Stack vs Enclosed Muffler...and other ?'s

[N80]

The advantage of an enclosed muffler, like the one on my L4400, seems obvious to me. But the bigger, nicer M series tractors have stacks. What is the advantage of a stack? Seems to me it would just get knocked off. I know that I'd have knocked mine off a long time ago.

They also remind me of when I did some tractor work (pulling a harrow) for my B-I-L years ago on one of his old Cases (?). It had a top mounted exhaust that was so rusted and short it blew smoke in my face the whole time. It was summer time too.

Next question, the advantage of externally mounted hydraulics on the 3 pt hitch seem obvious to me as well. Why do they internally mount them on smaller tracotrs. Seems like they would be much harder to work on.

 

[ozzie tractor]

more HP = more exhaust heat, they stick the stack on them mainly to keep the heat over the operator. some models (ME series) have low mounts and they do get a bit hot when working hard.
i think the 3pl one piece thing is a carry over from the dark ages. pig to work on, but it is a unit that can be fitted to new models instead of redisigning it every time.