I have purchased a couple batches of used ones recently to use in my yard. Some of them are really used with rounded off dogs that will hardly stay set and some are the newer painted ones that seem like too much tension. How to you guys that use them on a regular basis adjust them? Do you just clean and square everything up? Set on hair trigger or make a night latch notch? Anything else?

I ordered a dozen of Steve's traps but also want to use these as I'm only home on the weekends so want to make use of every trap for the day or two that I get to set them. I caught one last weekend but my wife thinks since I can catch a truck load of furbearers that I should be able to do the same on these pesky little moles. LOL

Thanks for your help!

That is one of the challenges of the O/S traps. They are strong but they can be modified to fire with less effort by the animal. That is one of the reasons I stopped using them several years ago once I developed a system for Steve's traps. I was getting traps pushed up that did not fire at times. Have to make sure the jaws are anchored well.

They are effective but are heavy and bulky. However, you need to keep up with the tuning with a file as they will corrode at the point of contact of the dog and pan system causing more pressure needed to fire them.

Lots of guys use them and like them. Like any new device you have to become familiar with its function. Not unlike some coil spring traps you use in fur trapping they need some work. Take off the burrs and excess rust at the lock up point. I always put some Vaseline on my traps to help reduce the friction and to help with the trap firing with less force needed to make it fire.

Follow BJ's suggestions if you are only going to use your batch of OOS traps in your yard. Another option for those of us trapping moles as a business is to upgrade to the stainless steel dog and offset pan kit offered by BUD25. Their was a discussion on Mole Traps a week or so ago but also learn to use the Archives to glean more info/tips on the use of this trap.

My situation is opposite of BJ's with challenges in using Steve's traps. I'm in sandy soils and moles have a tendency of "digging under" this fine little trap. The majority of my mole trapping is conducted on surface/foraging tunnels using the upgraded OOS trap and the Talpex. Trapping in the deeper mole runs/tunnels (thus producing mole mounds) using Steve's trap happens only during the heat/drought of our summers or on non-irrigated trapping locations. Moles are following their food source and/or traveling to the deeper part of their dens when they start throwing mounds. I continue to use and have greater success using this trap "upside down" in these deeper mole runs.

Differing habitat/soil types, climate, mole subspecies/behavior, and time (experience!) put in chasing this lil' bugger will determine if you can ever load the truck for the wife!

I make one modification right out of the box other than scraping the lil bit of paint that forms a bump on the trigger rod

That one second modification i do and the way i set the trap creates a very quick firing of the trap no matter what soil. I have sandy, clay, and that good iowa black loamy dirt.

What are the best ways to avoid this issue with OOS traps? I haven't noticed this issue per se, but I have little experience with OOS & just want to ensure I'm doing everything I can to anchor them properly & maximize their productiveness. As was mentioned in another thread recently, I plan to put a little dirt around jaw slots to keep sunlight out (I suspect this might also help anchor them better).

Dig open tunnel...find the tunnel so you know where to center trap...push set trap into ground (keep setters on trap as handles) don't let trap fire until you get the top of the Jaws to the top of the tunnel...fire trap and wiggle back and forth as the trap Jaws cut the slots in the dirt
..pull out trap and reset...keep it on the side while you create the bump...then take trap with handles and keep your middle finger under pan as you push trap straight down...DO NOT WIGGLE BACK DOWN INTO SLOTS...wigglings reloosens the soil and trap...pushing straight down anchors the trap...even works in Sandy soils.

Sounds worthy of a You Tube video

Make sure you have a hair trigger! JMO

My triggers are fully engaged...no hair trigger needed