One thing I'm thinking about doing with my Honda 3000i, at least as a
temporary measure, is getting a couple of inexpensive plastic tarps and
"double bagging" it and then tying the open end of the tarp up with
some wire/cable tires.

With the inside "bag" I could put some dryer sheets and some Desiccant
Container Dry. With the outside bag I might be able to put some
mothballs since it should be mostly airtight. Then I could sprinkle
some habanero powder around the generator.

Another thing I've thought about is putting the Honda 3000 cover on
from the bottom. This should cover all the holes. Then I could put some
dryer sheets and some desiccant inside the cover and sprinkle the
habanero around the outside or maybe spray the cover with some sort of
repellant.

Eventually, I think I'll probably build my own custom box.

Bob Ferapples wrote:
> In response to the original question, I have found a VERY effective
> solution. I bought a container of the hottest powdered pepper I could
> find, habanero powder, and sprinkeled it all around my electrical
> cords and generator. The miice (rats in my case) walk across it and
> get it on their paws, then when they start to chew it burns they
> mouths. This by the way is very effective to keep racoons away from
> your garden as well. Just remember to wash YOUR hands after working on
> it!
>
> 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?