quick-links?

[Rod17]

Anyone use quick-links for attaching extra-chain, extensions, cable stakes, etc to swivels?

When tightened down firmly, it seems like a good set-up but, I always that fear that they will open.

Anyone have experience with these?

thanks

Randy

[17HMR]

I have been useing them for some time on snare extentions and tie offs for snares with no trouble. This year I got some 3/16 ones to use on some cable stakes and hope to have no trouble, I will use a wrench to tighten.

[frenchman]

I've used them to fasten black bear foot snares to 3/16 extension cables, and really small ones were bent but not open. No problem when using larger size ones (sorry I do not have the exact measurements, but the ones I still use are about inch and 3/4 long).

[musher]

I use them on cable stakes. I carry 2 sets of vise-grips to tighten them.

They don't open!

[romans117]

I used them on all my traps for double stakes setup. I had one "problem" I did not tighten one all the way and it worked open. Glad I never had a catch in that set. Two negatives I experienced. They must stay closed. Hit them with a hammer and they bend.

[pnwmtnmn]

I use them for ataching traps to cables stkaes and traps to drowner cables, I use two pliers to cinch them down tight.

Rolmans, don't hit them with a hammer. lol

[romans117]

pnwmtnmn said:

Rolmans, don't hit them with a hammer. lol

No doubt. Usually do it driving stakes.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I use them all the time but I only use drags, can't speak to a stake.

Joel

[bblwi]

I have used them now for 4 seasons. I have not used them on any canine rigs. I use them on my 1.5 coils for my coons on drags and drowner's. I also have several dozen of my stop loss traps for rats and coons rigged with these. I have never had one open and I don't crush them tight with pliers for the species I have been using them on. they get pretty tight when they are dipped with the traps and can be hard to open but I can open most with my hands as needed.

Bryce

[Rod17]

thanks for the info.. I appreciate it.

Randy

[yoteskinner]

I use them on yote traps for 5 yrs now. no problems so far.

[bill1306 (Phil)]

I use split rings, they are cheaper than quick-links and they don't have a nut to work loose. I used them to cable off to trees or rocks and to connect the trap's chain to cable stakes.

[Rod17]

Bill1306....do you weld the split rings? Have you ever have a trap or extension work its way out an un-welded split ring?

I am looking for something easy to install/remove, as needed, on the line and dont want to use s-hooks. Every s-hook tool have I have used has broken after a few uses (when opeing s-hooks).

[bblwi]

I use several dozen of th large size split rings and have done so for many years. I am using them as they are about half the cost of the quick links. I do not weld them, but I use them on drags for canines and as connectors for rat and coon rigs. I used to use the small rings but the larger coons were testing those to the max.

Bryce

[trappnman]

the only thing I know about split rings, is that it doesn't take much to open them when pulling on a coyote trap to test them. You might never lose a coyote, but I don't trust them.

Perhaps I just had bad ones, who knows? but the slight advantange they give over a J-hook wasn't worth the gamble.

[bill1306 (Phil)]

I used the split rings this winter and never had a coyote open one up. I'm talking about split rings not lock washers. I bought my split rings from RK660. I had ask him last year about something that is cheaper to use a lot of, than the quick-links and that was what he suggested and they worked just fine. On how strong they are, on the NM line I was using pogo cable stakes and on a couple of them I hooked my puller hook (that is attached to my wench) on the ring and pulled the stake out. When I'm running with a four wheeler I use the wench to pull the cable stakes. I did distroy one ring, but I couldn't get that stake out of the ground. The are light weight and quick to use. Just ask RK.

[bblwi]

The most common place I saw the large split rings used was on the neck chains of dairy cows that were housed in the tie stall barns. These split rings were designed to break away if the cow got caught and also as a place to fasten the snap to the chain and thus hold the cow. Most cows weigh from 1,000 to 1,600 lbs. and very, very few every pulled these apart. A coyote chewing on it and getting an incisor between the open parts would be much more likely than any type of pulling apart by an animal of say 50-60 lbs. on the upper end in my opinion.

Bryce

[robertw]

Guys,
Why do you use them (quick links or split rings)? For me they are extremely time consuming and in regards to the split rings...I have seen them fail on coyotes and dogs (thank goodness for the 22-250!), luckily it was not my coyote! I think you can also assume you are going to loose just about every trap that you use a split ring on that catches a black bear or a mtn lion in. Personally I like to keep my traps!

With cable to cable attachments, snares to cable anchors or extensions simply make the loop or eye of the cable about an 1 1/2" long and "square knot" them together, no tools needed! If tyeing opff to a tree or fence post, simply run the cable around the tree and pass it back through the loop, no tools needed and no equipment failures possible.

As for attaching traps to cable anchors or drags, that is what "J" hooks are for. If you need to open a "J" hook (rivet) learn to do so with your cable cutters, it will not dull the cable cutters and the cable cutters do not break or bend like an "S" hook tool.

It is not my intent to condemn anyones methods, just wanted to try and save some of you some of the problems I have encountered.

[Rod17]

Steve, always good to hear about close calls or outright failures with certain gear. I would imagine that there is different quality to everything we use and split rings are likely no exception.

Although I like the idea of split rings (cost, weight, etc), I am concerned about trap thieves. A quick link that is tightened shut with a set of pliers is likely to be a real challenge to the average bum who stumbles acorss a set and doesn't have any tools with him.

How easy is it to get the trap chain or cable stake loop through the split ring? Would it require a screwdriver or knife blade to pry the ring open enought to remove the trap?

Randy

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

If you need to open a "J" hook (rivet) learn to do so with your cable cutters, it will not dull the cable cutters and the cable cutters do not break or bend like an "S" hook tool.

I'd be interested in how you do that?

Joel