Hello! This is my 1st post but this site has been a huge resource for me the last couple of years.
I recently was offered some traps that were in a trap shed that burned down. I’m not sure what make they are but from a google image search, possibly a Sterling MJ 500? Seems to be well made. Of course the springs are shot due to the fire. Is there a source for replacement springs and would it even be worth the effort/money to get back in service? There are at least 2 dozen of them. Thanks for any help or suggestions!

They look like 600s

Try Sterling Fur Co. for springs.

In my experience, burned traps are not worth the time to repair. If the steel got hot enough that the springs are soft, the frames and jaws have also lost their temper and are quite soft. My guess is if you put new springs in them and try to set them, the frames will just bend.

This

I'd still have to try one and see... I only learn things the hard way. lol

I always figured the steel in traps with the exception of cast jaws and spring steel was just common hot roll. We heat common steel up red hot regularly without seeing any loss of its strength but maybe I'm missing something. Tool steel gets heated to get harder.

I appreciate the feedback. So a MJ 600 not a MJ 500? I was given this trap so I will see if I can source some replacement springs and see what happens!

I lost a bunch of traps years ago in a shed fire. Mine were not salvageable. The temper was gone and the frames were too weak. I hope you have better luck.

It might cost you about $5 to find out, seems worth it to me.

If the frame is weak, couldn't you add a base plate and maybe beef up the cross frame too? Seems the jaws would be the biggest concern since there are no levers besides the spring. Maybe the chain too???? Guess we'll find out when the OP does.

I doubt it needs beefed up. Those sterlings are great coyote and cat traps.

If you know someone that heat treats maybe you can give that a try if they are to far gone.

Glenn jr will rebuild them

I've had two trap shed burn down, never could use traps after, sold a bunch to a knife make

only buy one set of springs to try or you will end up like me with two dozen spring that you can't use

Doubt heat affected the cast jaws at all.

If not repairable wire brush em paint em and make red neck doorbells for the flea market crowd.

I am with ADC, give it a try.....and welcome to T-man...Post some pictures of your line and life there.....jk

The jaws are most definitely toast cast steel heated and left to cool slowly makes it softer and more malleable. Every time that trap would fire around something jaws will start forming outward and every time it would get fired without anything well your offset is going to get less and less real quick in the center of the jaws. I ground down some mb650 jaws to make legal for are states laws and found out real fast gotta go little at a time and avoid heating the jaws up at all for cast steel becomes weak with way less heat then say hot rolled steel would.