Barn Finds and Rats

[Pixel]

People mention "barn find" machines from time to time. How often do rats get in these machines and ruin the original wiring?

[coke_and_stuff]

Everyday, I've found 100s of rats nests in machines.

[krovel]

on the bright side some of the little fellas don't live in there. they just use for poop storage.

[Eric]

Ha... One time went to look at a machine, (sounded like a 81, turned out to be a 110) was told it just needed a good cleaning... drove 2 hours, turned out that the
left side was completely rusted through. when we got it open there was a rat the size of a possum living it... Still in it! 
 Ha... still bought it and parted it out... With gas, time and vacation day spent.. I think I broke even... The places we go and things we go through as collectors.

[SIGNGUY]

Nearly every machine I've ever worked on I think had mice and rats infesting it...

One time doing a Jacobs 26 the condensation jar has  lid on it with  little hole.. the mouse must have climbed in while pregnant.. but had trouble getting out and of course as she got bigger she was trapped.. when I found the machine she was stuck half way out the hole and 4 little baby mice skeletons in the jar...

[Slapshot42]

Nearly every machine I've ever worked on I think had mice and rats infesting it...

One time doing a Jacobs 26 the condensation jar has  lid on it with  little hole.. the mouse must have climbed in while pregnant.. but had trouble getting out and of course as she got bigger she was trapped.. when I found the machine she was stuck half way out the hole and 4 little baby mice skeletons in the jar...

Damn...should of got a picture

[Pixel]

on the bright side some of the little fellas don't live in there. they just use for poop storage.

Yech.  What's the best way to clean up after them that will kill the germs but not do damage to the good surfaces left on the machine? Clorox wipes? (I think they're actually ammonium based, but I'm not sure.)

[SIGNGUY]

Yech.  What's the best way to clean up after them that will kill the germs but not do damage to the good surfaces left on the machine? Clorox wipes? (I think they're actually ammonium based, but I'm not sure.)

I just gut and then sand blast the whole works, gets all the crud out... start over with bare metal..

[Greg Long]

I still have the dehydrated cat I found in a Vendo 23. The bottom of the machine was full of rat's nest and the door must have been open, the cat jumped in, shutting the door behind it. The strangest find thing I ever found in a machine.

[MoonDawg]

           Good story but why would you keep the dehydrated cat?