you can decrease it by bending the dog but you can't increase it. I would like to increase it to avoid some packrats and maybe even some bunnies. And no, I'm not going to go stuffing something under the pan to increase pan tension.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452046 02/05/19 07:19 PM 02/05/19 07:19 PM
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 5,906 michigan,USA S seniortrap trapper
seniortrap trapper S Joined: May 2012 Posts: 5,906 michigan,USA	If their 4-coiled there's a little more needed to trip. But not much. Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers "Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452049 02/05/19 07:22 PM 02/05/19 07:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 39 OR B Brady wayne OP trapper
Brady wayne OP trapper B Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 39 OR	Thanks guys. Ans yes tbn it may be the trapper having poor trap placement. I have not ruled that out for sure. But thanks for the input and maybe i will just stick with the offset jaws. I like the idea of offset jaw for the cats sake anyways. Sure apreciate it and good trappin.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452110 02/05/19 08:08 PM 02/05/19 08:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 666 VA coolbrze trapper
coolbrze trapper Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 666 VA	Just bought some 550s to throw into my line of 450s this year. Like them both a lot!

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452153 02/05/19 08:38 PM 02/05/19 08:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,446 Houghton Lake, MI strike2x trapper
strike2x trapper Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,446 Houghton Lake, MI	MB550OS 2 coil no pan adjustment. I believe if the trap is place in the right spot you won't miss no matter the tension. I don't like light tension. Wish I had more time to trap....

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452359 02/05/19 11:22 PM 02/05/19 11:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 1,623 Livingston, Texas S Sheepdog1 trapper
Sheepdog1 trapper S Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 1,623 Livingston, Texas	tbn you hit the nail on the head. I have caught a ton of cats and coyotes in Duke #3 CS. I still have a few of them, If I was still trapping and got deep into my inventory I still would set them with confidence.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Lazarus] #6452492 02/06/19 05:54 AM 02/06/19 05:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 529 Pa, T trapper4002 trapper
trapper4002 trapper T Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 529 Pa,	you can increase pan tension by binding dog up not down Cpl USMC. 1989-1993

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Lazarus] #6452640 02/06/19 10:22 AM 02/06/19 10:22 AM
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,314 NC C Carolina Foxer trapper
Carolina Foxer trapper C Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,314 NC	Originally Posted by Lazarus Pan tension has zero to do with catching bobcats, in my opinion. I caught 90 cats last year with the 550 and a good friend of mine caught over 100. Pan tension for all of those cats was straight out of the box. Pan tension is only relevant to avoiding nontarget catches, in my opinion. The only complaint I have ever had with the 550 is that you can't INCREASE the pan tension; you can decrease it by bending the dog but you can't increase it. I would like to increase it to avoid some packrats and maybe even some bunnies. And no, I'm not going to go stuffing something under the pan to increase pan tension. You could either change the angle of the notch on the dog, or angle the dog upward (instead of downward like you would to decrease the tension)? Maybe both?

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452734 02/06/19 12:44 PM 02/06/19 12:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 11,421 Maine, Aroostook Posco trapper
Posco trapper Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 11,421 Maine, Aroostook	I have two and four coiled 550s and snow isn't an issue unless you have a significant crust. That's just part of the deal in northern climes. I have some Bridger's as well. Fine traps.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: trapper4002] #6452758 02/06/19 01:06 PM 02/06/19 01:06 PM
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,698 Nevadafornia L Lazarus trapper
Lazarus trapper L Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,698 Nevadafornia	Originally Posted by trapper4002 you can increase pan tension by binding dog up not down Go ahead with that and let me know how it works for you. :-)

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452771 02/06/19 01:14 PM 02/06/19 01:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana Taximan trapper
Taximan trapper Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana	Originally Posted by Brady wayne Thanks guys. Ans yes tbn it may be the trapper having poor trap placement. I have not ruled that out for sure. But thanks for the input and maybe i will just stick with the offset jaws. I like the idea of offset jaw for the cats sake anyways. Sure apreciate it and good trappin. I have been using the Duke #3's on bobcats,coyotes and red fox with not one "pullout".Not only were there no "pullouts" but all were above the heal pad catches,same as with the MB550's.I firmly believe that the rash of "pullouts" being reported by newer trappers are anything but.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6452797 02/06/19 01:44 PM 02/06/19 01:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 531 Upper Peninsula, Mi C coykill trapper
coykill trapper C Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 531 Upper Peninsula, Mi	I think pan tension is huge for cats because they are such light walkers. If you have the pan adjusted to two pounds the cat may not have all of its weight on the trap before it fires. If it is at 3 to 4 lbs then its paw is more committed to a better higher catch. That's my thinking anyways. On a step down set it may not be as important though.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6453070 02/06/19 07:05 PM 02/06/19 07:05 PM
Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 390 Idaho Marten Ted trapper
Marten Ted trapper Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 390 Idaho	I catch and hold cats in #2 dukes often, never had a bad catch or a miss. Also I am big on offset jaws for anything bigger than marten, and never have had any problems. Mb's are great traps though. Personally though I like the K-9 extreme jr's best though. Last edited by Marten Ted; 02/06/19 07:08 PM.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6453669 02/07/19 12:16 PM 02/07/19 12:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana Taximan trapper
Taximan trapper Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana	Duke #3.I have more but they are all the same.

Re: Mb 550. And pan tension for bobcat? [Re: Brady wayne] #6453734 02/07/19 01:17 PM 02/07/19 01:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 9,132 SWMo. T tjm trapper
tjm trapper T Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 9,132 SWMo.	Originally Posted by Brady wayne Hey guys. Im struggling here. I have had at least 10 cats pull out of my duke number 3 coilsprings this year. Im considering up grading traps next year with the Mb 550's i notice there is no adjustment for the pan on them but they come about 2 lbs with a 2 coil trap verse 4 coil at 4.5 pounds. And I also think the closed jaw option would maybe help me out. As long as the jaw spread is no more the six inches in oregon they dont have to be offset. Any thoughts or opinions on this for me before i get my money out? Thanks was there hair or toes or such left in the traps, if not how do you know that cats pulled out? I have never had a pullout except with deer and 'coons, so I'm curious. >ed there were a couple dismantled traps if that counts as a pullout Last edited by tjm; 02/07/19 01:18 PM.

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