Havahart 1079 Live Animal Trap Not Locking Closed After Being Triggered

This video display a problem that I experienced using this Havahart 1079 Live /animal Trap; the trap can be set and will trigger when the inner plate is stepped on by an animal. When the door closes shut there is a metal rod in front of the door that is supposed to move forward and engage with a latch which is on top of the trap. The issue with my trap is that this metal rod is moving only part of the distance and thus is not engaging with the top latch. This problem results in the door not being locked closed. II've today contacted Havahart thru their website and given them a description of this problem. I purchased this trap several years ago and believe that before today had never used it.

[@chucktyrrell2115]

The little piece you called a handle is a spring. Turn it around so it presses against the door and the bracket with the 2 slots. You can look at pictures online if you need to see it.

[@crystals777]

Thanks and also thanks to wolfusa2002. I'd not needed to use this trap after I posted this video and I put it back into its' box. This morning 7/20/18 I decided to do the recommended "fix" you both mentioned. I had to use a large pair of adjustable pliers to close the spring enough to start it into the two slots and then I tapped it down so it's held firm into the two slots. And yes my trap had this spring installed incorrectly. Too bad the manufacturer hadn't responded to my e-mail. Thank you both.

[@blogography]

THANK YOU!!! I was going crazy because the "handle" came off the first time I was setting the trap. I didn't care about a "handle" so I was attempting to trap without it. Then I saw your response. Once I figured out how to use a wide-grip pair of pliers to get the clip installed, the trap is working as intended. I just hope the terrified kitten I'm trying to save isn't so terrified at having been trapped twice (only to escape) that he won't go in the trap again!

[@Sagir32]

I didn't get involved in my trap until my hubs was having issues. He is the electrical engineer who can't figure out anything mechanical. The curved shape that slides into the slots needs to face the other way if yours ways purchased inserted wrong like ours was. I turned that around as that us what pushes the slot forward to lock it. I also had to use some pliers and close the slots better around the bottom bars. Mine still doesn't slide completely into the lock slot, but I'm still working on it. It does lock it enough to trap the ferals and I just slide it into the notch when I take them to the vet for trap, neuter, return.

[@RIGrammaP]

picture please

[@wolfusa2002]

You need to flip the locking mechanism so the metal thing would face the other side

[@RIGrammaP]

picture please

[@crystals777]

After I posted this video I put this trap aside and back in its' box hoping that Havahart would contact me and provide me some assistance in correcting the locking problem. It's been at least several weeks and it's apparent that they just don't care about me as their customer. After thinking about how the locking rod and plate should operate I discovered the source of the problem and it was an easy fix to modify this trap. I'd rather not yet disclose how I repaired my trap but I know for a fact that it's working properly because I repeatedly tested it after doing the "mod."

[@troller4jesus]

any updates on this? I just ordered one and I'm hoping it was fixed. Otherwise I could try modding it. Do you have to cut any parts to fix it?

[@crystals777]

Thank you for watching this; I don't believe that the company which made this ever contacted me so I could describe what I did to modify their new trap. Unfortunately I now can't recall what I did to correct this issue but can only recommend that you try setting and triggering this trap several times before you use it. It's possible that they preferred not to contact me and it's also possible that my new trap was manufactured incorrectly -- perhaps this company didn't want to acknowledge that these traps had a design flaw and they may have since addressed this issue. I do know that after I modified my new trap it latched closed properly the way it was likely designed to operate.

[@billwilliam1001]

Same problem here. Brand new trap didn't lock! Animal escaped!! Piece of crap trap

[@bobbyjuice3935]

Horrible design, the old havaheart with two doors was the best design