storing kill springs in "set" position?

[Camdec]

Wondering if it matters if a person stores snares over the summer with the kill spring still set. Is it possible to weaken a spring by leaving it set?

Taking it one step further, what about conibears? I tend to store them with with the springs set (safety hooks latched) over the summer out of convenience. Am I compromising the springs by doing so?

[MOUNTAIN MICKEY]

A spring gets weak by "working" it not by sitting still.

[HunterDave]

I wish that I could get a definitive answer on this one as well. Not so much for snare kill springs but for my 330's.

I don't set my springs on my 330's until I use them but always end up with ones that don't catch beaver. I've been easing the springs on them because we always eased all springs in the Army due to the possibility of the springs weakening. We even took our ammo out of the magazines so as not to weaken the spring inside. Unless I can find something definitive that tells me not to do it, that's what I'll continue to do. Besides, if a spring is going to fail I want to know about it when I'm setting the trap for use and not be the cause for a bad catch. Just my opinion and nothing scientific about it.

[The Spruce]

Originally Posted by MOUNTAIN MICKEY

A spring gets weak by "working" it not by sitting still.

My background deals with a lot of metallurgy.

"working" of steel is anytime it is under load, in this case compression/tension.
Over time your springs will weaken if they are left in tension with the safeties on. The steel wants to go back to its natural relaxed state.

Timeline, I have no idea. I always relax all of the springs on my traps when I store them.

Hasn't everyone looked at old traps to purchase where the safeties were left on...the ones that you can set a 330 by hand?

Spruce

[HunterDave]

That's kind of my thinking. Sure, working the spring back and forth will definitely weaken the spring over time, just like the springs on a truck, but I'm thinking that you'd have to do it thousands of times for it to wear out the metal. I like your example about old 330's stored for long periods with the springs compressed. It makes sense to me that the metal will get used to being in that position and get weaker. I'm an ease the spring guy.

[Camdec]

Originally Posted by The Spruce

My background deals with a lot of metallurgy.

"working" of steel is anytime it is under load, in this case compression/tension.
Over time your springs will weaken if they are left in tension with the safeties on. The steel wants to go back to its natural relaxed state.

Timeline, I have no idea. I always relax all of the springs on my traps when I store them.

Hasn't everyone looked at old traps to purchase where the safeties were left on...the ones that you can set a 330 by hand?

Spruce

I was kind of hoping nobody would post anything like this. lol. In the back of my mind I was thinking I should release all the springs, but was hoping there would be a bunch of replies to the contrary. Just another project I guess. Thanks for the replies.

[parfleche]

I am of the opinion that a spring when left in the set position , WILL weaken with time. If left in the set position they will not get useless but they will fail to return to their full relaxed position.
I get springs made fairly often and with time I have noticed IF a spring goes to a 180 degree full open , that when left set will regress to app 175 degrees.
But I plan on having an answer in the near future for everybody !

[wolfcrazy]

Over the years I have done it both ways and haven’t noticed much if any weakening in the springs on killing traps or snare kill springs. But I did once buy cheap snare springs that after being set once didn’t have the same shape or jam. I guess for me I’m not to concerned with the rotating jaw traps but would release the kill springs.