Tuning bodygrips

[makete]

Do bodygrip traps need tuning? If so, what do you do to them to make it a better trap?

[bobwendt]

yes, rat tail file to dog so triggers don`t go long ways before trap fires. eliminate hip catches.

[TRAPPERBILL]

Bob, if you rat tail the dog it would make the notch in the dog deeper and the trigger would move further or am i missing something?

[bobwendt]

no, the reverse, moves less. you are actually not making deeper so much as sharpening the corners. dink with it and you`ll see what I mean. just get a sloppy trap and a file and fiddle with it. you can make that trap fire if the triggers moves even a hair. old 220s need it bad or you get lot of hipped coons. and of course everyone knows how good otters are at hipping.

[TRAPPERBILL]

Bob, I get the idea now. Thanks

[bobwendt]

if you wallow it out take a flat file to the flat part.

[lumberjack]

I think what Bob is trying to say is do a 45 degree angle to the corner where the notch starts. Be careful not to overdo it or you will have some hairy setting traps.

[robertw]

Caught a 2 lb channel cat today in a Belisle 330 in a beaver run, reckon I had it was tuned pretty sharp!

[Bristleback]

M, set the trap, get your files out and get to filing.......you'll know when it's just right. Just kidding! LOL.

The Beav will probably elaborate some more on this.
Essentially, from what I've learned from the Beav, is do BOTH, file the notch AND hit the corners at a ~45ish degree, maybe less, be sure to do BOTH sides as often don't know which way the skunk or possum is travelling.

[Steve Gappa]

so with all that filing, can one still start the triggers (on land)?

[bobwendt]

yes

[robertw]

If your not catching fish with your conibears (occasionally) then they are not tuned.

[primetime]

You wouldn't need to file a 45 degree angle in both sides, only one. There is only pressure on one side. That is the side that you file the 45 degree chamfer. The other side you just want good and square. You want the dog to have contact with the trigger.

[lumberjack]

Primetime is correct, the outside facing part of the dog is all that needs filed. If you take too much off and it still sets they are a b---- to start the triggers on. That is if the trap jaw is fully seated in the notch, which may take some filing.
The trigger still needs to contact the dog, which is out past your 45 a little.

[Bristleback]

I don't have a trap here in front of me, but isn't the purpose of the angle in the dog on to "lessen" the perpendicular pressure from the trigger? With the angle, it makes the trap fire easier. The reason for doing both sides is, it makes the trap universal, one side would make it directional.........the side filed will fire EASIER, sooner than the side not filed.

Gary and I had this discussion this spring, wish I were in my shop.

GARY..............
Pam, please get Gary up from his nap.

[BK]

I can see starting a trigger if it makes you feel better, and yes I do in-fact make more hip catches on mink when a trap needs paint.
But I think this can be made harder than it is.
If it ain't broke,..................

[Computerhater]

BK,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if my memory is right, don't you slide your trigger to one side on your dryland conibears for mink. That as much as anything is leading to your hip catches in my opinion. By doing this you are allowing the mink to get further into the trap if not all the way through the trap. If the mink hugs tight to the frame side I would guess you are missing some mink completely.

Starting the triggers makes the trap fire easier but I believe that in the mink's case it helps in another way also. Once the trigger is started it will move freely back and forth an inch or so. In my opinion this free and easy movement of the trigger is just like any ordinary twig or blade of grass to the mink and he will push right on through firing the trap as he does. Now a trigger that hasn't been started is firm and rigid and I believe the mink will try to slide around them thus resulting in hip catches or misses. I set my triggers up kind of like this |( )| . The mink focuses on the hole between the wires and no matter if he leans left or right he is on a trigger wire. Allowing him to go between the frame and the trigger can only lead to hip catches or misses in my opinion.


Randy

[aprophet]

does anybody still use the "canadian bend" ? does anyone file the dog kinda sideways so conis can be waxed ?

[Bristleback]

I know Beav and I were focusing on Coon and conibears, still the principles would apply to others.

[bobwendt]

yiou need to make sure those little metal plates holding the wires are firn and tight too, like new, and not wobbly. iff wobbly replace rivets or whole new trigger system.