Mouse story

Wirespokes · 10-04-2012, 07:28 PM

Hadn't ridden the G/S in a while before today - so checked it over, topped up the battery, aired the tires, brushed off the new patina, warmed her up and off I went. About thirty miles up the highway there was a brown furry thing scuttling around the idiot lights and over the speedo!!!

What the hell!!!???

I watched in amazement (and missed my turnoff as a result) as it tried to tight wire rope its way to somewhere else and launched to the highway.

My thought was it came from the mouse hotel, worked its way along under the tank, then up onto the instrument panel. The theory proved correct a little while later after removing the air filter to find the nest - and four little ones as well!

Stuffed the nest material in a pop can along with them (doubt they'll last long, but who knows?) and cleaned out the mess. Hard to believe the bike ran normally with all that garbage in there!

So now I'm trying to figure out the best way to prevent a recurrence - especially since checking the other bikes in the shed, finding three more mouse nests. All those filters shot to hell!!!!

Any suggestions how to prevent this in the future? Zip tie some screen over the intake snorkels? I've heard moth balls works. What have you done that worked?

wirewrkr · 10-04-2012, 07:44 PM

1/4' screen over the snorkels. doesn't impede as much airflow as tighter screen will.
Make kind of a convex shape for even less obstruction.

Bill Harris · 10-04-2012, 10:21 PM

Yeah, 1/4" hardware cloth over the snorks. A mouse has a flexible skeleton and can squeeze thru incredibly tight spaces. And they are very persistent-- I've been fighting an invasion for 4-5 years in my house.

Good luck. You'll need it with these successful vermin.

chollo9 · 10-04-2012, 10:32 PM

Moth balls don't keep them out of my shop drawers, though they do keep the rust down.

R100LT · 10-04-2012, 10:42 PM

Get a Cat ???

trailwing · 10-04-2012, 10:49 PM

I had a mouse build a nest in my air box once. Took me hours to figure out why it wouldn't start.

boxerboy81 · 10-04-2012, 11:09 PM

I think I'd be looking at the cars too if there were any in there. Last thing you'd want is a dead mouse in the aircon! Phew.

tete · 10-04-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R100LT

Get a Cat ???

Stick a cat in your airbox? I like it!

ozmoses · 10-05-2012, 03:22 AM

They do seem to prefer the flat filters!

I'm wondering why?

Given all of the other nesting...opportunities available in my garage, what is so appealing about the filter of a cold hunk of metal sitting motionless over the winter?

One year, there was an affinity for the bell housing of my F-150; two clutches in as many months!

Not quite as cute as Beverly Cleary portrayed them.

Thus far, the 1/4" has repelled them; also effective against flying squirrels invading the attic!

Uncle Pollo · 10-05-2012, 04:31 AM

Get a cat converter.

lake_harley · 10-05-2012, 05:56 AM

I've heard dryer sheets will keep them away. You know, the little sheets you, er...um, your wife puts in the dryer to make your undies soft? Maybe mice can't stand a fresh scent? Just tuck a few in different places on the bike. Had a customer/friend tell me about his car being rodent free after using some while storing a car in an area where they would have been expected to be a problem. I've got them in a 944 Porsche that's "waiting" for me to work on it. Hope it works.

Lynn

senatorperkins · 10-05-2012, 07:03 AM

last time I changed my airfilter I found a cup of dog food.. no evidence of mice. your guess is as good as mine.

Cordless · 10-05-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senatorperkins

last time I changed my airfilter I found a cup of dog food.. no evidence of mice. your guess is as good as mine.

Probably food squirrelled away for the winter. Check other places too. Probably more than one cache around.

fastdadio · 10-05-2012, 07:13 AM

This subject was discussed a while back in the garage. Here's a linky, hope it works.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810145

And this:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/easterly110.html

skipn · 10-05-2012, 07:17 AM

I'll be making a 1/4 in. screen for the R75 before winter storage. I've had to make one for all my FJR1300s (and some for my buddies who ride/winter store the same bike) since they seem to love the airbox.

My garage used to look like a mine field with traps and poison around the bikes until I found where they were getting in, and then living in the bikes. No problems after installing the screens.

10-04-2012, 07:28 PM	#1
Wirespokes ^OP Beemerholics Anonymous Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Jackson's Bottom Oregon Oddometer: 7,354	Mouse story Hadn't ridden the G/S in a while before today - so checked it over, topped up the battery, aired the tires, brushed off the new patina, warmed her up and off I went. About thirty miles up the highway there was a brown furry thing scuttling around the idiot lights and over the speedo!!! What the hell!!!??? I watched in amazement (and missed my turnoff as a result) as it tried to tight wire rope its way to somewhere else and launched to the highway. My thought was it came from the mouse hotel, worked its way along under the tank, then up onto the instrument panel. The theory proved correct a little while later after removing the air filter to find the nest - and four little ones as well! Stuffed the nest material in a pop can along with them (doubt they'll last long, but who knows?) and cleaned out the mess. Hard to believe the bike ran normally with all that garbage in there! So now I'm trying to figure out the best way to prevent a recurrence - especially since checking the other bikes in the shed, finding three more mouse nests. All those filters shot to hell!!!! Any suggestions how to prevent this in the future? Zip tie some screen over the intake snorkels? I've heard moth balls works. What have you done that worked? __________________ Wanted: Dead, smashed, crashed or trashed gauges BMW GAUGE REPAIRS - TACHSPEEDOCLOCKVOLT METER PODs & LIGHT BOARD*

10-04-2012, 07:44 PM	#2
wirewrkr the thread-killer Joined: May 2008 Location: HIGH desert Oddometer: 4,297	1/4' screen over the snorkels. doesn't impede as much airflow as tighter screen will. Make kind of a convex shape for even less obstruction. __________________ www.wirewerkes.com KILL YOUR TELEVISION !!!!

10-04-2012, 10:21 PM	#3
Bill Harris Confirmed Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2008 Location: backwoods Alabama Oddometer: 3,871	Yeah, 1/4" hardware cloth over the snorks. A mouse has a flexible skeleton and can squeeze thru incredibly tight spaces. And they are very persistent-- I've been fighting an invasion for 4-5 years in my house. Good luck. You'll need it with these successful vermin. __________________ '73 R60/5 Toaster

10-04-2012, 10:32 PM	#4
chollo9 Screwed the Pooch Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Silk Hope, NC Oddometer: 496	Moth balls Moth balls don't keep them out of my shop drawers, though they do keep the rust down. __________________ If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough When you get knocked down you gotta get back up, I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer but I know enough, to know, If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

10-04-2012, 10:42 PM	#5
R100LT Chasing 11 Joined: Jan 2012 Location: Nannup Western Australia Oddometer: 336	Get a Cat ??? __________________ Putting the " Luxury " into the "LT"

10-04-2012, 10:49 PM	#6
trailwing Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Oddometer: 204	I had a mouse build a nest in my air box once. Took me hours to figure out why it wouldn't start. __________________ '72 Honda Mini Trail

10-04-2012, 11:09 PM	#7
boxerboy81 Stay Horizontal Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Oz, Australia Oddometer: 1,600	I think I'd be looking at the cars too if there were any in there. Last thing you'd want is a dead mouse in the aircon! Phew. __________________ R100RS Gallery, over 800 pictures...

10-05-2012, 03:22 AM	#9
ozmoses Ride On Joined: Jul 2009 Location: USA Oddometer: 1,047	They do seem to prefer the flat filters! I'm wondering why? Given all of the other nesting...opportunities available in my garage, what is so appealing about the filter of a cold hunk of metal sitting motionless over the winter? One year, there was an affinity for the bell housing of my F-150; two clutches in as many months! Not quite as cute as Beverly Cleary portrayed them. Thus far, the 1/4" has repelled them; also effective against flying squirrels invading the attic! __________________ Opinions are like internet connections- everybody has one.

10-05-2012, 04:31 AM	#10
Uncle Pollo Von Hochstaden's son Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Albuquerque, Neue Messico Oddometer: 44,969	Get a cat converter. __________________ mikuni vm32-33 both sides :\ 5000 feet altitude/ 140 main \ 159 02 needle jet\ 6F4 needle in the middle setting\ 0.5 air jet\ pilot 25/3.0 slide 35 mpg around town riding like a asno

10-05-2012, 05:56 AM	#11
lake_harley Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Uniontown, MO Oddometer: 614	I've heard dryer sheets will keep them away. You know, the little sheets you, er...um, your wife puts in the dryer to make your undies soft? Maybe mice can't stand a fresh scent? Just tuck a few in different places on the bike. Had a customer/friend tell me about his car being rodent free after using some while storing a car in an area where they would have been expected to be a problem. I've got them in a 944 Porsche that's "waiting" for me to work on it. Hope it works. Lynn __________________ IBA Member #49541

10-05-2012, 07:03 AM	#12
senatorperkins Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Oddometer: 31	last time I changed my airfilter I found a cup of dog food.. no evidence of mice. your guess is as good as mine.

10-05-2012, 07:13 AM	#14
fastdadio Still gettin faster Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Pinckney Mi. Oddometer: 943	try this. This subject was discussed a while back in the garage. Here's a linky, hope it works. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810145 And this: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/easterly110.html

10-05-2012, 07:17 AM	#15
skipn Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2005 Location: NE Missouri Oddometer: 106	I'll be making a 1/4 in. screen for the R75 before winter storage. I've had to make one for all my FJR1300s (and some for my buddies who ride/winter store the same bike) since they seem to love the airbox. My garage used to look like a mine field with traps and poison around the bikes until I found where they were getting in, and then living in the bikes. No problems after installing the screens. skipn screwed with this post 10-05-2012 at 12:39 PM

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