trap Qustion

Guest · Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:07 pm

Hello everyone just bought troyers S&S controller. I can't seem to get the see saw trap to re set itself. He says 3 quarters is same wieght as sparrow mine will trip with 1 but will not reset just wondering if any one had any idea's thanks for the help tom

Guest · Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:45 pm

Adjust the counter weight to take at lease 2 quarters if not 3. The trap needs more weight to reset itself.

Sparky · Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:05 pm

Also, make sure the lever arm is not binding in any way. When you set the drop for 3 quarters and remove them, the trap should slowly return to the counter weight side. Tighten the nut hand tight enough to move it back and forth. Move the counter weight back and forth until the lever arm returns to "set" with the trap empty. It's a little tricky as the set up is not exactly precision.

djmains · Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:48 am

One year I noticed starlings going into the trap and would come back out the same hole so I lowered the trap to find the mud wasp built a mud nest in the corner and the trap tried to reset it would drag on the mud nest and wouldn't reset hopefully yours is not scraping on the sides or font door good luck they work very well I catch 60 to 100 starlings every year hopefully I am making a difference in the population.

Emil Pampell-Tx · Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:11 pm

I had one for a while until the squirrels chewed it up. Before that happened, it quit working, I couldn't move it by hand. I took the cover off and I nearly fainted, there was a hugh red wasp nest in it. Fortunately, I did not get stung, but I sure got off that ladder that I was using in a hurry!

Different things can happen. If you haven't caught anything, and if the birds are around the trap, then check to see if something is wrong. Of course, they only use it during the nesting season.

Another idea that some people do, they reset it by hand, that way they can easily catch the sparrows. If the trap is set to catch sparrows, it may not reset, as I had that problem. Thats why some attach a string to it to reset it.

Sparky · Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:46 pm

I forgot to mention this. I was going to make one of these. Seems like it would work for fine tuning the balance beam.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... page21.htm

klcretired · Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:54 pm

hello tomk
Like some one had previously said , make sure that the Lever arm is not in a bind, sometimes you have to spread out the two little arms that hold the lever arm in place, sometimes they are squeezed to tight and won't let the lever move freely up & Down , also a little oil on the metal pins that stick out on ea side of the lever arm , that helps, then re-try your 3 quarters all the time while adjusting the counter weight. that shd do it for you.
Your martin friend,
Kenny

~Ray~Gingerich · Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:10 am

I think wind affects the trap sometimes. I drilled a 1/8th hole on the bottom under aluminum cage, if I find it in down position I just push it up with a piece of wire.

Dan Clodfelter · Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:49 am

Tom, I looked up your profile & couldnt find where you were from.I'm in a snow state & know that snow & ice does effect the trap .I hit the post a couple of times to get the snow to fall off the porch.Once I got my weight set right I love the trap.I have had mine up 1 year & keep a total count with orange crayon on the post. 65 starlings & I'm going to get another one as soon as I can. Dan Clodfelter