Wires cut by mouse? What are these for

[frankenduck]

It's the color; it goes with almost any decor. They just can't bring themselves to eat any of it.

I'm pretty sure that most mice care more about hunger than fashion.

[Laitch]

I'm pretty sure that most mice care more about hunger than fashion.

It isn't fashion they care about; it's lifestyle!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I seem to recall that rodent teeth(mice, rats, beavers) are always growing and need to be worn down by gnawing on things.  It could be that the wire happened to be handy when the need arose.

[frankenduck]

I seem to recall that rodent teeth(mice, rats, beavers) are always growing and need to be worn down by gnawing on things.  It could be that the wire happened to be handy when the need arose.

This is true. I've spent much time and effort battling rodents at my family's summer cabin. There's one spot where a bastard rat I fought with would gnaw excessively just to keep its teeth ground down.

[Past-my-Prime]

It's the color; it goes with almost any decor. They just can't bring themselves to eat any of it.

Spies used to have a cyanide pill to use in emergency. Mice must just take what they can get.

After cleaning out an entire bale of grass from my airbox, I made a screen that goes over the intake.

[daveson]

It smokes and leaks oil a bit, you might be able to do something about that.

[frankenduck]

Link: Smoky Starts Explained

[gard]

Update on my progress, I ordered the spal fan and cut an adapter plate from 0.082" aluminum, it is about 1" wide. I thought I might need to add a stiffener to it but it is overall about the same stiffness as the OEM fan. It is attached to the fan with 4 ea 10-32 flat head screws and nuts. I cut off the bottom arms of the original fan and used them as washers with the original screws into the radiator. The radiator hoses all look good so I decided to reuse them, hope I don't regret this. 

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The fan turns the correct direction when running power from the battery to A2 terminal of the fan switch relay socket. I am getting the correct temperature sensor resistance at both the L-Jetronic pin #10 and switch relay socket terminal E. I reinstalled the relay and shorted the E terminal to battery ground but the fan did not come on. Bad relay? No obvious burned components so I put it back together with some trepidation, started it, let it idle and the fan came on when the outside of the sensor body reached 190F. A win. The new fan draws about 2 amps.

I replaced all the fuel and vacuum hose. I replaced the intake manifolds below the throttle bodies, to answer my own question, I found this can be done without removing the fuel rail or injectors, not sure if this is the easiest. One thing I realized is I should have left the clamps loose until the air filter was installed to ensure the manifold was in the correct position. While fighting with the air filter I realized the upper grommet boots need replacing also. They looked good on the outside but there are cracks on the inside

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I looked in 3 different auto parts stores, and finally found Gardner Bender liquid electrical tape in the local hardware store in 4 colors, it is about the consistency of neverseize, A thin coat dries in minutes, A thick coat out in the cold was hours. About the consistency of RTV when cured.  I used a couple of coats, I like it.

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I have what I think is the remnants of gasket #6 (only $245 to replace). I guess this goes between the air cleaner housings, the air accumulator and the throttle bodies. But where is it located front to back on the bike? Does it go over or under the frame rails?
 

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Is there some way to see the forum post photos in a preview? I use the attachments button at the bottom, insert the attachment and see some text like
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