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What did you do in your garage today..?
- Thread starter Hack
- Start date
I use an app called Rezizze on my iPhone to downsize images sizes so they fit here. Select from camera roll, resize to around 800px, copy to clipboard, post.
I forgot I had Snapseed and figured how to reduce it. Used 800 px too. Thanks!
If you work on older bikes you've seen this before. Not sure what the deal is with brake fluid (I assume that's what you run in that clutch) but when it gets old it gets ugly and nasty.
The clutch takes same brake fluid and I flush both systems every 2 years. A few years ago the brakes were sticking so I stripped and cleaned the callipers and there was some grime and crud in the seal grooves but sort of expected. With the slave cylinder being closed I didn’t expect this amount of sludge. I’ve never taken one apart before. But 27 year old bike, what was I expecting? I like to tinker anyway.
@#$% !
Went out and needed to move the bike. Pushed it off the centre stand and the rear end went boing-boing-boing. Being somewhat mystified, I pushed down on the seat and it responded again springing up and down like the front end of my 1974 Nova back in 1984.
Over the course of sitting for the last few weeks the seal has failed (of finished failing) and all the oil that was inside the shock has evacuated onto the lower mount.
But wait! There's more!
Stooping over I noted THE smell. The unmistakable odor of mouse inhabitation. After removing the seat I was greeted by the sight of the largest nest I have yet to see back there. As I was pulling it out I noted movement. I then began the familiar disassembly process of the back end. When I removed the top cover Mickey, Minnie and 2 more full size relatives scrambled out, landing gracelessly on the floor and scurrying off. GROSS!!!
The accumulation of mouse pee and poop was overwhelming. I cleaned it out, flushing with a cleaner and hot water then air. Of course the rear of the KTM has plenty of electronics and wires and naturally the mice had chewed the insulation off a couple wires and completely through a couple more.
So today I will remove the shock, which appears to be a simple job of removing the wheel and inner fender flap. The manual says to remove the silencer, but with the wheel off I can't see why I would need to. I'd rather not disturb the exhaust if I don't have to.
I will repair the stripped wires and solder new sections where needed and wrap it all in anti-rodent tape.
I am going to pack the back end with a product I found at CDN tire that I've used before. It's a prickly mix of steel wool and insulation that the little buggers don't like AT ALL. I filled a large cavity with it last season and it has remained mouse free. Then I'm gonna soak it with peppermint oil.
And traps. Lots of traps.
I plan to contact accelerated technologies in Buckhorn about the shock, as I've heard good things about them.
Went out and needed to move the bike. Pushed it off the centre stand and the rear end went boing-boing-boing. Being somewhat mystified, I pushed down on the seat and it responded again springing up and down like the front end of my 1974 Nova back in 1984.
Over the course of sitting for the last few weeks the seal has failed (of finished failing) and all the oil that was inside the shock has evacuated onto the lower mount.
But wait! There's more!
Stooping over I noted THE smell. The unmistakable odor of mouse inhabitation. After removing the seat I was greeted by the sight of the largest nest I have yet to see back there. As I was pulling it out I noted movement. I then began the familiar disassembly process of the back end. When I removed the top cover Mickey, Minnie and 2 more full size relatives scrambled out, landing gracelessly on the floor and scurrying off. GROSS!!!
The accumulation of mouse pee and poop was overwhelming. I cleaned it out, flushing with a cleaner and hot water then air. Of course the rear of the KTM has plenty of electronics and wires and naturally the mice had chewed the insulation off a couple wires and completely through a couple more.
So today I will remove the shock, which appears to be a simple job of removing the wheel and inner fender flap. The manual says to remove the silencer, but with the wheel off I can't see why I would need to. I'd rather not disturb the exhaust if I don't have to.
I will repair the stripped wires and solder new sections where needed and wrap it all in anti-rodent tape.
I am going to pack the back end with a product I found at CDN tire that I've used before. It's a prickly mix of steel wool and insulation that the little buggers don't like AT ALL. I filled a large cavity with it last season and it has remained mouse free. Then I'm gonna soak it with peppermint oil.
And traps. Lots of traps.
I plan to contact accelerated technologies in Buckhorn about the shock, as I've heard good things about them.
Sochi
Well-known member
Depending on where you're located you may consider Joe Skidd at SSS. He's in Frankford and has done a couple bikes for me and has been excellent. I've been to Accelerated as well and John's great also.
Welcome to Superior Suspension Settings
Welcome to Superior Suspension Settings by Joe Skidd. SSS is Canada's premier motocross suspension with 30+ years of experience and over 35 Canadian National Championships. SSS is located in Frankford, Ontario, with an authorized dealer also located at Gopher Dunes in Courtland, Ontario.
www.superiorsettings.com
On recommendation from a member here I put 5 snap-traps in a box and cut 1"x1" holes at the base of it on each side. I call it my kill-box. It's been in the same spot outdoors for about 6 weeks now and the mouse killed in it last night brings the total to 14 killed so far. Gluing Cheerios to the bait pad makes them harder to pull off so it activates the trap consistently (spreading something sugary like Nutella on the Cheerios helps as well). I'll likely put another one on these box's in the shed soon as well so they don't get into the mower/etc.
Yeah... I'm gonna try the bucket.
It is the downside of living in the country and on a farm.
Chipmunks, squirrels, rats and mice.
Fortunately the rats are infrequent, and then only when there's corn in the field nearest.
Thank you for the recommendation. Frankford's closer as I live in Port Hope.Depending on where you're located you may consider Joe Skidd at SSS. He's in Frankford and has done a couple bikes for me and has been excellent. I've been to Accelerated as well and John's great also.
Welcome to Superior Suspension Settings
Welcome to Superior Suspension Settings by Joe Skidd. SSS is Canada's premier motocross suspension with 30+ years of experience and over 35 Canadian National Championships. SSS is located in Frankford, Ontario, with an authorized dealer also located at Gopher Dunes in Courtland, Ontario.
On recommendation from a member here I put 5 snap-traps in a box and cut 1"x1" holes at the base of it on each side. I call it my kill-box. It's been in the same spot outdoors for about 6 weeks now and the mouse killed in it last night brings the total to 14 killed so far. Gluing Cheerios to the bait pad makes them harder to pull off so it activates the trap consistently (spreading something sugary like Nutella on the Cheerios helps as well). I'll likely put another one on these box's in the shed soon as well so they don't get into the mower/etc.
I'll give him a call after Christmas.
I will also try gluing the bait to the pad, though peanut butter has delivered.so far. I think I'll also try the box.
In the last few years I have not covered my bike and taken off the seat and side panels; no mice. I find under the covers and seat they can make nests. Luckily mine just made homes and didn't chew anything. Just in case this may work for others.
Relax
Well-known member
Yup, they don't like being out in the open. Plug your intake runners to prevent them from making nests in your airbox like my friend's ZX-7. Might as well plug you exhaust too.
One year I started my bike in spring and what looked like black smoke from the exhaust was sunflower seed casings, what a mess and smell of burning wood for sometime after that. I better stuff them with rags or steel wool once more. Thanks I forgot that.
Relax
Well-known member
But you don't want them perma-sleeping in your walls or rafters.
Relax
Well-known member
I think people make mice dying in the walls worse than it actually is. I rarely go down into my unfinished basement, but I've found a couple of mice all shrivelled up and never noticed a smell. When I removed the rear seat to replaced my M3's fuel pump this summer, I barely noticed a small skeleton of a mouse hiding in there. The car smelled fine. On the other hand, if you have a big juicy rat or squirrels, all bets are off.
