Rodent damage to wiring advice ???

[Evans, Marv]

Mice/rats destroyed the wiring for my larger Kubota instrument panel. I replaced and within a month the insulation is gone again and the wires are a mess. I understand the insulation is vegetable based (soy ?). I've tried to find non-vegetable based insulation wiring on the internet but that seems like a no go. There is a rodent resistant tape by Honda and concentrated pepper sprays. Anybody have experience with these or know about instrument wiring with non-vegetable insulation ??? This is getting to be a real PITA. Thanks !!!

[1990C4S]

TEW wire? Have you tried that? It is PVC based.

[Evans, Marv]

Thanks. Looks like that might work out. I tried buying on a couple of sites. They want you to establish and account, so I'll try calling Monday. I don't need an account with anybody.

[Bill Douglas]

Spray some bitrex in there. Nothing will go near it ever https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatonium

And I'm not making a wild guess; I've used it before.

[Evans, Marv]

Bill, did you use it for rodents? Wikipedia says it's put on rat poison to deter people from eating it, since humans have a lot higher sensitivity to it than rodents.

[stevej37]

Some claim that rodents won't go near dryer sheets...no experience here, but maybe worth a try.

[syncroid]

I recently had a rodent camping in my engine compartment in my Tacoma. Went to start the truck to go to work. No go. Towed the truck to the shop and found that they chewed up the harness at the coolant sensor and injectors.
I took an empty pill bottle and drilled small holes in it, filled it with moth ball crystals, and put it under the intake manifold. So far so good.

We replace probably 6-8 engine harnesses a year at the shop because of rodent damage. Mostly Boxsters, 996s, and 997 cars. We had a 2005 GT3 that we had to do twice in a two month period. Poor guy.

[Evans, Marv]

Thanks everybody. I think I'm going to try to get some of the TEW wire 1990C4S mentioned. If that doesn't work, I'll try the moth balls in a bottle method. At least my tractor isn't on the level of a GT3. It is a hassle to rewire the instruments though.

[BeyGon]

I second the moth ball thing, I have used them with good luck.

[Cajundaddy]

Rodents can be a major PITA and once they get established they often come back again and again. We deal with them a lot in my industry. These are the things we do to keep the varmints at bay:

1. Screen off access to electrical as best you can, wrap vulnerable wire harnesses in a wire mesh.
2. Clean the area to remove rodent leavings like nesting material, droppings and food litter.
3. Moth balls or dryer sheets to irritate their noses and deter future nesting.
4. Set out several commercial bait boxes and check them monthly.

[mepstein]

I use dryer sheets in my cars since the smell doesn't bother me like moth balls would. I put them through out the car. Seems to work.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Bill, did you use it for rodents? Wikipedia says it's put on rat poison to deter people from eating it, since humans have a lot higher sensitivity to it than rodents.

Yes, I put it on electrical wiring in a rental. Then cleaned poo from the area. Six months later no poo and the wiring looked like no more chewing. Also I have a kitten who had been biting the corner of my laptop plus electrical switches and cords. I got a product called Stop-it designed to stop kids sucking their thumbs and chewing their nails, and it worked well with the kitten. He was quite funny after biting into the laptop then trying to get the taste from his mouth.

[Evans, Marv]

Thanks, I might give it a try then. My tractors are in a shelter that's open on both ends and out in an open area. I thought of trying to screen off the wires, but decided it wouldn't work out very well because of the way the area is shaped and the wires spread out. Plus the panel has to be screwed down making it possible to crimp the screen and cause openings. There aren't any nests or piles of droppings. They climb up onto the tractor and behind the instrument panel. Some good ideas! I did try plastic containers with cotton balls with peppermint oil. Had no effect.

[pen15]

While working at a Gm dealership a Gm engineer told me they used a peanut oil based release agent/lubricant in the manufacturing of the wiring and that is what the mice were attracted to.