Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum. I trapped a lot of rats and coons in the 70s and 80s, but have recently gotten into the canine live market. I have some 10 yr old mb550 2 coil that don't seem to be as fast as the new 550s. Would it be ok to just add 1 coil? When Adding 2 coils they are harder to set.

Yes adding one coil will be fine being the trap is center base located if it was side location I’d put the extra spring on the opposite side of the frame the chain is attached for the foot will be sliding towards the stronger spring lever.

Can also add helper springs for a small size trap they will still give your trap some extra speed but not resulting in a stiffer setting trap. Like a 4 coil kit for a 1.75 bridger.

Could try waxing the lil buggers. That stuffs amazing.

I think those old traps are fast enough.

550 is a good trap for the live market. Have release a few critters from mine and there is no foot damage. I have the older ones and they are fast enough.

Agreed, I have several dozen of the originals and have added a dozen or so every few years over time. From start to now, a mighty good trap and have 0 issues with any of them.

Are they offset?

Yes, they are offset.

I do dye and wax them. However I have a red fox killing chickens. I've had my traps out for 3 weeks now, and still haven't caught him. The traps were used last trapping season and haven't redyed and waxed them. Because he has been all over my sets, I tripped them and reset. They were slow to fire. I bedded them in waxed dirt, due to rainy weather here. When I reset, I used peatmoss. This fox has caused me a lot of aggravation. I bought a dozen snares, 4 have been out, 4 days now. I got a live rooster in a cage with 4 traps around it.

Between me and the neighbors we lost about 10 chickens. My daughter saw him snatch 1 while she was in the yard.

Any ideas on catching him would be greatly appreciated.

Also have 2 dirt hole sets. I set those 3 weeks ago. Snares and rooster this past week. I put another 550 out on a trail, with a stick on both sides of it.

You say you recently got into the K9 live market…have you caught coyote/fox in the past or is this your first attempt.

I bought a dz mb 550s about 10 yrs ago. I ve caught around 20 plus yotes, numerous Grey's the yr i bought the traps. My live market started out, with yotes going for $125. They went down to $50, so i quit. I've retired since then, and started back last yr. I caught 4 reds this past season, along with 2 Grey's, 4 yotes, and a bobcat. I'm seeing more reds these days and less coyotes than in the past. I've purchased another 4dz traps this summer and plan to hit em hard this season.

When you say "they were slow to fire". Maybe you should bend the dog to have less pan tension.
I lowered the pan tension

on all the 550's I had because pan tension was set more for coyotes.
Because I am a fox trapper that catches coyote as a by product I like to use the 450. Out of the 4 dozen 450's I own all were set the way i like out of the box. I like my pan pretty light for fox and heavy if I only target yote which I have occasionally done for a couple farmers

By slow to fire, I meant they came up out of the ground slow. The trap sprung slow.

Is there anybody else that thinks 3 coils on a trap is ok? I don't want to miss align the trap by 1 side having 2 coils and the other having 1 coil.

You can add it but I’ve never had problems with the stock trap even in cold temperatures. I know pros that have caught thousands on 2 coils. How deep are you bedding them?

Trap is flush with the ground

Just replace the factory springs should be good to go.

If you buy more traps in the future try some of the 450s. They are the ultimate trap for fox. I had almost all 550s and sold the 450s I had. I have now added 2 dozen of each. Like other said, bend the dog to lighten the pan tension on your 550s will help on fox. I have never added any springs do I can’t answer your question on adding a single coil.

On many of my #2 Bridgers, I have added one spring. ( 3 coiled ) Works good. Some I have replaced with two music wire springs. About the same difference. A trap that locks up is of more importance than over powering with springs.