MICE!

[Konrad]

Just had the 25K maintenance done on my '06 GL1800 Roadsmith trike. The mechanic saved the old air filter to show me that mice had chewed up about half of it! I keep the trike in my attached garage and I suspect those cute little critters did the damage last winter as I have been riding almost every day during the summer. The belly pan is NOT going to keep them out. Other than keeping a couple of hungry cats and baited mouse traps in the garage does anyone know of a good deterrent?

 

[rhino 2]

Just had the 25K maintenance done on my '06 GL1800 Roadsmith trike. The mechanic saved the old air filter to show me that mice had chewed up about half of it! I keep the trike in my attached garage and I suspect those cute little critters did the damage last winter as I have been riding almost every day during the summer. The belly pan is NOT going to keep them out. Other than keeping a couple of hungry cats and baited mouse traps in the garage does anyone know of a good deterrent?

I keep my snowmobiles, and ATV's in a poll barn [dirt floor] I just sprinkle mothball's around, Believe me nothing works better.

 

[Bruce]

thumbs up on the moth balls, I've used them for years. I also spray WD-40 on rags and stuff them in each exhaust pipe

 

[americanbadass]

thumbs up on the moth balls, I've used them for years.

:Shrug:This being stated-how does one go about holding the little moths legs apart to collect the balls?:Shrug:

 

[wimoonshiner]

We use Bounce Fabric Softner sheets all over. And I also put steel wool in my exhaust pipes, mice don't like to touch steel wool with their feet. Then when you uncover your trike in the spring, it smells REALLY good too!!

 

[Ol' Grey]

Was it Sylvester who used to say "I HATES THEM MEECES TO PEECES!" ? hehehe....

Have also used moth balls and steel wool as deterrents. Hadn't heard of the Bounce Fabric Softener sheets, but will keep that in mind as well.

Had to research and attack this problem after discovering 'em in a detached tool shed. Those little suckers can squeeze thru a 1/4" space! I opted for a homemade method of fumigation since the tool shed is detached, but for an attached garage and for safety reasons, won't go into that.

If small children or domestic pets aren't a concern, the Decon bait trays that they eat from are good, but the downside is if they crawl behind a baseboard and die, the odor wouldn't be pleasant.

For your purposes, I'd be aggressive with the moth balls, steel wool and fabric softener sheets.

You were lucky it was only the air filter this time. Those nasty critters REALLY like to chew on wire and if they get into your electrical system, it could be a nightmare to find the problem as well as expensive to repair.

Edit: It might have been Jinxsie, not Sylvester...........LOL!

 

[adaptolife]

3 years ago, bike would not start. Noticed various colored plastic particles under her, along with some copper chunks. Rat chewed thru 13 wires in front of battery compartment. Lots of fun. Moth balls in use now.

 

[Ol' Grey]

3 years ago, bike would not start. Noticed various colored plastic particles under her, along with some copper chunks. Rat chewed thru 13 wires in front of battery compartment. Lots of fun. Moth balls in use now.

Gawd, I sympathize with ya, "adaptolife". Pack rats nailed TWO cars here this past Summer, both electrical and both expensive. I try to watch my language here, so will just say that I DO hate those critters! Haven't gotten any of the bikes yet, but if they do, I'd probably be like Bill Murray in "Caddyshack"......:laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Road Runner]

Had a major problem this summer. Mice in detached garage. Had to replace the entire wiring harness on 09 trike. BTW, that was $2,600, which included 14 hours labor.

 

[Ol' Grey]

Had a major problem this summer. Mice in detached garage. Had to replace the entire wiring harness on 09 trike. BTW, that was $2,600, which included 14 hours labor.

Good grief! That's outrageous.......Here's a good link that I hadn't seen when researching it a couple years ago. If you scroll down there's the Rat Zapper, which looks pretty good.......

http://www.pestcontrolsupplies.com/WoodRat.htm

Back then, had found 3 good articles written by farmers who have to deal with this problem on-goingly in their grain storage and they also provided services for rat/mice control. One suggestion was to keep the perimeter of the building clear of tall growth as the rats/mice don't like feeling exposed. Each article mentioned fumigation as the best option if the population was thought to be large in order to decimate as many as possible with one treatment. After the initial fumigation, traps and bait might be able to manage it. Of course, the articles (which I can't find again) were also trying to sell their fumigation services, which were chemical based. Only ONE article mentioned carbon monoxide as a good method, so I rigged up my own "delivery system" to reach both the entry hole to the nest beneath the tool shed (used one hole for delivery and closed up the other holes during the process) as well as the interior of the building. Cost me nothing but fuel by letting a vehicle idle for 1/2 hr. in each area. Did the trick and now I only keep snap traps inside, but there's been no return of the critters. Please remember that this was for a detached building. The exhaust odor will air out afterwards and most, if not all, of the critters should have been dealt with.

Edit: If the Moderators consider this info to be inappropriate for safety reasons, please feel free edit or delete it.

 

[RCAF]

i was told by my nan to use ammonia and bleach soaked rages trouble is you get Chlorine gas released when soak them too much

 

[John Luciano]

Well I sprinkled Moth balls over the garage floor along with 4 mouse traps and yesterday I caught 4 mice. They were caught in traps not 3 " from a trap. also have dryer sheets stuffed in the tail pipes and around the air intake

 

[mhgoldwing]

Moth balls work for lots of critters. On my boat I put mothballs in 1" diameter PVC pipe about 6" long with drilled holes and end caps. I then put these near the open ends in my bimini top and storage compartment and no bugs, spiders, mice, etc. will enter.

And, in the PVC, the chemicals don't evaporate as quickly and will last about six months. Also makes it easy to protect specific area such as the air intakes on the Wing.

 

[lectric]

Won't help in the general part, but many use the screen from the old filter and make screens to fit the intake snorkels. This keeps them out of the aircleaner. I lived in the country and used moth cakes in a plastic hanger. That way I could hang them around on the bike and easy to remove when wanted to ride. My Border collie used to do all the catching and give them to the cat LOL.

 

[Konrad]

WOW! Thanks for all those great responses!

Moth balls and cakes hung around various orifices on the bike and steel wool in the tail pipes really rang my bell. And I think I'll add a couple of disposable traps as well.

 

[crazy]

My air filter. 19k on bike.

 

[Tango]

Moth balls do the trick! Tom :GL1800:

 

[Buddy Moore]

They get to the air filter through the inlet of the intake air duct. I took the intake air duct's out, and put 1/4 inch hard ware clowth over the inlets of the ducts. No way can they get to the filter now.


:GL1800:

 

[nkpdblue]

Dryer Sheets have saved our motorhomes for past 15 yrs except one winter I didn't replace old sheets :O
THANKS for reminder--hadn't thought of mouseproofing the bike too!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS

 

[Jimsjinx]

Works for me!!! jimsjinx

 

[Jimsjinx]

Or else this may be the result of the "Cute Little Critters"!!!!! jimsjinx