I've been working on a puller type garden tractor. Originally it had a Kool-bore 18 hp opposed twin in it. A neighbour gave it to me a few years ago and it quickly became my favourite as it could do so much work. When I got it, it was smoking a bit and leaked some too. I changed the oil often to get as much life as possible out of the old girl. The engine was quite oily/dirty. Finally I found a nice 16 hp Vanguard to give the opposed twin a well deserved retirement.
I store my tractors in substantial portable shelter and have found that something has built a nest in the clean Vanguard(I never have had a nest in the opposed twin). I've included a photo of a nest that was built in less than 4 days. I also have a lawn tractor with the identical engine and it too has had two nests built in it. I suspect that the rodents like the cleaner environment of the Vanguard.
I easily found the two nests in the lawn tractor as bedding was seen in the flywheel screen. Evidence of the nest in the puller tractor wasn't visible. That's the problem. I could have easily motored off and cooked the engine.
Now I need a solution. I can't have a cat as this is at my cottage and I'm only there for short intervals. I won't use poison I have a dog and won't chance hurting her. The odd snake would take care of a few but they are only there in warmer weather. I can't use a plank leading to a pail of water as it would freeze in colder temps and antifreeze is out because of the dog. Good old fashioned mouse/rodent traps would get a few but as I said, I'm not there for long periods.
Is there a cylinder temperature monitor that I could install on both cylinders?
I also have a compact JD diesel an it too has fallen prey to rodents as they ate insulation off of a wire harness where their nest was.
I've tried everything that I know of and it isn't enough. Any ideas on dealing with my problem will be appreciated.
I store my tractors in substantial portable shelter and have found that something has built a nest in the clean Vanguard(I never have had a nest in the opposed twin). I've included a photo of a nest that was built in less than 4 days. I also have a lawn tractor with the identical engine and it too has had two nests built in it. I suspect that the rodents like the cleaner environment of the Vanguard.
I easily found the two nests in the lawn tractor as bedding was seen in the flywheel screen. Evidence of the nest in the puller tractor wasn't visible. That's the problem. I could have easily motored off and cooked the engine.
Now I need a solution. I can't have a cat as this is at my cottage and I'm only there for short intervals. I won't use poison I have a dog and won't chance hurting her. The odd snake would take care of a few but they are only there in warmer weather. I can't use a plank leading to a pail of water as it would freeze in colder temps and antifreeze is out because of the dog. Good old fashioned mouse/rodent traps would get a few but as I said, I'm not there for long periods.
Is there a cylinder temperature monitor that I could install on both cylinders?
I also have a compact JD diesel an it too has fallen prey to rodents as they ate insulation off of a wire harness where their nest was.
I've tried everything that I know of and it isn't enough. Any ideas on dealing with my problem will be appreciated.
