M7040 fire risk

[Dave_eng]

My M7040 has 130 hrs now. It is parked in an open shed. Last weekend we had a late season snow fall and I was blowing snow. The tractor was working hard and suddenly I was smelling something burning. I shut it off and jumped out to look but could not see anything wrong. I could not open the hood because the grill guard was in the way and I could not tilt it forward because of the FEL. I decided to start the tractor and raise the loader so I could get the hood open.
I found a large mass of smouldering dry leaves packed around the turbo. I think a squirrel had decided to build a nest there because it is above the block heater and he/she may have perceived it as a nice warm spot. I wonder if I had parked the tractor without noticing the smell could I have been left with a burned out tractor and burned down shed! I am now checking the engine each time I use it at this time of the year when animals are nesting.
Dave M7040

 

[fast*st]

Scary stuff there! I always knew those turbos are just a whirling whistling pile of danger!

We opted to put some bait stations in the barn here and there in the corners to give them something to snack on after they gnawed some kubota wires bare.

 

[gpreuss]

Scary stuff there! I always knew those turbos are just a whirling whistling pile of danger!

We opted to put some bait stations in the barn here and there in the corners to give them something to snack on after they gnawed some kubota wires bare.

I think they like the tingle when they find a hot one.

 

[Tx Jim]

Scary stuff there! I always knew those turbos are just a whirling whistling pile of danger!

Bird nest on a naturally aspirated engine have been known to catch a tractor on fire. It's wise to check any color tractor manifold for debris that's been setting very long.

 

[skeets]

Ahhh yeah I can attest to mice building nest where they shouldn't, darn near lost the Harley last spring they built a nest back behind the air cleaner between both heads,,, STINK, smoke, and well it got interesting for a bit. This fall I had mouse traps poison moth balls and everything else I could think of or heard of,, As MR Jinkx use to say I hate meeses to pieces

 

[Bluegill]

Chit happens, stay alert!

 

[Bulldog]

I had the same thing happen on my 9000. I was lucky enough to catch it before I cranked it that day or I probably would have had a fire.

 

[Stubbyie]

In self defense we've learned to keep a cocktail of attractive items placed conveniently under the hood of EVERY vehicle---pasture trucks, road trucks, cars, tractors, mowers, welders, EVERYTHING with an engine and wiring.

With apologies to the politically active and socially conscious critter lovers, we place rat bait, strychnine-laced gopher grain, peanut butter mixed with rat bait, and boric acid mixed with peanut butter into an old cottage cheese container painted red and place one or two under every hood. We've eliminated infestation problems. Change out the bait when depleted, year 'round.

Now let me tell you about how much damage a truly disgruntled 'coon can do under the hood of a truck when 'treed' there by dogs. That put a dent in the pocketbook.

Regarding fires: had a large 45-kW generator set we were working on aboard a trailer pulled by tractor. To maneuver trailer we had the tongue hitched to the loader. Tried lighting genset. Just wouldn't act right. Finally pulled air cleaner and it got enough air that it kind of hunkered down and gasped and then blew a burning bird nest out the 4-in exhaust pipe. Landed perfectly right on the tractor seat. Things got exciting for a few minutes.

Postscript regarding poison baits: being concerned about wiping out barn cat and hound population, I consulted with family Vet. Learned that the target animal would metabolize the bait to the point that even if consumed while still warm the poison would have been converted such that it should have no effect on secondary target. Thus far, twenty years later, no known secondary non-target fatalities. However: Chevy trucks 7; dogs and cats, zero.

 

[live_roll]

Yes , I had the same thing happen to My M108, had it sitting in the hayshed for a week or two, and went and fired it up and was just doing a few things in the yard at low RPM and speed and noticed a couple of strands of straw poking out from the right hand side of the hood, and took a look and there was a pigeon nest well under construction, so that got cleaned out, and now the war against the flying rats is on!! Since that time I have built a heated shop, but those pigeons are pretty persistent, Once the building was up, there was a about a week and a half window until doors were installed, and trying to get those stinking pig-birds out of there seemed almost impossible. The war is on! Luckily I have a family of owls at the far end of the property so I'm hoping they will maintain a nice natural balance....

Cheers


Roger

 

[skeets]

fly bait laced corn works or so Im told,, just what I heard mind you

 

[adventure bob]

Not sure if they're more or less PC than poison, but I simply park in the barn with the two barn cats. The female only occasional brings me a dead thing or two. But they aint in my tractor.

 

[skeets]

Barn cats are good cats! But we have a few coyotes and kinda like Alf,, they love cats ,, I never seem to have a gun around when I see one, so stray cats and dogs have become few and far between around here. Now if they would get the ground hogs outa the barn I might have a change of heart