Mouse Tale

Sedgewood · Oct 1, 2003

When cleaning the screen no longer keeps the engine temperature in check it's time to clean the cooler. I took the side cover off the Deutz the other day to flush it out and found the plenum neatly filled with a cozy thistledown lined mouse nest. And mouse parts in the fan duct (poor critter must have paniced when I fired up the engine and ran through the fan /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ). I have the cooler fan ducted out to the rear of the engine housing and a window screen taped over the opening so the only mouse entrance was through the slitted rubber fan belt gasket. Now what? I can't plug up the fan belt slit. Do a plenum check at each startup (maybe put a little window in the cover)? Store the tractor in a mouseproof baggy? Put mothballs in the plenum?

Then there's the broken mower blade tossed through the tire sidewall. Fifteen minutes before EldoNixon is due in for a demo no less! Will the fun never cease? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Sedgewood

MossRoad · Oct 1, 2003

Then there's the broken mower blade tossed through the tire sidewall. Fifteen minutes before EldoNixon is due in for a demo no less! Will the fun never cease? 

AAArrrggghhh!!! Hang in there, dude! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bob999 · Oct 1, 2003

I have the cooler fan ducted out to the rear of the engine housing and a window screen taped over the opening so the only mouse entrance was through the slitted rubber fan belt gasket. 

I would be interested in seeing a picture of this mod.

jfh230 · Oct 1, 2003

Store the tractor in a mouseproof baggy? 

You could just get a CAT and park it next to the PT /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Any excuse for a new toy.

Jack

EldoNixon · Oct 1, 2003

Well despite the troubles, Sedgewood was the most gracious of hosts and informative ambassador for the world of power-trac. And I can assure you that he got little done in correcting the problem because he spent the afternoon showing me the PT and all of the projects that he has accomplished. He is quite the gentleman. He's epitomizes the best of what is here on TBN--people who go out of their way to help each other not only find the right machine for their needs as well as keep them going.
Thanks again, John.
Except, of course, from my wife as my tractor fever is even worse now.

EquipJunkie · Oct 1, 2003

Ditto EldoNixon's comments above about people who frequent this web site. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

smartguyz · Oct 1, 2003

( ...found the plenum neatly filled with a cozy thistledown lined mouse nest. ... Now what? I can't plug up the fan belt slit. Do a plenum check at each startup (maybe put a little window in the cover)? Store the tractor in a mouseproof baggy? Put mothballs in the plenum? ...Sedgewood )

Sedgewood, you have the most amazing posts. I have a similar dilemma - I park my beloved PT425 in the basement, and there are a few field mice and *frogs* that inhabit said basement. So far, I've placed traps around the PT, and have been successful at catching them before PT infestation occurs, and for the frogs, I try and keep things dry down there. I also installed an ultrasonic repeller (tuned for small rodents) that seems to be helping. You might try that.

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sedgewood · Oct 1, 2003

Bob999 I would be interested in seeing a picture of this mod. 

The fan duct. It turns out a 5 gal compound bucket is a perfect fit over the outer/flexible part of the fan housing gasket. I just cut the top 2 inches or so (to just below the 3rd ring) off the top of a bucket and slipped it over the flexible gasket and up against the thick part of the gasket. Closing the hood holds it on.

BTW, for you non 1845 owners, that's one of two mouse entrances you see where the fan belt disappears through the slitted rubber gasket. The mousenest plenum is the ribbed sheetmetal piece to the left. The fan sucks cooling air in the duct, through the alternator (mounted in the fan hub) and blows it into the plenum where it is directed out the top through a horizontally mounted oil cooler.

Sedgewood

Sedgewood · Oct 1, 2003

EldoNixon: Except, of course, from my wife as my tractor fever is even worse now. 

Once she gets in a few laps around the estate you won't be able to get it away from her - until you get her one of her own for her birthday. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Sedgewood

Sedgewood · Oct 1, 2003

smartguyz: and for the frogs, I try and keep things dry down there. I also installed an ultrasonic repeller (tuned for small rodents) that seems to be helping. You might try that.


FROGS!? No frognest in my plenum (maybe the mice keep them out). BTW, the mice also nest in the tunnel and under the floorboards. Jump on and fire up PT and the critters scatter in all directions. This thing's got way too many cozy nest sites. Do they make battery operated ultrasonic repellers - the nearest outlet is a good 500 feet from the tractorport.

Attachment shows plenum interior with the back of alternator showing at right end and the bottom of the cooler across the top.

Sedgewood

frogs... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif