Can anyone help me answer this?

What: I have 12 of the Duke #2 4-coil "newish" style I bought a few years ago. They're a square-jaw. I believe same trap as a bridger of same specifications; Not dogless.

Observance: I can't catch an animal without major foot-damage. Coyote, possum, (this morning) a coon, etc. It's making me insane.

Question: Can I (of this trap specifically, not just 4-coil in general) remove the two smaller coils from each trap, thereby making it a 2-coil?

Meaning: If I made it (this specific trap) into a 2-coil.........will the two remaining springs be strong enough to hold a coyote?

What I've done: Sanded, dremmeled, painted, waxed, dyed, filed... (at different times). The jaws are "rounded-like." Nothing works, I think it's just too strong.

Could be you took a little to much off the face of the jaw with your filing and all
Pics would help

Pics would help. How many swivel points you running, length of chain, and many more factors cause foot damage other then them being 4 coiled. They will hold a coyote just fine with 2 coils. Sounds like you may of ground down the jaws to much if they are rounded on the inside face surfaces. They will cut in harder than a nice flat smooth surface. I only just hit mine with a wire wheel to smooth off the edges.

My recommendation would be laminations. I just did this to all my #2 Bridger two coils. Also, I agree with the poster above, I think two-coiled they would be plenty to hold a coyote and I would remove the smaller springs. I have held every coyote I caught in my Northwoods 1.75’s. They are all just two-coiled.

Laminating them would solve the problem for the most part but to answer your question yes you can remove the two helper springs. I don’t have experience with the square jaw but I have caught a lot of coyotes in other 2 coiled #2 size traps and I have had no issue with pullouts.

Thank you all!

I will be removing the smaller springs from each trap.

I might try laminations later.

Thank you also for the offer to review the pictures of the traps should I post them but I'm going to try removing the springs first.

i used them last year. It's the sharp edges. I filled them down and laminated them. Had no problems on Bobcat, Coyote, Fox or coon.