Squirrels/Rats?

[tld]

During a move, I had to store my JD4110 at a friends house (outside). After about a month, I checked on it yesterday and find that either squirrels or rats had built a nest on top of the air cleaner, PLUS had eater various rubber parts under the hood such as weatherstripping and some shrouds around the headlites. Could not see any electrical or hydraulic hoses damaaged.

Short of bringing it to an inside storage, is there any way to keep these critters out?

 

[NSBound]

Clean the affected areas out then put a few drops of essence of spearmint on them (available from the drug store). This stuff is really strong and the critters don't like it.

 

[Deere Dude]

During a move, I had to store my JD4110 at a friends house (outside). After about a month, I checked on it yesterday and find that either squirrels or rats had built a nest on top of the air cleaner, PLUS had eater various rubber parts under the hood such as weatherstripping and some shrouds around the headlites. Could not see any electrical or hydraulic hoses damaaged.

Short of bringing it to an inside storage, is there any way to keep these critters out?

How often are you able to check on it?
Around here I took a few buckets, 2/3 full of water and put them where I wanted to keep critters out, and then I threw a handful of sunflower seeds in each one. Then I put a little ramp to the top of the bucket so mice and chipmunks would walk up and jump in to get the seeds and end up drowning. I must have gotten 50 of them last summer.., But the seeds only last 3 days or so then I usually dump the bucket out and start over. This probably wouldn't work for squirrels of larger animals.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I have stored equipment using Moth Balls. I put a small handful in a container with some kind of metal screened lid. If you do not have full control over the area ie it is at a friends property, make the container child proof.
Possible child proof containers are a old metal drill box with holes punched in the lid and locked and chained under the hooded.
The moth ball smell will not linger very long after the moth balls are removed.

Craig Clayton

 

[deereman75]

A barn cat or two would cut down on the overall numbers of the pests. That might help a bit.

 

[mroldstyle]

Bounce dryer sheets, or other brand that is very perfumed.

 

[Etced]

X2 on the dryer sheets , they hate the smell.

 

[sidewinder770]

x3 on the moth balls and dryer sheets. I've used both and they seem to work. I used moth balls in a garage once and it smelled for weeks even after the moth balls were gone (very strong) so I'd suggest dryer sheets if in an enclosed area and moth balls outside.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Tom,
I like the moth ball method... Also unopened packets of Decon as long as you dont have any outside animals... Cats will eat that stuff too and ether kill them or make hem seriously ill so not an option if you have any !

It sounds like the other posters have given you some very good options !

Merry Christmas !