I tried to ask this yesterday but must have not done something right since it was never posted.

Seeing the thread about pullouts got me thinking. I normally adjust my pans to have next to zero tension thinking I didn't want any resistance. I've had a couple tripped traps and dig-outs. I'm not wondering if my tension is too light and they feel the ground falling out from under them causing them to pull back before the trap fires. Being pretty green I'm just thinking. What's the recommended tension for pans? I'm primarily targeting coyotes with my MB550's.

Thanks for the advice.

Darrell

I like mine at about 3 pounds. If you are adjusting to zero tension it is going to cause you a TON of headaches with snapped traps and pull outs.

Also you need to file your dog and pan and and just them so that there is zero travel downwards. You want the pan to stay put until three pounds is placed on it and fire nice and crisp, zero pan travel.

X2. Bob is right on it!! O pan pressure no good ! Dont know how you get 0 with MB 550s ? I like 3 to 3&1/2 lbs with pad on my MJ 600 Sterling. IF I set them to = 3.5 lbs with underall under them. Latter = IF I wanted say = 4.5 lbs to try but fail to keep grey fix out. I could just add = 1 underall. So give that a shot. Add extra underall

My 550’s came set at about 3-3.5# of tension and other than filing the dog a couple times I’ve never had to touch them. My 450’s came in at about 4# so I’ve bent the dog a little to get it down to 3#.
I’m out for anything with 4 legs that ain’t a deer. I’ll take 30 possums off one property and won’t complain a bit.

I like to run 4 for coyote and 2 for fox/coon.

I think = 4 lbs is pretty good myself. BUT. In july or august. When I have a bunch of pups to clean up. I think 3 is better. While in West Texas. I spoke to a • Arizona USDA government trapper. He caught 500 plus a year on coyotes. USDA had him log all his = Lbs on coyotes once foe some type of study ? I think? Told me. Average weight was 27 lbs on coyote. So young small and fall pups?? I like 3 lbs over all best. For what I do

True, lighter is better when pups are running around but I'm trying to avoid non targets as much as possible in town and break out the fox traps when pups are involved.

Also get as many calls for fox as I do coyote so two sets of traps.

Thats the thing about = MJ 600 Sterling. I know. I know. Hard to find. VERY expensive. But. Here is what I do. See them up 3 to 3 & 1/2 lbs WITh pad underall under them. SO if I get into gray fox country = I add 1 pad - underall. Ups pan tension to 4 lbs or 4 & 1/2 lbs. or. Need to catch a fox. Ok pull pad. Not 3 lbs. its 2 lbs now. That just something you can do if your needs change wherw you go to trap changes or so on. Food for thought. On adding or taking away lbs with underall

I've thought about that but I learned pan covers and anything under a pan just don't come natural, I guess.

Since you are in Michigan, remember that if you get a frozen crust over the trap that will increase the weight needed to drop the pan. Also if you get some frost in dog/pan connection that can also increase pan tension.

Sometimes I use a little piece of crumpled up wax paper as an underall.