Rodent proofing CG Hook

[George Haeh]

The club Grob had copious evidence of rodent infestation and we found that the CG hook opening offers a wide passage. We cut out a piece of aluminum, glued a stack of disk magnets to hold it to the tow hook inside the cage and put on a drawer pull. Also taped inside to protect the finish. Will add some flagging tape so we can find if somebody forgets to remove before towing to runway.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UugfLA5Dopg1Ebn88

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eDKQaFX4E9hHVRuT6

[[email protected]]

Got a friend that always stuffed anti-static dryer sheets in all of the "orifices" when putting the glider away. He claimed the smell was an effective rodent deterrent. Can't say that it worked, but he kept doing it. (ps. Right now my glider is hanging 12 feet off the floor in my hangar. Also a good rodent deterrent.)

[[email protected]]

+1 on the dryer sheets.

A Google search a few years ago turned up the dryer sheet tip so I figured, what the heck and gave it a try. I scatter 8 to 10 dryer sheets over the floor of my trailer and put several more in the cockpit and haven't seen a mouse since. The sheets seem to last about a year before they need to be replaced.

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 9:19:15 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> Got a friend that always stuffed anti-static dryer sheets in all of the "orifices" when putting the glider away. He claimed the smell was an effective rodent deterrent. Can't say that it worked, but he kept doing it. (ps. Right now my glider is hanging 12 feet off the floor in my hangar. Also a good rodent deterrent.)

[[email protected]]

+1 on the dryer sheets. I hate the smell of them and can see why it works. I work at a summer camp and we “Bounce the hell out of....� when storing tents and other consumable mouse nest materials. A few dryer sheets go on and beneath mattresses before being wrapped for the winter storage. In 5 years no mouse damage.

[Dan Marotta]

What about bats, Mark?

On 2/27/2019 8:19 PM, wrote:
> Got a friend that always stuffed anti-static dryer sheets in all of the "orifices" when putting the glider away. He claimed the smell was an effective rodent deterrent. Can't say that it worked, but he kept doing it. (ps. Right now my glider is hanging 12 feet off the floor in my hangar. Also a good rodent deterrent.)

--
Dan, 5J

[Dan Marotta]

Dryer sheets are also excellent for removing dried on bugs.Â* I learned
that from a motorcycle news group.Â* I tried it and it works quite well;
simply wet the dryer sheet and wipe off the bugs.

On 2/27/2019 8:41 PM, wrote:
> +1 on the dryer sheets.
>
> A Google search a few years ago turned up the dryer sheet tip so I figured, what the heck and gave it a try. I scatter 8 to 10 dryer sheets over the floor of my trailer and put several more in the cockpit and haven't seen a mouse since. The sheets seem to last about a year before they need to be replaced.
>
> On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 9:19:15 PM UTC-6, wrote:
>> Got a friend that always stuffed anti-static dryer sheets in all of the "orifices" when putting the glider away. He claimed the smell was an effective rodent deterrent. Can't say that it worked, but he kept doing it. (ps. Right now my glider is hanging 12 feet off the floor in my hangar. Also a good rodent deterrent.)

--
Dan, 5J

[[email protected]]

I use Moth Balls. Works great. Smells awful.
Dan

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 9:42:30 PM UTC-5, George Haeh wrote:
> The club Grob had copious evidence of rodent infestation and we found that the CG hook opening offers a wide passage. We cut out a piece of aluminum, glued a stack of disk magnets to hold it to the tow hook inside the cage and put on a drawer pull. Also taped inside to protect the finish. Will add some flagging tape so we can find if somebody forgets to remove before towing to runway.
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/UugfLA5Dopg1Ebn88
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/eDKQaFX4E9hHVRuT6

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

Keep in mind, dryer sheets and/or moth balls (did you spread its wing to sniff them?!?!.....dad joke....) are supposed to be a deterrent.
When they run out, or rodents can't smell, a mouse/Chipmunk/mole can fit through a dime sized hole, rats can get through about a quarter sized hole.
Keeping them away is good.
Keeping a food source away is also good.
Keeping them out if 1 & 2 fail........sorta problematic. There are quite a few small holes underneath most aircraft that rodents can get through.

Taken from someone that has dealt with this and has a major consultant in the pest control industry as family. I have asked these questions before on other applications.

[George Haeh]

Our local rodents are not deterred by moth balls.

Rodent leavings in the cockpit can be a small fraction of what's under the seat pan.

[Eric Munk]

At 16:11 28 February 2019, Dan Marotta wrote:
>What about bats, Mark?
>
Isn't it illegal to use bats on rodents? :-)

[Eric Munk]

At 02:42 28 February 2019, George Haeh wrote:
>The club Grob had copious evidence of rodent infestation

Might be an idea to check the aircraft out for damage, if not already done
so. Had a Twin Astir one day that had all the foam supports for the rudder
control rods gnawed away, leaving only the nylon guides dangling from the
rod. Nasty repair, too.

[rudolph stutzmann]

On Friday, March 1, 2019 at 3:45:05 AM UTC-5, Eric Munk wrote:
> At 02:42 28 February 2019, George Haeh wrote:
> >The club Grob had copious evidence of rodent infestation
>
> Might be an idea to check the aircraft out for damage, if not already done
> so. Had a Twin Astir one day that had all the foam supports for the rudder
> control rods gnawed away, leaving only the nylon guides dangling from the
> rod. Nasty repair, too.

I've always used moth balls, never had a problem. Usually put them in place middle/end of November and remove in end of march/early april. When removed, they still have a strong smell. I usually place a packet of them on the seat, near the rudder pedals, where the wing spars go in the fuselage, in the front of the trailer/wing root area and under the rudder; this seems to cover the obvious entry points and I've never had an issues with rodents to date. The odor goes away within a few days of removing them and it's never been so strong that it's bothersome for the first flight of the year, assuming you can keep a vent open. I've never tried the scented dryer sheets, but may do so next year?

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

On Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 8:12:35 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Dryer sheets are also excellent for removing dried on bugs.Â* I learned
> that from a motorcycle news group.Â* I tried it and it works quite well;
> simply wet the dryer sheet and wipe off the bugs.
>
> On 2/27/2019 8:41 PM, wrote:
> > +1 on the dryer sheets.
> >
> > A Google search a few years ago turned up the dryer sheet tip so I figured, what the heck and gave it a try. I scatter 8 to 10 dryer sheets over the floor of my trailer and put several more in the cockpit and haven't seen a mouse since. The sheets seem to last about a year before they need to be replaced.
> >
> > On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 9:19:15 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> >> Got a friend that always stuffed anti-static dryer sheets in all of the "orifices" when putting the glider away. He claimed the smell was an effective rodent deterrent. Can't say that it worked, but he kept doing it. (ps.. Right now my glider is hanging 12 feet off the floor in my hangar. Also a good rodent deterrent.)
>
> --
> Dan, 5J

Curiously enough, dryer sheets are bad for things are supposed to dry: Dryer sheets also make fabrics less absorbent and should not be used with towels and sheets as they coat the fabric. If you think your towels are not drying very well, wash them a few times in hot water (and no dryer sheets) and you will see the difference.

[john firth]

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 9:42:30 PM UTC-5, George Haeh wrote:
> The club Grob had copious evidence of rodent infestation and we found that the CG hook opening offers a wide passage. We cut out a piece of aluminum, glued a stack of disk magnets to hold it to the tow hook inside the cage and put on a drawer pull. Also taped inside to protect the finish. Will add some flagging tape so we can find if somebody forgets to remove before towing to runway.
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/UugfLA5Dopg1Ebn88
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/eDKQaFX4E9hHVRuT6

Make cover out of a plastic ladle with internal loop;
pull the release, engage the loop, lock the cover over the release.
JMF

[Pete Smith[_4_]]

At 23:23 01 March 2019, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
>On Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 8:12:35 AM UTC-8,
Dan Marotta wrote:
>> Dryer sheets are also excellent for removing dried
on bugs.=C2=A0 I
>learn=
>ed=20
>> that from a motorcycle news group.=C2=A0 I tried it
and it works quite
>we=
>ll;=20
>> simply wet the dryer sheet and wipe off the bugs.
>>=20
>> On 2/27/2019 8:41 PM,
wrote:
>> > +1 on the dryer sheets.
>> >
>> > A Google search a few years ago turned up the
dryer sheet tip so I
>figu=
>red, what the heck and gave it a try. I scatter 8 to 10
dryer sheets over
>=
>the floor of my trailer and put several more in the
cockpit and haven't
>see=
>n a mouse since. The sheets seem to last about a
year before they need t
>=
>be replaced.
>> >
>> > On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 9:19:15 PM
UTC-6,
=
> wrote:
>> >> Got a friend that always stuffed anti-static dryer
sheets in all of
>th=
>e "orifices" when putting the glider away. He claimed
the smell was an
>effe=
>ctive rodent deterrent. Can't say that it worked, but he
kept doing it.
>(ps=
>.. Right now my glider is hanging 12 feet off the floor
in my hangar. Also
>a=
> good rodent deterrent.)
>>=20
>> --=20
>> Dan, 5J
>
>Curiously enough, dryer sheets are bad for things are
supposed to dry:
>Drye=
>r sheets also make fabrics less absorbent and should
not be used with
>towel=
>s and sheets as they coat the fabric. If you think your
towels are not
>dryi=
>ng very well, wash them a few times in hot water (and
no dryer sheets) and
>=
>you will see the difference.

Wire wool works every oriface
>