I recently received 2 dozen Jr.s, and finally got to working on them. In the past, I've started threads showing how to tune and tweak MB 550's, Bridger #2 and #3 dogless, Monty #3 dogless, and SV #4 dogless coilsprings.

I'm just working on pan tension, and leveling the pans. These traps are turning out very nice, with consistent, repeatable tension after some machining. I've been setting them at 2-1/2#-3# tension. I'll shoot for 3# after wax.

There are 3 reasons for this.
1) I machine for NO travel.

2) Wax will lighten them up a bit.

3) The pan adjusting bolts are very consistent in firming things up as little as 1/4#.

I'm taking every pan off, and putting them in the mill to get perfect cuts and angles. Saving a ton of filing...lol

When I got these, they were just like everyone says...impossibly TOO HEAVY of pan tension. My Sullivan pan tester wouldn't set them off if I buried it, and added another 4# or more. Crazy heavy tension. I gotta say, these are turning out nice, and when I'm done with them, I feel they will be a heck of a trap. Hill for stout...that's for sure.

Can you show or explain what you are doing to get the right tension? I have a few and I have tried filing and wax but have the same issue with most that my pan tester won’t even come close to setting them off. Any help is appreciated!!

What I did was took a file and filed the pan engagement point or contact area (where the night latch spot is) and file a slight ramp or angle upward towards the top of the pan. A few strokes and check it. Repeat. It is a little time consuming but after a few or 3 you will know about how many strokes according to your amount of pressure you put on the file before you need to check it. IF you over do one and it's to light just take and file it back towards a flat position, just do 1 lighter stroke and check it because it takes very little to get it back. The biggest advice I can give you is be patient and dont get too aggressive with the file right off the start. I did and the metal comes off fast ,luckily I was able to get it back where i wanted it.


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Here is a picture sorry not the best on a phone. And the 2 files I used. I use the half round mostly. It's about 3/4 - 7/8 wide
I also checked the poundage and it broke right at 3#
on the Sullivan tester. I also use them 2# & 3# dumbbells you see "walkers" using.
I put the tester right on the o of KO.

So much for out of the box ready.

Boone, in the last 35 years, there isn't a foothold trap that I've bought that was "out of the box ready".

These KO Jr.'s are some of the easiest footholds to tune, that I've ever worked on. And definitely the most consistent once I reach my desired pan tension.

I have nothing bad to say about them, and can say that they are the best built foothold traps I've ever owned.

I mill .022" off the end of the pan where it contacts the tab on the jaw. Then, slightly bevel that with a file. Next, a slight bevel to break the sharp edge on the tab that is welded to the jaw, that contacts the pan. Final tuning is done to the bevel on the pan.

That should give you guys an idea how to tune the KO's for pan tension. BOTH contact surfaces have to be touched up.

I have been using about 80 of the Extremes & JR's for 4 years now and IMO taking a little off the end is the only thing I would do! When you start filing angles on the pan your only looking for trouble in the field of snapped traps.

I agree with Late Bite. Knocking off a sharp or burred edge is one thing but filing angles will never stay consistent. I have tuned dozens if the Extremes and JR's by only filing down and deburring the pan notch and can get consistent pan tension catch after catch season after season.

I use KO jr's, Bridger #2 modified dogless, and MB 550's on my canine line. The MB 550 is the only one I have not had to do any work with to get proper pan tension or pan leveling. If I started over today the 550 is the only trap I'd buy. The KO's are a stout trap, but c'mon, for the price I should not have to "mill" anything. The 550's just need a waxing to get them where you want them. And forget the Duke 550 version, pan leveling, pan tensioning, and even the 2 coil is a wrestling match to set. They got a decent trap but the lower cost shows in the attention to detail.

Hard to beat those MB's indeed, NY.

Yep sold my 2 dozen JRs at the Michigan Convention (because of the pan tension) and replaced them with more mb550s. I don’t want to spend time modifying traps

I’ve tried several traps before and after I bought my original MBs and after last season trying of the JRs I think I’m just going to stick to the MBs

For coyotes I’m now using 90% MBs

With 2 dozen duke #4s I use on drags for when the snow gets deep to use as blind sets on trails.

My son like the Bridger #2 dogless and I’ll
Say they have their merits

JMO

Mho I bet you that pan dog might stay set a few times but the tension on those springs will bend or smear that lil dog off and your stuck with a trap that can't be set... My first Bridger dogless #3s had to be filed back near a 1/4 inch then I had to remake nightlatch notches. But I left way more meat. Probably half the thickness of the steel

I know a lot of yall are in the fan club, however back when I was younger and tried the 550's I had to bend the dog on every single one to get the pan tension down. It was harder to do that than take a file to the KO's. I am sure back then they were really made in the USA too.....

I have MB 550’s and 450’s, now Duke 550’s and Extreme Jr’s. Really can’t see the merit in bashing either trap. Each slightly different and having their own upsides and downsides. The Dukes are pretty dang nice and $54 a dozen cheaper than MB’s. I’ll take that any day. Not to mention they catch hard and hold. The Jr’s are the best trap I’ve ever held in my hands but I haven’t used them yet as I just got them ready. Mine are filed and running right at 3 lbs. of tension consistently. These pans aren’t gonna fail. Nothing on this trap will while I’m alive to see it! Duke 550’s and MB 450’s will be my trap of choice as I am 90% public land. The Jr’s will only be set where I don’t have to carry them on my back for my 5 mile round trip.

^^^^^^^^thats how you want them to look

It took me longer to get the KO Juniors than the MB 550s to my preferred pan tension. Ounce the dog is bent with the 550s on a B2B bender its there forever. The KOs took filing, and adding washers to the pan bolt so the tension held consistent after firing . Both traps have their place on my line. What I love about the KO Juniors is now I can adjust from 1.5 to as heavy as needed just by tightening the pan bolt. With MB 550s can't do that. But I'm good with that...

If you want optimal performance then all traps need some adjustment, some more than others. If that gets me one more coyote then in my little brain its well worth it. Every successful coyote trapper I've every had the pleasure of speaking with modify and tinker to fit their style and animals! Any trap, any manufacture, no matter where they are made..

Wasn't meaning pans were weak by any means. It appeard op had gone a lil far with the file for my liking

x2 A bit thin from what I see too.. over time that may be a problem..

I have 11 dozen K-9 Extremes and after a few emails back and forth with Kendal I never used a file and have all of them between 4 and 5 pounds and dead level. I could get them lighter just didn't.

This post has me confused...don't those have a pan tension bolt similar to the TS 85 and Bridger dogless?

I got a half dozen extreme jrs to try for this season and all I did was wax them and the pan tension was what I was looking for. Pan tension may be a little heavy (I don't use a tester other the my hands) but I want to avoid everything but coyotes, that's what they were bought for. I use Bridger #2 and I love them but got these JRs to try out this year. 2 years ago I got a dozen MBs to try and I got to many toe catches for my liking. Those MBs are a heck of a trap but just don't have the jaw spread I like. I also some damage on fox with them, not sure what that was about, im thinking it was because of longer chain set up and the stout springs they come with. Im just confident in my Bridgers and I got the JRs because they looked like a stout version of them. I will say that the JRs I had to level the pans by just bending them down, not a big deal at all but that was only 6 traps, actually I do the same thing to my Bridger dogless. I did nothing to the dozen MBs.