Can someone explain how to heat and weaken springs?I have a few Victor #2s with 1 broken spring and ordered some stock replacements.I heated one side of spring to just starting to turn red.It can out perfect for strength but appears kind of disformed now.It that the way they should look or am I doing something wrong?

Well I only heat mine for about 30 seconds and you need to heat that spring evenly. I just used one of those hand held torches. DON"T heat them till they turn RED.

Start out on the low side and heat for about 20 seconds. Let the springs cool then set then trap If It Is still stronger then you want heat for a bit longer.

Thanks Beav grandpa’s traps are ready for action.Grandpa died in 81 and the traps were far from new at that time.I wonder when the first victor #2 coil came out?

I may be missing something and just don't understand but this seems stupid to me to weaken your traps. If they are to strong for you to set, they make all kinds of setters that make it super easy to set any trap. Maybe you can enlighten us on why you are doing this.

Schmattz

they are weakening the springs for more effective muskrat trapping

Yes, muskrat traps. Weakened springs with Wild River pans = killing machines.

Brian

Yeah it lowers the pan tension.Also these 50 or 60 year old victor #2s levers fold over with brand new springs.

I understand what you are up to. Would it be possible to just put a set of 1.5 springs on them? You can also accomplish the lighter pan tension by either filling the end of the dog with a little taper or bending the dog down where the jaw hits it so that that part of the dog is higher making an upside down v. Bending the dog this way makes it slope down to the pan. Either of these let the pan slide off the dog easier. A little will do as going to much will make the trap have no pan tension and go off on its own. I want a trap as strong as possible after it goes off for the instances that a raccoon or beaver steps in it or the off chance an otter. These mods of course won't help the levers bending. The levers being bent doesn't hurt anything as long as you can still set the trap. The can only twist so far.

Schmattz

Until you've watched rats sit on top of your trap and not set It off you won't appreciate weakened springs.

I am very interested in the correct process for doing this. I am setting up a bunch of Duke 1.5 coils for rats with Wild River pans. I did make a short night latch on the dog and it is crisp with low pan tension.

I work just the last ring, out towards the dog. More control. Heat a few seconds till spring starts to unwind. Do a couple checking for preferred tension. You’ll figure it out quick. Victor and duke 1.5 are good holding traps by design, high locking levers and square jaw face, spring strength is secondary. I’m not afraid to use for coon either. I do use drowners tho.