quietest tractor

[txdon]

If noise is a big factor for you you might want to throw this model in your selection. I think everyone would agree it is the quietest

Multi-Purpose Products

 

[lawn_king]

Hey txdon, thats a cool rig, will that seat fit my 3030

 

[LeadPoison]

My Kubota is a 5 cylinder.

It isn't loud enough to have had made me think about wearing ear protection.

 

[Dmace]

The tractor with a cab is the quietest

Yep, once I shut those doors half the sound goes away. I couldn't tell the difference between the Kioti, Kubota and John Deere that I drove but I will tell you that the older tractors that had the smokestack exhaust were 10 times louder than the newer models that come out and face the ground.

 

[john_bud]

If you want quiet, check out the New Holland line.
jb

 

[SWB]

If it's quiet it isn't a tractor.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Not all tractors of a particular model will sound the same. If you're really concerned, bring a DCB level meter and test the actual tractors you'd be choosing from.

To add to the complication, some tractors will quiet down after a few tens of hours and some will get louder.

I imagine this information will be of no help at all.

Cliff

 

[JimParker]

My Kubota is a 5 cylinder.

It isn't loud enough to have had made me think about wearing ear protection.

Since it is the cumultive effects of exposure to noise that causes hearing damage, you may want to reconsider wearing hearing protection. Both my grandfather and my father have significant hearing losses. My grandfather worked for the railroad, and was constantly exposed to noise in that environment. My father was a music minister, and taught choral music. You wouldn't think of that as a particularly "noisy" environment, but he's paying the cost now anyway.

Many of us (like my father) think of the sound of our tractors as "music to our ears" and it's easy to forget the long-term effects of exposure. Having watched two generations struggle with hearing loss, I'm going to do everything I can to avoid it, myself.

Noise-attenuating (sound deadening) hearing protectors are available from lots of sources. The best ones for tractor use may be the ones they sell for use at gun ranges. They are designed to reduce the noise level of "percussive" sounds (gunshots) that are similar in nature to the sound waves generated by the exhaust system. In the process, they do a pretty good job of dealing with "whining" or "whirring" noises, such as the sounds often made by the transmissions, PTOs, and HSTs of tractors. The "el cheapo" hearing protectors you can buy at the hardware store are generally worth what you pay for them.

Active noise reduction (noise cancelling) headphones are available from several sources, including Sony, Ear Hugger, Senheiser, Bose and (strangely enough) John Deere. On the high end, these usually include some form of noise attenuation as well as the ANR circuitry, cost upwards of $200, and are well worth the expense if you don't have a cab on your tractor. (From what I've seen and read, if you have a factory cab, you probably can get by without 'em.) The ones that completely enclose the ear are more comfortable if you are going to wear them for a long time. The less expensive ANR headsets (John Deere, Sony and Ear Hugger) are a lot less expensive, generally fit up against your ear (which gets old after a few hours), and cost less than $100. My Ear Huggers were purchased online for less than $40 at Overstock.com, save up to 80% every day!. (You just have to keep watching for the ones you want at the price you are willing to pay.)

I have personally found that a 4-hour stint with the ANR headset is far less tiring than a 4-hour stint without them, especially in the Texas heat (it's often 100+ degrees when I'm finishing up). (My wife likes it as well -- when I'm done, I can be talked into going out for the evening, versus sitting around watching TV 'cause I'm feeling tired.)

If you don't want to spend that much, there are "disposable" foam ear plugs available at almost any hardware store, auto parts store, etc. that do a very good job of reducing the harmful effects of loud noises. To me, these are far and away the most comfortable ear plugs on the market. They cost less than a $1 (considerably less, if you buy in bulk), and can be worn several times before needing to be cleaned. (OK - so maybe I'm a cheapskake, but I learned in the Army that if I just left these earplugs in my zipped-up pockets, they would run through the wash with my flight suit and come out looking and feeling like new. I must have reused the same pair for 3-6 months at a time!)

 

[LeadPoison]

What? I can't hear you? LOL

Good point on the cumalitive aspect of hearing loss. This is true.

I should probably see how loud my Kubota is with a meter, but to tell you the truth it's quiet compared to other tractors. I will go deaf from my car stereo before the tractor does the ear drums in.

 

[GARBLUES]

I think this John Deere Is the most quiet