Rat Bas*&rds! Check your Genset!

[Forester Fred]

Last fall I found that mice had managed to get into the air cleaner housing on the engine of my rig and built a nest. They also built a nest inside the top of my Genset. Cleaned both nests out and proceeded on as normal.

Today I decided it was time to change the oil on my Genset. When I opened up the front cover I took a good look at all the parts and pieces and noticed something strange....grey fluffy stuff down underneath the area behind the On/Off switch. Started digging and found a ball of mouse fluff about the size of a softball that the little monsters managed to stuff in there for a nest. I'm just glad I found it before I fired up the Genset and set it all on fire. Moral of the story - make sure you check your generators for unwanted freeloaders living inside the housing!

If you look closely you can just about see some fluffy grey stuff behind the switch.



And I start digging.



This is what came out of that little space.

[Steeljag]

They sure had it packed in there ! We have a couple of cats that spend a lot of time, and like laying under our RV, so maybe that's a good thing !

Glad you found it before it became a issue !

[Bikersarge]

Mice will mess everything up, I put downy dryer sheets everywhere.

[Forester Fred]

Originally Posted by Bikersarge

Mice will mess everything up, I put downy dryer sheets everywhere.

I'm thinking glue traps. They worked out real well for my when I put them under the hood...caught 12 of the little monsters back in the fall. I also stuff steel wool into the opening of my air cleaner. They won't chew through it so at least I know they're not getting back in there. I just have to remember to take the steel wool out before I start the motor up.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Forester Fred

I'm thinking glue traps. They worked out real well for my when I put them under the hood...caught 12 of the little monsters back in the fall. I also stuff steel wool into the opening of my air cleaner. They won't chew through it so at least I know they're not getting back in there. I just have to remember to take the steel wool out before I start the motor up.

The problem with putting steel wool in the air cleaner is that you will have fragments of steel wool in the tube that could be sucked through the filter material and into your engine. I would find another way to close it off.

[jimmoore13]

I've had good luck with this rodent repellent. It's non-toxic, so you don't need to worry about kids or pets getting into it. It also smells pretty good...somewhat like a cedar closet. I stash them in several locations in my PUP and just leave them there. I presume from the "Onan" cover that your genset is in a dedicated cubby in your RV. If so, a couple of these in the cubby, but not in the Onan cabinet, may be just what the doctor ordered.
https://www.amazon.com/Earthkind-Bot...dent+repellent

Thanks for the heads up. I keep my 2K portable inverter generator in my storage shed. I'll be more vigilant about checking the cabinet before using it.

[TonyShope]

I am a farm boy, a few years ago on our combine we forgot to put moth balls in the engine cavity and cab. It cost us $28,000 in electronics. Always lay moth balls in and around your unit when not in use. Yes they stink. Yes it takes a couple days of AC running and windows open to get rid of stink. Many RV's and 5vers cost close to what our $375K combine costs. Use moth balls always and forever along with mouse bait inside.

[Forester Fred]

I use mothballs on my boat during the winter. I stole a bunch of my wife's ankle high nylon stockings and dumped a dozen moth balls into each one, tied the end in a knot then put them throughout the boat. This has seemed to help with the boat. I'm going to have to rethink anti-mouse action for the RV. Anyone know the website address for the Acme company? All their stuff works so well for Wily Coyote!

[TitanMike]

You need to watch out for squirrels too. Parked my van at work one day and when I went to start it and go home the engine had a bad miss.

Next day was Saturday so I figured I'd just do some long put off maintenance and treat the engine to new plug wires and spark plugs.

Took the engine cover off and found that squirrels had chewed off the wires to three injectors on the V-8. They were in their way as they tried to build a nest under the intake plenum.

The rest of the day was used up in carefully soldering new wire to the injector connectors and splicing to the harness. Dang they have sharp teeth. Looked like someone had worked over the wires with a set of scissors.

[commishh]

I have heard the insulation used to make electrical wires is actually made from soybeans, hence the attraction of rodents, rats, mice and even tree rats (squirrels). My neighbor actually feeds squirrels ears of corn. I hate them because they are all so destructive. Good luck keeping them out of your stuff.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Forester Fred

I use mothballs on my boat during the winter. I stole a bunch of my wife's ankle high nylon stockings and dumped a dozen moth balls into each one, tied the end in a knot then put them throughout the boat. This has seemed to help with the boat. I'm going to have to rethink anti-mouse action for the RV. Anyone know the website address for the Acme company? All their stuff works so well for Wily Coyote!

ACME Company, Warner Bros Blvd, Merrie Melodies, LooneyTunes. I think they went out of business because Wile E. Coyote was their only customer.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index....nes-acme-name/

The ORIGINAL Illustrated Catalog Of ACME Products http://acme.com/catalog/acme.html

[CHICKDOE]

squirrels made a nest and were storing nuts in the air filter box of our Toyota land cruiser. amazing.


we put mouse mouse repellant from home depot (pine oil scent) in the trailer when in storage. it seems to work. we live in the forest and there are critters everywhere!

[Retired JSO]

I'm glad we don't have that problem. We may get a bird nest here in sunny Florida but no rodent problems even though we have nutria, rats and mice. Squirrels are plentiful too but the no freeze winters have allowed them to stay in the wild too.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Forester Fred

I'm thinking glue traps. They worked out real well for my when I put them under the hood...caught 12 of the little monsters back in the fall. I also stuff steel wool into the opening of my air cleaner. They won't chew through it so at least I know they're not getting back in there. I just have to remember to take the steel wool out before I start the motor up.

Maybe a good place for a REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT TAG ???

[Wolverine 1945]

I have had mice in the North woods build nest right next to a pile of Mothballs,,,
On top of a Propane Tank !!!

[TitanMike]

Funny thing, ever since this cat "adopted" us, our rodent problem has gone away. Cat is twice the size of our Shih Tsu but they're best buddies. My old TT sat on a pad in my back yard when we were not on the road and in all those years, not a single mouse.

"Kitty" weighs in around 22# and "pup" only 11#.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Is that a Cat, or a Lion ???

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Jeff_and_Abby

Is that a Cat, or a Lion ???

It's a Maine Coon that when stretched out measures just under 4'. (toe tip to toe tip).

[Wolverine 1945]

Cute Pup !!!
Looks a lot like our 13 & 1/2 year old Lhasa Apso who has gone blind !!!