mice!..ugg

[1816case]

I have a small skid steer I park on a cement patio on side of my garage. no room inside garage. Eveytime I go to use it mice or a mouse is scooting out of it. today I started it with air cleaner off ( had to prime) and dead mouse smell filled the cab..end lots of cotton debri flew out the tube going to housing covering cylinders ( onan). I've tried those packets that smell like peppermint..no help. Anybody find something that actually keeps them away? They must like the oil smell or something. I could put in garage but then the big scag mower would have to sit out..have same problem.

 

[brdgbldr]

I have a small skid steer I park on a cement patio on side of my garage. no room inside garage. Eveytime I go to use it mice or a mouse is scooting out of it. today I started it with air cleaner off ( had to prime) and dead mouse smell filled the cab..end lots of cotton debri flew out the tube going to housing covering cylinders ( onan). I've tried those packets that smell like peppermint..no help. Anybody find something that actually keeps them away? They must like the oil smell or something. I could put in garage but then the big scag mower would have to sit out..have same problem.

There are several posts on here about rodents.

I have never had any luck with the packets because they just don't last very long.

I use small bottles with rags soaked in ammonia. Rodents think that it is a large predators piss. I use several bottles and place them anywhere that a rodent could get into the machine and also in the engine compartment. They have to be refreshened at least once a month and removed and replaced every time you use the machine but well worth it to not have rodents destroy the machine.

I have had a little luck also with peppermint oil. I mix it with water and just a drop of dish detergent. 20 drops oil to 2 cups of water and the drop of dish detergent helps it to mix. I put it in one of the small plastic pump sprayers and use the stream on the nozzle to spray it from the engine compartment all the way up the front of the chain case on both sides of the engine.

Some people also swear by laundry softener sheet and also strong smelling soap but I haven't had much luck with those.

You just have to experiment with all of the different ideas and find what works best for your specific rodents.

On a side note, while trying to use grated soap I found out that in an enclosed cab it seems to keep the condensation at bay. Just put the soap in a container with holes in the lid so it doesn't get everywhere.