One word.
Jakes baby.
(Okay, that's 2 words, but still...)

I think your trap chain is too short? Try rigging some of your traps with 18" of chain and see if it helps.
Also if you could upgrade to some of the newer dogless designed coyote traps! They really are a better coyote trap if you can use them in your state?

I use a dogless trap that has a low pan, shock spring and 2to3feet of chain, 5 and 1/2 inch 4 coiled---#1 coil springs---you can set the trap with your hands---had a lion pullout last year which is uncommon ---usually its a wrestling match to get them gone!---I set the trap so the animal will step over the jaw not between them. I think some traps use too much spring strength to make up for poor engineering.

That is a comprehensive list of possible causes Number 1,4,5 & 10 all are things that can easily be avoided by paying attention to what you are doing But I know I am guilty of each of them at least once in a while .

Bending the dogs on the 550's changes pan tension. That would be the first thing I would check. I like to run 4 lbs on my coyote traps.

don't care what size or kind of trap what kind of set what kind of conditions it WILL happen to everyone. anyone claiming it doesn't is a liar. I might have 2 or 3 out of a 100 yotes

I run stock MB550’s with cable and chain. All that’s out of the deck is the chain that comes with the trap itself and it’s stretched right away from the trap. I don’t bury or coil anything in the bed.
I’m now using drags and only caught a couple on those but had deep pad catches.
I do not bury my traps. The jaws are about at ground level and just packed real good, so good that deer step on the jaws routinely yet the trap doesn’t budge. A real good rain will generally expose my pan. If I have a pullout, most of the time it’s coons in offset jaws. Nothing escapes the closed jaw 550’s.
This issue I have with a miss/pullout is generally a small pebble or stick that opened the offset enough to allow for an escape. My logic is that same overlooked pebble or stick makes a closed jaw an offset and less chance of an escape.
I’ve only had a couple deer that apparently struggled after getting caught based on the markings around the set. Most of the time deer just stretch the chain tight and gone.

Funny that jakes were mentioned. I told a buddy yesterday after the pullout that I was selling all my gear and buying nothing but jakes. They haven’t let me down yet. I sell live market when possible so that’s why I’m hesitant to go with such a strong trap.

I have considered adding a little length to my chains and seeing if that’s the culprit. I also believe they can really put a lot of torque on the trap with short chains. I’ve just heard from so many guys who catch a lot more critters than me that short chains will help prevent foot damage. Guess I need to add some length to half of them and compare the pullouts.

Will add some more pan tension to some as well, but I’m not convinced it’s the issue. It seems like I either have a full pad catch or a pullout. Very few that are toe caught or anything besides deep catches. See the bobcat paw pic above. I also hate to miss out on the smaller critters by upping it too much.

I really appreciate everyone who took the time to respond. I know that it’s got to be something I’ve changed over the years and hope to get it figured out before our fur season comes in. Y’all have helped me figure a few places to start looking!

My advice is = get rid of the MB 550s. They keep letting me down. So i went to MJ 600 Sterlings. Since you can’t find them often. Go with = No Bs Wire Lever Jrs. All this = short chain or long chain is not that much important. First of thing a coyote does when trap goes off??? He bites the trap! 98 % of the time

I had the same issue with the Victor #3 softies (2 coil)...and many other traps.

I settled on the 650Cs after not being very satisfied with many other traps. It's the widest jaw faced trap I've used that held consistently.

BTW, I use very little added pan tension. Pan tension is over rated, IMO. But to each their own.

Bottom line is if something ins't working for you, keep switching until you find something that does. You'll find it. Took me awhile, too.

I’d need more evidence that it was a coyote that pulled out than what I can see in your photo! I’ve used Bridger #2 & #3 OS 4-coiled, #4 Dukes OS 4-coiled, MB 650, Jakes, & NDZ and NEVER- EVER had a coyote pull-out in 25+ years.

Wait, everything worked before, now they don’t? Even brand new traps? I don’t think it’s a trap issue. I’m running some MB’s that are 6-7 years old and used almost year round. I don’t think traps just go bad do they?

I did what Calvin suggested, when it didn’t work I found what did. 17” of chain under a #3 offset longspring. Never had a pull out in 30 yrs

People that say they've never had a pull out is a liar or hasn't caught very many yotes.I've had one pull out in a Sterling MJ 600,one in a MB 650 cast,one in a LPC #4 and two in a MB 550.So 5 pull outs in all great traps,guessing about one in a 100 plus yotes,haven't had a pull out in a Jake yet,but I haven't used them much,just got them 3 years ago,none out of the No BS extremes either,haven't used them much either.It's part of trapping 98% to 99% are held in all the footholds from above,most were in muddy conditions so you cant blame the foothold completely.

I've had several pullouts with MB 650s. They became much less frequent when I cranked up the pan tension on them. Those traps have a finicky trigger system. They also seem to work better with poly fill instead of a pan cover. Pan covers seem to increase the kill area, resulting in more toe catches.

It's too early in the morning for this crap

I've only caught 500 coyotes, and have never had a pullout. I use 4 coiled #3 os Bridgers and No B.S. 4 coiled os Extremes. Only modification done was add another swivel on the stock chain. Run 4-5 lbs. of pan tension, along with pipe wrap insulation under the pan. At least an inch of waxed sand over the pan. Can only think of 1 or 2 toe catches.