Bridger #5 questions

Hello I recently picked up a few of the Bridger #5 specials for beaver. I’ve always used 330’s so I’m green on the leg holds and have a few questions
1. Does the night latch make an click sound like a MB? I’m not hearing one.
2. Pan tension I used a 2x2 and added weight to the top slowly until it went of at around 5lbs. Is that good enogh?
3. How to level the pan
4 how to fix one of the traps has a bend at where the lever meets the spring
Thank you In advance.

Josh good questions and keep asking them ...you'll learn a ton from the T-man members.

Night latch sound...on some traps the "bump" where the trap dog slides across and makes a "clicking" sound differs from trap to trap.
You can increase that sound by taking a small file and removing a small amount of metal where the trap dog " lands" after it crosses the metel bump.

Pan tension ..most beaver trappers want a fairly heavy pan tension...3-5 pounds works well on these heavy bodied animals.

Pan leveling...Using a pair of channel locks or vise grip pliers try squeezing the "extra" space out of the trap dog area where it is curled around the end of the trap frame.
By reducing that extra space in the curl of the trap dog that SHOULD level your pan out. Now if that doesn't work use your vise grips and latch on to the "L" shaped piece of
metal that holds the trap dog and bend it ever so slightly towards the pan. Go easy here as a little movement goes a long way to level the pan out.

Fixing the spring arm that contacts the trap lever... I wouldn't be concerned about this issue when beaver trapping but you can remove the spring by using a screw driver and sliding it in between the spring and the lever. Be careful here as if you slip you might get a good whack on your hand. Once the spring tension is released take a pair of pliers and straighten out the L shaped bend to your liking and re-install the spring against the trap lever.

I hope this helps...I encourage you to attend your state trapping convention and get with some experienced trappers and pick their brains about question you have...hands on experience is an excellent way to learn. Ask questions on this forum also.
Good luck

Thank you for the info. I completely forgot about crimping the dog, I used to do that before I could afford MB’s for canines.
Question when filing the dog, are you referring to before the bump?

Thank you again, and yes sir i do go to my local convention every year sadly it’s not what it was years ago. I plan on at least going to the state one or PA’s. This is website is hands down one of the most useful tools.

You want to file on the pan side of the dog. You'll have to redo some of the adjustments you've done for pan travel and level after doing this.

Yes agree what Sniper said.

I just cut the L off the spring tops with a pair of bolt cutters.
Everything else, MChewk nailed it.

I have just adjusted the pan tension, and put them in the water! They will catch beaver!

They definitely do not have an audible click they just drop over the bump on the dog. Once I can see all of the bump it’s good. I bend at the dog attachment to level the pan if it’s pretty far off but if it’s a tiny bit high I just leave it and it’ll still catch fine.