Quieting the RTV

[rleonard]

Going from the Mule to the RTV, the RTV is quite a bit noisier. Granted there is a lot more machinery back there but I'd like the group to kick around a couple of ideas.

I am thinking of placing "leaded foam" a material made for sound damping under the bed, and perhaps a fabric (carpet?) on the underside of the roof and onto some of the interior panels. Here is a link to a company that makes such material. web page

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[bczoom]

Bob,

I too have thought about putting in some sort of sound deadening material but never really got around to it.

Not sure about the mule but when I compared the noise of the RTV to that of the Ranger, I found the RTV to be the quieter of the 2. When you increase RPM's on the RTV, it doesn't seem to get any louder, it just changes tone. I can still talk to my kids when driving at any speed. The Ranger got so loud at higher RPM's that 2 adults would need to yell to hear each other.

Why put it in the roof and other interior panels? I was thinking of mounting to the bottom of the cargo box and some under the seat (carefully so I don't block the radiator and other components under the seat.

If you try that stuff, let us know how it goes. It looks a bit pricey as it'll take $130 to do the area under the box but if it works, I might be game.

Brian

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I'd probably try rubberized automotive undercoating. That will be alot cheaper and probably work well.

 

[rleonard]

I ordered the following materials from McMaster Carr today. I'll document and advise on results.

4 2
Ft. 53925T75
Polyurethane Sound Absorbing Sheet W/Barrier Plain Surface,.25"/1" Foam Thk, 1.30" Total Thk, 54" W
$32.36 $64.72 today
5 5
Ft. 5692T53
Flat Sound Absorbing Foam Adhesive Back, Reinforced Foil-Faced, 1" Thk, 54" W
$11.15 $55.75 today


Bob

 

[rleonard]

I posted pictures of the sound insulation install at this link to my album.

http://photos.yahoo.com/pilot_bob

THe insulation helps, but more work is needed. The engine is in an open area. Lots of noise bounces off of the ground and out.

I think that the fan is a source of a lot of the noise. Not sure what good it does and I am thinking about removing it to see the difference. Comments?

Bob

 

[bczoom]

Bob, I looked at the pics. Nicely done.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think that the fan is a source of a lot of the noise. Not sure what good it does and I am thinking about removing it to see the difference.)</font>

Personally, I wouldn't think that the fan is a major source of noise on a diesel engine. As cool as the RTV tends to run, it does "seem" like that fan may not be required. The 2nd fan could/would kick on when it gets hot. I guess I wouldn't do it since they put it there for a reason. It probably wouldn't hurt to pull if off to do a sound test to see how much of the noise is from the fan.

Brian