Anybody thoughts/ideas on feasibility of sound dampening aftermarket cab.

[super55]

Got a Curtis cab on my 2000 JD 4400 and while I love it, Its not like a factory cab and it is loud inside. A lot of resonance from the engine and transmission bouncing around.

Was looking ebay and seen self stick sound dampening pads used or autos with those super stereo systems and was thinking it might work. Looks almost like 3/8 weather stripping and thinking it might work if I padded all the metal panels inside and maybe put some between the floor and the rubber mat.

Kind of curious if anyone out here has any success in quieting their cabs besides putting on a pair of ear muffs.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sure, that padding helps. Man, that stuff is crazy expensive up here! Foam and vinyl with the million little holes.

At the end of the day, probably nothing is going to match the sound levels of a modern OEM cab, where much has gone into the sound deadening equasion. Maybe just resign yourself to wearing hearing protection and forget about the sound level.

 

[super55]

Thats where I am kind of sitting at. I know I won't get OEM cab comfort but when wearing sunglasses and ear muffs I get that little gap and I swear the noise gets louder especially the hydro whine then compared to just not wearing ear muffs at all. Figured it might add a little insulation even if it didn't do much to dampen the noise but the ultimate goal would be to quite it down a little bit.

 

[BukitCase]

Not your imagination; mid to higher frequencies can actually be amplified some with ear MUFFS, has to do with resonant cavities (the muffs); I find the 33 db rated foam ear PLUGS much less irritating, plus they're not as hot in summer.

No "internet fact" here, I've studied acoustics off and on for over 30 years, and moderated a couple websites on recording studio design, play multiple instruments and occasionally consult for people that want a home studio but can't exceed HOA noise regulations... Steve

 

[Gary Fowler]

Any foam insulation that you can put on metal surfaces especially large plate areas will help. The biggest problem is where the cab frame is welded to the tractor frame which is transmitting the vibrations to the whole surface. If you could find some rubber mounts to make the attachment points then it would stop a lot of your noise.

 

[chim]

I built a cab for the last tractor and it was noisy. The tractor was an L3200 and the hydro whine was substantial BEFORE adding the cab. BukitCase's ear plug suggestion is what worked best for me. The parts of the tractor itself transmit vibrations and adding the cab introduced other parts to help transmit sounds.

 

[oosik]

My tractor is open station and sound is not that bad. I help my neighbor during harvest time. This means a LARGE tractor with an OEM cab and air conditioning. At first the sound was not so bad. After ten to twelve hours of continuous operation - no joy. I have gone to ear plugs AND muffs.

I don't think you will ever get to the point where you won't need some form of hearing protection. Ten to twelve hours of continuous operation will turn me into a zombie without hearing protection.

 

[Tinhack]

If the panels are steel and the windows glass, you might have a chance. Otherwise, save your money and buy ear muffs. You can lower some Db's by insulating the inside of the top and making sure the exhaust pipe isn't facing the ground. (Up or forward is best.) The sample of a Curtis cab on a 4400 I saw ( https://www.machinefinder.com/images/machines/33/2081833/3073645_huge.jpg ) might keep you dry but that's about it. No chance of silence in that thing.

 

[ruffdog]

My tractor is open station and sound is not that bad. I help my neighbor during harvest time. This means a LARGE tractor with an OEM cab and air conditioning. At first the sound was not so bad. After ten to twelve hours of continuous operation - no joy. I have gone to ear plugs AND muffs.

I don't think you will ever get to the point where you won't need some form of hearing protection. Ten to twelve hours of continuous operation will turn me into a zombie without hearing protection.

^^AGREE^^ I got use to wearing muffs AND plugs when operating large machining centers and boring bars. I too wear plugs in a "quiet" cab.

 

[mikester]

Got a Curtis cab on my 2000 JD 4400 and while I love it, Its not like a factory cab and it is loud inside. A lot of resonance from the engine and transmission bouncing around.

Was looking ebay and seen self stick sound dampening pads used or autos with those super stereo systems and was thinking it might work. Looks almost like 3/8 weather stripping and thinking it might work if I padded all the metal panels inside and maybe put some between the floor and the rubber mat.

Kind of curious if anyone out here has any success in quieting their cabs besides putting on a pair of ear muffs.

I bought and added high temperature sound deadening matte from Amazon for the same reasons and it does help. Thicker is better. Mine is aluminum foiled on the outside and I have installed it under the bonnet and misc sheet metal panels for my tractor and ZTR. I also use a pair of over ear Bose QC30 active noice cancellation headphones which cuts the noise significantly but still lets me hear the engine sounds.

I have yet to add it to the inside of my cab ceiling, I need to remove the inside cab liners which I have been putting off until I get a little less busy. I wish I bought and installed it when I put the cab on, I would have liked to put it under the tractor deck too to reflect more tractor heat in summer.

The matte reduces the high frequency tinny sounds resonating from the sheet metal parts. I used a sound measuring app on my phone and found I get a couple dB noise reduction between before and after. Every little bit helps.