Exhaust noise

If you run the tractor long enough you may think you are getting used to the noise. You are NOT. you are losing your hearing if that happens. Another clue that the noise level is too high is if you hear a ringing in you ear after you are done running the equipment. If you can't lower the noise level, get hearing protection. Ear muffs or ear plugs. I like ear plugs for comfort. They also keep what little brains I have left from leaking out.

John

A number of years ago I read of studys to electronically dampen noise from engines, etc.
An electronic unit would put out opposing frequency waves to virtually eliminate the sound produced. If I have stated it well enough it will make sense, otherwise think of the lines on an oscilloscope. When the unwanted noise peaked up, the counter noise device wave peaked down at the same level canceling out the actual sound.

A few thousand bucks for such a device and you might have the quietest tractor around.

JD invented the Sound Guard Cab to help quiet entine noise but it doesn't. My 4230 at 100 hp, 6 cyl, with long oval muffler and small outlet pipe still makes a deafening noise in the cab and if you open the door look out.

I have been told that turbo equipped tractors are quieter. Have no turbo so don't know.

I use the little yellow ear plugs from Harbor Ft. Buy em by the gross. You squeeze them and roll them into a tight roll and stick them in your ear. They puff back up and seal your ear very well. You can hear the noise go away as they expand. Kinda neat.

Problem with plugs, is you can't hear machinery that tries to tell you when something is wrong and it's fixin to desintegrate.

Mark

Is it just the exhaust or is it the total engine noise that is bothering you?

Up above about 70 hp, the dudes cross the 80 db threshold and are just plain noisey. You'll need ear protectors to retain your sanity.

Allan

There probably are a few exceptions to what I've said. One that imediately comes to mind are the tractors equiped with Detroit 2 cycle diesels, if mankind had been intended to listen to those, he would have been born with ear muffs or no ears at all.