I've used them some, running original pan and dog works fine, just more fiddly to tune. Yes the PIT pans are a nice, no hassle system and an easy upgrade. But the original pans and dogs have caught lots of coyotes over the years. Just bend dogs to get the pan level and the desired pan tension. You can squeeze the pan connection tighter with vice grips if it is too wobbly, but honestly with some pan tension that pan doesn't usually wobble once it is set unless it is real bad or your notch or dog aren't level. A lot of these old traps have rough uneven surfaces on the top of their dogs, leveling that with a file and the pan notch will do wonders for both wobble and the pan staying centered. The original twist link chain isn't bad, but if you have twin loop I would replace it, especially considering how old it is. Center swiveling will reduce foot damage, if you are doing extended checks or dealing with any nontargets I would definetely do it.

Bearcat, that’s some valuable info. Thank you. I plan to baseplate them as some of them have the frames bowed. Some of these 3n’s have government stamps on the bottom. Figured they aren’t worth much and would better used than sold. The old trappers sure like their long chains. Probably due to using the old dog knot stakes I’d assume.

Yep every bit twice the trap.

I’m with Boone also. Step downs & Stainless rod dogs. Base plate, Number 3 USA Chain.

Yes

For Victors I prefer the pit set up. I have used them original with an underpan spring. For Newhouses I like keeping them original except just adding an LPC under pan spring for the tension. Sometimes I will change out the dog on the Newhouses with a Bob Custer dog

Wild Rag, how do you re-shape that dog to fit a Newhouse pan notch? it must take some intense grinding...
I have never installed the underpan spring on any trap...tough to do?

MChewk, I put the dog in a vice and use a hammer to bend the dog. To get it to fit in the pan I cut the dog a touch long with cutoff wheel. I then hand file to get the angle in the dog to fit up to the Newhouse pan. If you’re wanting to put the under pan springs in from LPC, you can either replace the pan post with lpc pan post and the under pan springs will life right in. If not you can cut the spring and use a little bitty brass bolt and nut to hold the underpan spring in place. If it’s an old new house under pan spring you can just bend the tabs over the base plate. I will try to pm u some pics

Thanks good info!

I probably don't even come close to what others on here catch, but all I use is long springs and have for since I first started a long time ago. 99% of my traps are Victor with stock pan and dog. It work for them back in the day and works the same now IMO. I use the Miles system and I also will sometimes take a small soft tip off of a tree branch and bend it in a V and place it under the pan, it gives pan tension and depending on how much you want you adjust how large of piece you use. Can also bend the dog up into the pan notch which will also provide some tension.