Pressure washer - Mouse -Fire

DaveNH · Aug 19, 2001

I'm try to locate a thread I read on one of the boards regarding a certain Briggs & Stratton engine.
I received a power washer as a gift, used it once and then stored it in the shed. Yesterday I went to use it and after about 10 minutes, "What's that smell?" /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Looked over to the washer and it was smoking.
A small flame had started near the throttle assemble./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
I used the washer to put the fire out and discovered
that a mouse had built a nest inside the engine cover directly
over the cylinder. Fortunately there were no babies inside the nest.
I barely remember a thread about this and some one suggest or had a way to stop them. ANy one remember?

We're all in this together! (3)
Retired Yuppie Tractor Owner

TerryinMD · Aug 19, 2001

Mice love to build their nests in cozy spots. I had one build a nest in my TroyBuilt tiller a few years back. The tiller was stored in my garden shed. Pulled the tiller out, turned on the key, the starter seemed to have a bit of a hard time. Looked over the tiller and low and behold.... mouse nest and mouse parts all over the flywheel. Further examination... chewed up some of the wiring. &*()@@##$$ mice.

Two suggestions: Store the equipment in a mouse free area - lol. Get some good mouser cats.

Bill_Ryan · Aug 19, 2001

I'd be interested as well.....
Mice have been making house on top of my rototiller engine. Actually chewed thru the spark plug cable once.
The nests do smell bad when they start to burn from engine heat (never forget that smell - ugh).

Bill

Bill_Ryan · Aug 19, 2001

Terry,

Same thing happened to me (we posted reply at the same time). Mice seem to like those TroyBuilt engine "housings"

Mine was also kept in a shed (dirt floor)...easy for mice to get at it. Mower kept in the garage and no problems with it. No room for rototiller there tho.

Bill

TerryinMD · Aug 19, 2001

The garden shed has a wooden floor and just harbors the little critters. We keep straw and other garden supplies in the shed to keep them out of the weather (it's job)

We now store the tiller in the basement of the house. More effective.

The varments will do what they please. No matter what prevention you take, you will still have the problem. Maybe somewhat reduced. I would have to say, cats and probably poison bait traps (the worst solution) are the most effective.

It's part of living in the country. If the insects, mice, moles, voles, groundhogs, deer, coyotes, etc., were not here to cause us fits, country living would not be much fun.

Terry

Just thought of another mouse issue. The mouse droppings may be disease ridden. I cannot remember the specific disease name, but it is not very nice. So, one must be careful when cleaning up the droppings. If anyone can remember the name of the disease, please post.

Edited by terryinmd on 08/19/01 09:45 AM (server time).

DocHeb · Aug 19, 2001

Mouse feces are the source for Hantavirus. See eMedicine Hantavirus. This is pretty technical reading but will give you some background.

ERNIEB · Aug 19, 2001

I use the plain old Victor mouse and rat traps. Keep a couple set in the shed most of the time. I had a rat that was giving me fits for a while. He would gather up things from all over the shed, and pile up the stuff in corners or behind things/w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif Made a big mess, and managed to avoid the traps for quite a while. His luck finally ran out/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Ernie

jimmoore · Aug 19, 2001

I have trouble with "dirt daubbers" building nests inside my 5 hp Briggs on my tiller. I cranked it the other day and what a terrible racket, then dust started flying out. A daubber had built a mud nest between the flywheel fins and the housing, The finned flywheel soon ground it up and spit it out. Also have little leaf cutter bees that will build a nest in any open hole they find. I left my grill unhooked from the tank about a month and when I went to hook it back up the inlet to the regulator was plugged with rolled up leaves and mud. Even the unused bolt holes on the tractor get plugged up.

jim

Bird · Aug 19, 2001

Jim, since I now spray diazinon in my shop a couple of times a year, the mud daubers are not as bad as they were in years past, but they're still a danged nuisance. I don't dare leave any hose without capping or plugging the ends. They even built nests on the throttle linkage on my pickup truck./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Bird

JonE · Aug 20, 2001

The cats are a good idea. I've also heard that mice don't like moth balls. But then I'm sure you won't either after they come shooting out of the engine after you forgot to take them out.