I picked up a dozen Alpha #3s at the Idaho convention. When I got home I called JC Conner to see which of his kits might be correct based on the spring pin dimensions. They didn't have one that they thought was going to fit correctly but said they would pick up an Alpha 2 and 3 at the PA convention. Last week they called and said my springs were ready. They had a jig they could tweak slightly to work. They also said they will build them on order but folks will need to be patient as they are slammed right now and will fit Alpha spring orders in when they can.

Today I put them on my Alpha 3s. The spring pins extend past the tab on the end of the cross frame and make it impossible to lever them over the tab. Well impossible for me. I'm kind of a wimp. The simplest way is to tap the pins back until the spring will go over the tab and start onto the pins.

The trap before starting


The pins tapped back.


The spring started onto the pins.


A slip joint plier works well to rock the spring onto the pin.


I use a screwdriver with a hollow shaft for interchangeable bits to lever the spring ends into the levers. Make sure it is hollow all the way through the shaft. Some changeable bit screw drivers only have a hollow deep enough to receive the bit.


Using the screw driver shaft to get the spring into the lever


The springs locked into the levers and the pins tapped back in place.


The clip vise gripped in place to act as a drill guide.


The finished product

You did good Pilgrim…Thats how I would have done it

Great tutorial.

Just curious, do you think the clip in the last step is necessary? Is there a chance the springs could become dislodged with a hard fighting coyote?

I just 4 coiled all my 550's, and was wondering if I needed something on the spring pins to keep the springs on. A little clip like that would work also.

I don’t know that they’re necessary but they come with the springs and JC has more knowledge and experience than me. So I use them.

They sell just the clips I believe.

I use a small diameter piece of pipe.

I didn't have a piece when I started working on a batch of traps a couple years ago but found the above screwdriver in my tool box. It has worked perfectly and has a nice big handle.

Are the Alpha traps under-powered?

Nice installation.

No. They are fine two coiled but I am a four coil advocate, especially in my area. While we are high prairie, our winters are a lot of rain, freeze, thaw, dusting of snow and repeat. I use waxed sand from day one but a half inch of snow, followed by a slight thaw, followed by an overnight dip into the low 20s can put a crust on a set. With the exception of my 1 and 1 1/2 coils every coil spring I have is four coiled. There are a few closed jaw 3 coils that I use for beaver that haven't been four coiled but that's just because I haven't gotten around to it yet. I have the springs but haven't had the motivation yet.