1946 John Deere A Exhaust Sound

I got a 46 JD A I bought recently that came with a straight pipe on it. When I have it running at idle its makes more of a huff huff sound instead of a putt putt sound. Almost quiet, the sound of the rockers arms are louder than the exhaust. It only pops under a load or engaging the clutch. What i'm trying to do is get it to have more of a putt putt sound at idle or just driving around with no load. I seen alot of youtube videos were they are putt putting sitting there at idle. What kind of mufflers or straight pipe configurations I can try for more a putt putt sound at idle?

Ignition timing can make a big difference in exhaust sound.

Try a factory spec. muffler Ben

I would agree with that, straight pipes serve no purpose except loss of hearing.

I agree with you there and I HATE the sound of the straight pipes.

The straight pipe is not loud at all when its at idle or not overcoming a load. Trying to get more of a pop sound at idle.

Already tried that, has no effect on the sound, by turning the mag left or right while running.

Lots of things could be contributing to it. Does it have a ground cam, high compression pistons, ported head and manifold, bored carb. All these things when done to pulling tractors changes the sound they make.

Sounds like a nice easy running A to me.

I have been around too many with straight pipes to know they are loud to the point of hurting my bad ears that the drs say hearing aids will not help. This goes for all makes. I have been in charge of the line up at the local antique tractor pull for several years and I can atest to the loudness when they are setting running at idle wating in line.

You are probably used to hearing the sound of the high compression "A",s at the pulls. A stock "A" is not going to sound like that no mater what.

TIMING (along with cam and other factors) drastically affects the JD Two Cylinder idle sound, but the open adjustment timing slot in a Magneto only allows for a limited change/adjustment compared to how much you can rotate a distributor. If the timing is too far off the engine labors and therefore POPS louder if thats the sound you like which may not be best for performance.

I ve observed if rotating/timing a distributor strictly be ear (of course that's NOT politically correct, use a light) at idle as you advance the timing it reaches a sweet spot where it gets quieter and stops loud popping HOWEVER in reality that position IS TOO FAR ADVANCED.

A straight pipe of a certain length and diameter would allow for a nice deep throaty sound as its resonating just like organ pipes are a certain length and diameter.

I love the sound of a G with a big straight pipe SWEET...............

PS as the late Duane Larsons research and the article he wrote shows, each POP POP POP POP sound the human ear can discern and distinguish is the COMBINATION of the left then 180 later right explosions and exhaust release and is NOT each cylinders firing. Remember, left fires then only 180 degrees later the right fires followed by a 540 degree coast cycle before left fires again. I believe the Fletcher Munson (if thats correct??) charts which indicate the human ears response time is what proves his theory. His article and charts and proof used to be on his Two Cylinder Service website if Nancy kept it active???

John T

(quoted from post at 07:49:40 04/20/16) I would agree with that, straight pipes serve no purpose except loss of hearing.

Click to expand...

Here is a place where most straight pipes should be stuck.

We had a tall straight pipe on our 1937 model A, from a sitting position it was above your head and wasn't too loud. It was a working tractor, not a parade model.
In the 80's we ran it on drip gas and I can still hear my dad plowing some land along a creek. The pop-pop-pop-pop sound it made in the trees cant be replicated...it least not to me.
Thanks for the memories.
ET