***UPDATE*** Mice ate my light wiring, ques on the wire connectors

[tstex]

Thanks Wrangler.

Wow, that’s a lot of diff wiring for the dune buggy. If mice got in there, they’d have a field day. Where do you typically drive her? Is that a 3-4 or 5 gear std?

I rebuilt a 1951 John Deere MT Tractor from 2002-2006. Made the entire wiring harness myself which was very, very simple. Headlights, generator, distributor, starter, cut-out- relay & a small red taillight. I think it was all 12ga. Talk about being built like a tank. The old girl w 2 cylinders could really “lug-down”.

 

[WranglerX]

Thanks Wrangler.

Wow, that’s a lot of diff wiring for the dune buggy. If mice got in there, they’d have a field day. Where do you typically drive her? Is that a 3-4 or 5 gear std?

I rebuilt a 1951 John Deere MT Tractor from 2002-2006. Made the entire wiring harness myself which was very, very simple. Headlights, generator, distributor, starter, cut-out- relay & a small red taillight. I think it was all 12ga. Talk about being built like a tank. The old girl w 2 cylinders could really “lug-down”.

ITs a full street legal wiring including hi-low beam head lights, turn signals and park lights, full engine instruments, horn and accessory plug for cell phone charger.... ITs got a 2084cc engine with dual weber 44IDF's ands it estimated at 100-110 HP and close ratio 2nd-3rd gear set 4 speed transaxle (almost wish it was a 5 speed) car weighs in at approximate 1450 pounds...

While we are at it.... Here is another that was "built" from ground up with "parts" (long story here about gathering parts) .... IT was built as strictly a auto cross racer, had a 2184cc engine that on the dyno produced 120HP at the wheels.... But I retired from racing and car has been sold.... Wiring for this one was pretty much ignition system and charging system... Not even street legal...

 

[tstex]

All,

I was finally able to remove the .250 terminals from the plastic housing. Things are all starting to make a lot more sense.

Going to prob buy a 25 pack of .250 female uninsulated terminals. I only need 6 but you never know when mouseville will stop by again...however, I am going to spray mint-oil in all of my gas/diesel powered machines to be proactive. I hope to have the "lights back on" around this thursday evening.

I sure do appreciate everyone's help and suggestions, and stories...the guy w the video of the mouse dropping into the bucket made the rest of all this trouble somewhat palatable....thanks again, tstex

 

[ETpilot]

Glad you are moving along with this project. That housing holds male terminals on one side and female terminals on the other. You can easily eliminate it and just use male and female terminals. In that case you buy insulated terminals. Use tape to hold the three together.

I would buy some male and female terminals. Keep them for future use.

 

[tstex]

Glad you are moving along with this project. That housing holds male terminals on one side and female terminals on the other. You can easily eliminate it and just use male and female terminals. In that case you buy insulated terminals. Use tape to hold the three together.

I would buy some male and female terminals. Keep them for future use.

Thanks ET. Since I was able to remove the uninsulated female terminals, I will go ahead and use the plastic connectors. The male side of the connectors were not damaged by the mice. I'll crimp the 14ga wiring into the new terminals on the harness side, slide them back into the plastic connector, then connect to the headlights and I should be back in business...I am going to wrap all of the wiring w extra tape and spray w mint...

 

[WranglerX]

Glad you are moving along with this project. That housing holds male terminals on one side and female terminals on the other. You can easily eliminate it and just use male and female terminals. In that case you buy insulated terminals. Use tape to hold the three together.

I would buy some male and female terminals. Keep them for future use.

Another option may be bullet connectors who are fully insulated.... Needs no taping and they are a male/female sort of connection.

 

[ETpilot]

Good point. I use those in situations where I might connect and disconnect periodically.

 

[tstex]

Another option may be bullet connectors who are fully insulated.... Needs no taping and they are a male/female sort of connection.View attachment 747512

Thanks Wrangler…Those look pretty robust. Having 8-10 sets of those bullet connectors, don’t think you could go wrong..

 

[tstex]

Back in business. Thank you to everyone for your help & experience. I learned about the micro aspects of lighting on 12V battery & tractor.

i also left a bag of moth balls in the hood. The “tomcat” bait that was wired in this time was half eaten. The other/first one was completely removed.

Thanks again guys !!

Best,
tstex

 

[Alan W.]

As others have said female cats are the answer.
I fought mice in my tractor shed until my daughter in law wanted a cat so I ended up with two fixed girls.
The first weeks were terrible. The whole area smelled of decaying carcasses. Mine just kill no eat. Havent saw the first sign of mice since. Of course there was collateral damage, the bird population took a hit.