On 10 Sep 2006 10:18:11 -0700, mgkelson@yahoo.com wrote:

>On Oct. 21, 2003 there was a post on alt.honda that said, in part:
>
>"I have a Honda EM5000SX generator I paid $2100
>for new 5 years ago. It only has about 10 hours on
>it as it's just backup for home. The other day it
>gave no output and turns out some mice got inside
>and ruined the generator portion. The Honda dealer
>where I bought it said it would cost more to replace
>the brushes and other components than to just buy a
>new generator. . ."
>
>Here's some more quotes on mice damage:
>
>Nov. 21, 1999
>" I recently finished rebuilding a (fixing mouse damage)
>Honda EFs-5500 generator. . ."
>
>Sep. 24, 1998
>"I will need to fab up a metal box to keep the mice out
>of the windings. . ."
>
>Jul 30, 2006
>"Mice in my shed have eaten away all insulation
>from the inside of my EU3000is. Seems the
>generator is noticeably louder without the insulation.
>I can not find a dealer who can order these two
>insulation 'blocks' from Honda. Can someone
>please measure both insulation 'blocks' and post
>the dimensions? I will try to glue alternative
>insulation in its place."
>
>I recently took a box cutter and made a small box cardboard box (out of
>a larger one) and put it over my Honda Generator. Then inside the box I
>put a can with holes in it filled with naphthalene moth balls.
>
>Now, one problem that I have is those moth balls really smell bad. In
>fact, they are stinking up my entire garage. That's a relatively small
>problem, though. A bigger potential problem I am wonder about is
>whether the fumes from the moth balls might damage the generator. Given
>the potency of the gas that those moth balls (napthalene), another
>problem, of course, is whether there is a health risk.
>
>Here's an excerpt from something I found on the internet:
>
>"CANCER HAZARD
>Naphthalene may be a CARCINOGEN in humans since it has been show to
>cause nasal and lung cancer in animals. Many scientists believe there
>is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen."
>
>So, mothballs might not be a great idea, unless you can completely seal
>the container. Even so, the question still exists in regard to the
>generator. Is napthalene safe for a generator?
>
>Does anyone have any other ideas on how to protect a generator from
>mice?

FWIW, my next door neighbor had his garden tractor's electrical system
eaten out by mice (no real loss - the tractor was a hangar queen
anyway). that's when the mechanics told him about putting new dryer
sheets in the electrical areas and around the engine.

frankly, i'd go for the moth balls, and when i get back from this
weekend, i think i'm going that way.

of course, last night, i ran out and covered my new tractor with dryer
sheets...