Rat chewed TC30 wires

[brewster]

A rat chewed the wires off of the temperature sending unit. My dealer has no connectors or info on size needed. I discovered the problem just as I was leaving my ranch, and had no tools handy. I did have a camera with me so here is a picture. The auto parts store nearest the tractor is 40 miles away, so I wanted to buy connectors and make up the repair wires before I drive back to my ranch. It won't be hard to kludge something up, but I'd like it to look nice. Does anyone know the size and type of connector?

Also, does anyone have a suggestion on the type of electical tape that should be used near exhaust system parts?

 

[RickB]

I could be wrong, but I think the temp sender is a one wire deal. Looks to me as if that is the air cleaner restriction indicator sender. Screws into the intake plenum. The temp sender is in the thermostat housing with the terminal pointing to the left of the tractor. Yank the connectors off the switch and take them to an auto parts store to match them up. Try female bullet connectors. Consider heat shrink tubing over tha splice and terminals.

 

[Rip]

It is amazing how much damage rats can do, and why they take a liking to certain wire insulation is a mystery. I've had more dealings with them in the past couple of years than in the previous several decades!

I probably spend over $50/yr on various traps and poisons and wiring repairs. Seems I no sooner eliminate one crop of rats than another shows up.

Open to new suggestions (other than a cat).

 

[tracdoc]

Rip,

Rodent chewing of electrical wires drove me crazy when we lived in CT. I guess in areas with cold winters, those critters have nothing better to do to amuse themselves. When we lived in AZ, they were not an issue. Now that we're back East, I have gotten prepared.

An old time New Englander recommended to me using mothballs strategically placed in/around what you want to protect. He recommended the "old fashioned" ones, made of pure naphthalene crystals, which simply evaporate over time, leaving no residue, and they are not corrosive, either. He said that the para-dichlorobenzene mothballs are somewhat corrosive to the surfaces they touch. Maybe the chlorine...

I simply toss some into the engine area of our motor scooters, lawn mowers, tractor, lawn furniture cushions, etc. before Fall cool weather and that does the trick. I've also put a handfull into a thin old sock or old hosiery, when you don't want loose mothballs around. You can pop the sock under the hood or wherever. That's good for equipment that you may be using intermittently over the Winter. A warm engine block attracts the critters, but the vapors of the mothballs will drive them away. Just make sure you use enough so the vapors are strong enough.

Walmart carries the naphthalene mothballs. Run about $3.50 for a box. Give 'em a try....

 

[higgy]

Man, by the looks of the metal housing around the wire that was one big rat /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif or was that a RaT /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Lucky he did not like the tast, he may have eaten the tractor.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I probably spend over $50/yr on various traps and poisons and wiring repairs. Seems I no sooner eliminate one crop of rats than another shows up.

Open to new suggestions (other than a cat). )</font>

Use some petroleum jelly (Vasoline) on the wires and then sprinkle on a heavy coverage of cayenne pepper. Rodents hate it. If you have an area where they like to hang out, dust it with the cayenne. Remember though, that pets, children and careless adults can get a dose of the pepper too if they aren't careful. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[brewster]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I tried to yank the connectors off with my gloved hand at the time, but it didn't work and I had no tools handy. I'm going back to my ranch tomorrow with an assortment of connectors.

I have a rat problem in a vehicle about once every three years or so. The last one chewed heater hoses. I may try the moth balls. (I once had a BMW come back from dealer service in Dallas with a rat's nest under the hood.)

Interesting that it might not be the temp sensor. The dealer's parts guy seemed to think it was, just like I did, but he may have been influenced by my assumption. In any case, I need to fix it. I've got a lot of tractor work to do next week.

 

[Rip]

A couple of years ago I put about about half dozen mothballs (not sure exactly what type, but they did ultimately totally evaporate) in pouches I made from an old stocking and twist ties in four to six places under the hood of tractor and several vehicles, all to no avail.

Perhaps the rodents were too well established when I did this, because they seemed to just ignore them. Finally set rat traps under the hood, but then had to remove them before starting up. Also had to track down several where the caught rat had run off with it for 30 feet or so before expiring.

They are geting started for another season again.

 

[thcri]

I thought Rat lived in the California area? What was he doing at your place and I really don't believe he would have been mean enough to chew up your wire?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry Rat, just had to get ya!!!


Murph

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

Don't know if this will help, but my in-laws live in Tucson and have had a real problem with rats packing their vehicles (one of which is an antique 1936 Oldsmobile) with mesquite pods and chewing the wires. What they ended up doing was to put lights under the vehicles and and they haven't had a problem with rats for over 5 years. Just a thought.