Will a 3/16 quick link work to connect the end of the chain of a trap that has a swivel but no j hook on the down side to my cable earth anchors?

Maybe I'm not picturing what you're saying, but the swivel should have a hole in the end to to put another j hook through to attach your cable to.

Not sure if you are trying to put them through the hole for the other j hook if they will fit, but as far as a connector, quick links are good. Both the plus and the minus of them is that they are easy to remove. Great on pull day if you are leaving your anchors in the ground, or if you drove it through a root. Not so great when someone with sticky fingers finds your trap.

Yeah I would be trying to fit them through the hole for the other j hook. Basically im just in a pinch and dont have more j hooks and a j hook tool but want to get a few traps in the ground

I just run the quick link through the chain/cable loop on the anchor and through the main body of the swivel. It won't fit through the j-hook hole.

Here's what I do.

^ This. Eric

Yes it will work if you’re saying just connect the quick link to the swivel at the end of the trap chain. Did it for years with no issue.

You can get a little better free side to side movement if you'll attach one or two links of #3 chain to swivel, then attach the 3/16" quick link.

J- Hooks from a swivel or 3\16 quick link

x2

I use the large split rings hooked to the swivel.Detaches pretty quick.

The quick links are a good idea but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned mighty hooks. For years I have just used mighty hooks (s hooks), one end through the hole in the swivel, the other through the earth anchor loop. I can changed out a gummed up trap in seconds with my s hook pliers, they take up less space in the trap bed, and are cheaper than a quick link. I've never had any issues with them holding eastern yotes or bobcats including 4 yotes in the last 10 days. I've reused the s hooks for years and never had an issue with breakage, even when I'm bending them in or out. Seemed like a cheap simple solution to me at the time and I've stuck with it.

J hook thru the swivel hole.
Adds another swivel point

I use j hooks

I go super stake, 10 or 12 inches of 1/8 cable, through 6ish inches of chain, Then J hook through a swivel to whatever trap chain

That's a good point, j hooks may provide a little more swivel than the s hook route and not much more expense per trap in comparison. I may include a couple dozen in my next order and give them a shot. Are you able to open and close them with the basic s hook pliers or do you use the heavy duty ones? The j hooks on fnt look pretty stout, I'm not sure if my el cheapo pliers are up to the task or not.

HD split rings. Fast, effective and have never had one even come close to failure. Not great though in areas where low life, sneaky, creepy thieves are.

Having to deal with big dogs on occasion may impact what you should or shouldn't be using. Better safe than sorry.

3/32 cable.