Don't laugh: I think I have a family of mice living in my FEL arm!

VaBeekeeper · Sep 17, 2017

rfc143 said:
I know mice like to find nice warm places to nest when fall nears, so usually I'm pretty on the ball to check the engine compartment, in front of the radiator; on top of the fuel tank etc. I'd done it not more than 3 weeks ago. Was mowing my trails and out the corner of my eye I see something on the right side of the engine. I look; couldn't figure out what it was; probably a leaf. Then two mice scurry from the engine compartment, up the FEL hoses, and into the FEL arm at the top pin!

I got rid of the nest in the engine compartment but need advice on the FEL arm. Is it welded shut all the way down except for the back end where the pin goes? Do I fill it with water, hoping to drive/scare them out? Then lift the FEL to drain the water? I really don't care if they find that a comfortable home, so long as no other damage is done. Ideas?

Get rid of them any way you can without harming the tractor. Mice will wreak havoc on tractors, causing no end of problems by shredding the wiring. Rodents' teeth constantly grow, so they purposely gnash to keep the teeth manageable size; they'll tear up the wires and transport them to whatever location they're building their nests, to become part of the nest fabric.

rfc143 · Sep 17, 2017

Thanks all for the valuable advice. I stuffed a ton of the sheets down the FEL arm...I don't think there's anything in there (except the mice). Also put some near the radiator and fuel tank. We'll monitor the situation.

Poopdeck Pappy · Sep 19, 2017

A few drops of pure peppermint oil down the tube would do the trick also. Mice hate the smell.

kwbretired · Sep 20, 2017

I have had good luck with mothballs keeping mic away.

Rara Avis · Sep 20, 2017

The best solution is a good herd of barn cats...they will eliminate your mice problems in all your out buildings and the surrounding area...

Here are a couple of the crew reenergizing before they continue their hunts...

Here is one of the day day shift checking in...

groundcover · Sep 20, 2017

Had some in the cab, chewed wires and created plenty of havoc. Went to Agway to get mothballs and they recommended mouse magic, time will tell !
Mouse Magic - Bonide

frugalangler · Sep 20, 2017

groundcover said:
Had some in the cab, chewed wires and created plenty of havoc. Went to Agway to get mothballs and they recommended mouse magic, time will tell !
Mouse Magic - Bonide

Peppermint and spearmint oil 4% total in corn cobs, how inventive!

stingray1 · Oct 8, 2017

Poopdeck Pappy said:
A few drops of pure peppermint oil down the tube would do the trick also. Mice hate the smell.

I agree, I use peppermint oil to keep the little bastards out of the ac ducts in my Corvette.

DieselBound · Oct 9, 2017

TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark said:
Dryer sheets. Whoda thunk?

I knew a guy who liked the smell so much he kept a few sheets under the front seats of his car. :confused2:

Had been picking up some small bags of rodent repellent (from TSC) and my wife ends up putting them inside the cars because she likes the smell! (actually, they're not bad) Anyway, I'm excited to hear about the efficacy of dryer sheets.