Wild River Traps makes expanded, weld on pans for some of the more popular Bobcat traps. These include the #3 and #4 long-springs, MB-550, Bridger #3, Duke #4 and CDR's. All of these pans are made to fit the trap exactly with no further modification. These pans are made of heavy duty 16 gauge steel. Welding is my preferred method, but the same steps can be taken, but using a drill bit and pop rivets to attach the Wild River Pan on top of the factory pan. No matter which way you decide to attach the pans I suggest at least 3 points of attachment,
This tutorial is for the MB-550
Step Zero - Order the correct pans for your traps! Find them here: http://www.wildrivertraps.com/products/mb-550-expanded-pans-dozen
Step 1: You will need an MB 550, a Vice Grips, and a Wild River Expanded Pan
Step 2: Depress the levers and get the pan on the outside of the jaws. This give you more room and is easier to work with.
Step 3: The expanded pan is cut out to fit over the hump where the dog hits the factory pan. Line this up and attach the pan with a vice grips. Once it is attached, make sure it looks square.
Step 4: Tack Welf a few spots on the outside of the pan. Once it is tacked, take the vice grips off and make sure the trap functions properly.
Step 5: after making sure it functions properly, finish welding the pan at your desired locations.
Step 6: Treat the trap how you treat the rest of your traps (Dip, Dye, Wax). If your using exposed sets there are some great ways to blend the pan in. The link below uses a glue and your choice of dressing (dirst, sand, corn cob grit) to make the trap pan as natural as possible for the bobcat to step on.
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4935574/1
Results you ask? Yeah they produce results!
Chris Morinville
The pans are very easy to put on the MB550. As Mike says, take the time to make sure that the pan is on perfectly (step 4 above) before final welding to make sure that the levers work as intended and that the pan fits correctly when the trap is fired.