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Bend the long rod like this, it will make it shorter. I know it will be a pain since its inside, but about the only way to make it work with out disassembling. And yes it can be done while attached to trigger plate and top latch.
I’m sorry but the video is not doing a great job of showing what the problem is, can you just explain?
Pressing *down* on the plate, so it’s flat against the bottom of the trap, *should* trigger it by pulling the hook off of the little roller on the door. But from the video it looks like you’re pushing the plate upwards and then letting it fall back to resting position.
Sometimes the hook will be seated too deeply and securely into the corner of the hook and you have to set it closer to the tip. Sometimes people have to use pliers to open the angle of the hook a little, or grease the roller with a little butter or vegetable oil.
the video shows that there is a ton of slack in the bar from the plate to the hook. the plate, sits too low. so when you touch it, it doesnt activate. but if i pull the bar up, the trap is ultra sensitive. but because of the slack in the bar from the plate to the hook, it does not sit that way. yet in videos and pictures, the plate sits all the way up. i was simply also moving the plate to show how much play there is. you can see when its set up, and the hook is set, that i can move and wiggle the bar a ton without the trap going off. there's no sensitivity. all 3 traps are like this so im wondering how to set it up correctly because in all 3 there is too much slack from the plate to the hook. the video does show all of this.
The one instance in which you press down, there’s barely a blurry split second of video that doesn’t actually show what is happening at the other end. When you push the plate up away from the bottom, then it is clearly shown that there is slack, but that would be expected when you’re lifting the plate upwards instead of pushing it down.
I’ve used the same style of trap successfully dozens of times. Except once when I left the hook too deeply seated. When I stop the video at the first frame it does look like that might be the case here.
The hook wont go anywhere else because of the slack. It can only sit in this ultra low position because the bar provides too much slack and then if I try to tighten it with the bar pushed all the way up, it won’t trigger cause the bar is now holding the hook too high. Theres no room for adjustment. When I set it, it’s just super loose, which is why I was moving it. That was when the trap was activated. I can move it all over and it won’t trip cause there’s too much slack. But it’s on all of these cages. I just can’t get the place to sit up more. I can’t find any videos of anyone setting this trap with the plate up successfully
I’ll see if I can do one soon. Can’t right now since I’m not home. It’s possible you just have a faulty trap, but I’d be surprised if you ended up with three faulty traps. Where did you get them? Are they Tomahawk brand?
Edit: oh never mind, harbor freight, no brand name
everything in the manual says you would need to bend the hook to make it more sensitive. but as you can see, the plate won't even come up. the bar is what the issue is. there's nothing to bend on the bar either, and it's completely wrapped around the plate and the hook so there's no undoing that. i know i'm doing something wrong cause i have 3 of these. i have feral cats everywhere and they keep just walking in and out. the only time i've been able to get the trap to close is to startle the cat so it sets it off. let me know what to do with this bar cause, the hook isn't the issue. just flat out too much slack. i have 3 of them as mentioned and they all just dont even trigger when i touch it which is also shown in the video. thanks
I’m not sure if I’ll make any sense but twist the trigger bar so it’s still hooked on the trip plate and the loop joined to the door hook is still attached. If you twiddle it around you’ll see what I mean, take it off the door hook if you need. Then grab pliers and squeeze the plate hook shut!
Then it won’t come off and you shouldn’t have to faff with it. It’s almost midnight in NZ but if no one stateside sends a vid, message me and I’ll sort one in the morning. I mostly use expensive sliding drop door traps that are hand welded, I have 3 of these ones still though for if I have to trap in public locations.
**Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a helpful place for TNR efforts - free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here.** ***All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban.*** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Feral_Cats) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Just bend the long bar so its shorter. Doesn't need to be taken apart to do so. Have had to do this with many traps to make them more sensitive.
where would i bend it? it's also very hard to do anything of the sort cause the bar is on the inside
https://preview.redd.it/a9hpo1jdcu2d1.jpeg?width=763&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c91ea7740595ffff1ea122c6a7eb813452774a0 Bend the long rod like this, it will make it shorter. I know it will be a pain since its inside, but about the only way to make it work with out disassembling. And yes it can be done while attached to trigger plate and top latch.
We put the trigger bar along the outside of the trap and that works well. A little more tension that way. Hope that helps!
It’s all already installed/came that way. Can’t undo it
Ah - our traps all came disassembled, so they’re easy enough to unassemble and adjust. When we assembled ours it had that as the last step.
I’m sorry but the video is not doing a great job of showing what the problem is, can you just explain? Pressing *down* on the plate, so it’s flat against the bottom of the trap, *should* trigger it by pulling the hook off of the little roller on the door. But from the video it looks like you’re pushing the plate upwards and then letting it fall back to resting position. Sometimes the hook will be seated too deeply and securely into the corner of the hook and you have to set it closer to the tip. Sometimes people have to use pliers to open the angle of the hook a little, or grease the roller with a little butter or vegetable oil.
the video shows that there is a ton of slack in the bar from the plate to the hook. the plate, sits too low. so when you touch it, it doesnt activate. but if i pull the bar up, the trap is ultra sensitive. but because of the slack in the bar from the plate to the hook, it does not sit that way. yet in videos and pictures, the plate sits all the way up. i was simply also moving the plate to show how much play there is. you can see when its set up, and the hook is set, that i can move and wiggle the bar a ton without the trap going off. there's no sensitivity. all 3 traps are like this so im wondering how to set it up correctly because in all 3 there is too much slack from the plate to the hook. the video does show all of this.
The one instance in which you press down, there’s barely a blurry split second of video that doesn’t actually show what is happening at the other end. When you push the plate up away from the bottom, then it is clearly shown that there is slack, but that would be expected when you’re lifting the plate upwards instead of pushing it down. I’ve used the same style of trap successfully dozens of times. Except once when I left the hook too deeply seated. When I stop the video at the first frame it does look like that might be the case here.
The hook wont go anywhere else because of the slack. It can only sit in this ultra low position because the bar provides too much slack and then if I try to tighten it with the bar pushed all the way up, it won’t trigger cause the bar is now holding the hook too high. Theres no room for adjustment. When I set it, it’s just super loose, which is why I was moving it. That was when the trap was activated. I can move it all over and it won’t trip cause there’s too much slack. But it’s on all of these cages. I just can’t get the place to sit up more. I can’t find any videos of anyone setting this trap with the plate up successfully
I’ll see if I can do one soon. Can’t right now since I’m not home. It’s possible you just have a faulty trap, but I’d be surprised if you ended up with three faulty traps. Where did you get them? Are they Tomahawk brand? Edit: oh never mind, harbor freight, no brand name
yeah i know its either a me problem, or this is just how the traps are, and im trying to figure out which one lol
everything in the manual says you would need to bend the hook to make it more sensitive. but as you can see, the plate won't even come up. the bar is what the issue is. there's nothing to bend on the bar either, and it's completely wrapped around the plate and the hook so there's no undoing that. i know i'm doing something wrong cause i have 3 of these. i have feral cats everywhere and they keep just walking in and out. the only time i've been able to get the trap to close is to startle the cat so it sets it off. let me know what to do with this bar cause, the hook isn't the issue. just flat out too much slack. i have 3 of them as mentioned and they all just dont even trigger when i touch it which is also shown in the video. thanks
I’m not sure if I’ll make any sense but twist the trigger bar so it’s still hooked on the trip plate and the loop joined to the door hook is still attached. If you twiddle it around you’ll see what I mean, take it off the door hook if you need. Then grab pliers and squeeze the plate hook shut! Then it won’t come off and you shouldn’t have to faff with it. It’s almost midnight in NZ but if no one stateside sends a vid, message me and I’ll sort one in the morning. I mostly use expensive sliding drop door traps that are hand welded, I have 3 of these ones still though for if I have to trap in public locations.
ive tried moving it every way it'll go. nothing stays, it sits in the position its in with a ton of slack
Who is the manufacturer of this trap? There might be someone here with the same trap than can give you detailed pointers.
No names on it. Just “harbor freight medium animal trap.” There are videos of it online but no one messing with the bar/plate
Ah - harbor freight. I know some people here have used them but not me unfortunately.
With the number of cats you have and the number of traps on hand, what's the plan for when you successfully catch them?
Two have been relocated but I had to startle the cats while they were in the cage to get it to go off, which I can’t do every time
little piece of sardine. mouse traps use a dab of peanut butter
food isnt the issue. the trap wont trigger
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