[Farmall] I hate mice

[Frank DeWitt]

I was using the Farmall 200 on Sunday and I put it away. shut off the 
fuel, and was waiting for it to run out of gas when a LOUD Bang.  I 
look over at the gauges and the glass is gone from the Amp meter and 
what is left doesn't look to good.  I pull the battery, and sure 
enough The area between the battery and the switches and gauges is 
packed full of mice nest and dead mice.  I hate mice.

Cleaned everything out last night including the dead meter and the 
dead temp gauge (mice stuff rotted though the tubing. (I hate 
mice)  Today I put in new gauges and new wiring in that area.  Every 
thing works now.

Some observations and questions.

Farmall didn't fuse much.  Only the lights are fused.  also, the 
glass fuse and fuse holder don't work real well.  I found that NAPA 
sells some nice after market fuse holders.
http://www.bussmann.com/images/8ef32c7b-c26c-4fd0-b016-471b7f380230.jpg
http://www.bussmann.com/images/44fcdd4b-b905-4688-9176-cc90024f7930.jpg
I installed one of these for the lights and left it poking out near 
the back corner of the battery side plates  It doesn't show unless 
you know it is there.  I think this spring I may add one at the 6V 
output at the start switch.  Perhaps another at the output of the generator.

 From past experience plus observing what is in there.  Crimp on 
connectors will corrode.  Crimp and solder  Those wire nuts that are 
pre filled with weather proof goop for trucking use DO work.  The 
wires were nice and clean.

Mice like to eat the new plastic wire more then the old plastic or 
cloth covered wire.  Does any one know why? or where to get the old 
kind of wire?  The hardware store thought heat resistant wire might 
work.  He only had #14.

BIG Question.  How do I keep mice out of my tractor.  What do you 
do?  Do I need to inspect it once or twice a year?  How about that 
Mice be gone spray?  Moth balls?  I protect my antique generator with 
mothballs, but I seal it in plastic to do it.

Other advice, or thoughts?

I hate mice.

Frank



  Frank DeWitt

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  Mechanical Design      mailto:frank at lbpinc.com
  LBP  INC.              Phone:  585 624 3052
  2365 Cox Rd.           Fax     585 624 1038
  Bloomfield NY 14469    Web   http://www.lbpinc.com