Today I got a dozen MB-450 traps with an order. Still seem to be a great made trap same as the ones I purchased over 10 years ago. BUT...

I can not get the pan to go up on the dog like normal. I have looked them over and don't see anything wrong but what it looks like is the jaw is hitting where the pan connects and you can't push it down anymore. Only thing that's different on these new traps is the dog is a heavier rod style dog so I guess that thicker material isn't allowing the jaw to stay off the pan slots. I tried everyone of them and all the same. I can not get them set. Don't know if I want to start tinkering with them or call them Monday about the situation. I got them directly from MTP.

I would call them. At $200 a dozen you should be able to set them. That is how they learn what they are selling isn't working.

Id call

Call MTP, the Cavens are the most stand-up honest people in the industry. They will listen and help you.

X2

I bought a dz but haven't tried setting them yet. I'll check mine out today and see what happens. Yea I know check it when ya get it!

I heard the same with the new rod dog. The flat dog you were able to do that to make a set, but the new ones not. It was an improvement over the flat. They still can be set, but not with the pan flipped up on the dog, like with the flat ones.

Duke 450s are the same. I think if you pinch the dog eye it will fix the issue. Dogs are s tad short.

On mine I can set them but if I try to night latch them they spring shut. When I set mine they are flat without night latching. I filed 3 night latches down and back some. Only one natch latch worked. Then it was about a quarter inch below the jaws.

I am having the same problem with the last dozen I bought. I also think the holes in the jaw posts and pan must be tighter tolerances. I have pans and jaws that seem to seize up. Some are hard to get the jaw down low enough to set. Looks to me like the jaw is hitting the pan hinge area. I am going to try and grind the area down just a tad and see if that helps.

Let us know how that turns out. I have 2 that do that too. No more MB450s for me.

I like the new MB-450 dog better than the old dog except for having the same problem of getting the trap pan far enough on the dog to set the night latch. I plan to work on the MB-450s I don't have set yet over the weekend and I am curious if anyone came up with a fix before I start tinkering?

UPDATE!!!
Personally spoke with Rob caven on this and he quickly fixed the issue. He changed how the pan is stamped out and put a raised tab if you will in the pan where the dog engages just like on the mb 550. On some of my older 450s that I had to replace the dogs on I bent that part of the pan up a little to fix the issue.

Rob is as good as they come. Will not go into details but he handled the situation and wouldn't let me spend another dime to resolve it.

That's Awesome!!! Rob is a great guy for sure