SMC Discussion Areas

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

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

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

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!  :wow:
 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. :smile:

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

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..

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.

           Good story but why would you keep the dehydrated cat?  :help:

Talk about curiosity killing the cat!  :Oo: I would love to see johnnieG come up with an image macro for this.  :biggrin:

For someone on a budget, or otherwise not willing to spend the big bucks, what would be the best thing to clean wires and cooling components with? I seem to remember Simple Green being recommended for outer body metal.

Why not keep it?.. Don't have to feed it or change the littler box and stick it up against the door it would block the cold air from coming in! :upside:

Pretty bird! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SldBtvWFhM&noredirect=1

Hi Moondawg, as Eric said, why not keep it? Who else has one?
The note that " this thread is useless without pictures" is so right, but I have about zero computer skills, sorry.

I knew I could count on you.  :biggrin: MSPAINT strikes again!  8)

Haha! Love the Michigan Cat Mafia cartoon!

Ever see the book "101 Uses For A Dead Cat"?  It's hilarious, and I actually like cats.

Just found a bunch of mouse turds taking apart my vendorama pen vendor.

Also,  I found  allot of mouse turds in the arcade machines I worked on as well... it's a bit harder to get rid the smell inside since most of the cabinets made of plywood or pressboard.

Agree on smell. The warmth of the sanding released it more. Hoping the new stain will mask it.

Had to replace the oak strips in my Westinghouse coolers because no matter what I tried the rat pea smell would not go away.