WHAT?

frank_f15 · May 19, 2005

I don't wear any ear protectoin when operating the tractor, i do wear it when using chain saw or weed wacker for any lenght of time, i do on ocassions have ringing in my ears but that i attribute to the many years of working in a factory with constant noises, but actually i still hear pretty darn good.

Tdog · May 19, 2005

I use the Worktunes too, when mowing, chain sawing, etc. They work pretty well on FM. AM is lousy. However, here's my main beef about them: too hot in the summer & it's difficult to wear them with a straw hat. I prefer to wear a straw hat in hot weather. In order to use the Worktunes, I have to ditch the straw & put on a ball cap. Not a major inconvenience, but not as much sun protection, either.

_RaT_ · May 19, 2005

Anything that gets AM talk radio I use.

lrunge · May 20, 2005

I use Peltor noise cancelling ear protectors. With the noise cancelling turned on you can hear well enough to carryon a normal conversation but any loud noise will cause them to cancel the sound. For example, if you clap your hands together loudly it will cancel out the sound. They also have AM and FM radio or a connector for any cd player. I think they were about a$150 when I bought them a couple of years ago.

Cactus · May 20, 2005

The ear plugs that offer the most protection and I find are comfortable are the soft foam disposable type Ear plugs We have these as an option at work,along with the ear muffs and the rubber ear plugs. But the foam plugs will offer the most noise reduction.

The Work Tunes are nice and will help potect your ears too.
The ringing of the ears is not a good thing....you are damaging your hearing.

Syncro · May 20, 2005

"WHAT do you use for hearing protection while running your tractor?" 

I use MF (Massey Fergusson) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Actually this tractor is so quiet with its down sweep exhaust no extra protection is needed. Unfortunately I spent so many years on loud tractors before getting this one that sadly I'm a member of the "whaaaat?" club too. Last week I spent a few hours on my friends old Ford 445 industrial and my ears not only rang but actually hurt, even though I was stuck without muffs I should have taken the time to get ear protection, it was a dumb thing to do.

Around my shop I keep muffs handy for grinders, saws etc. I find conventional ear muffs to be way better than the disposable ear plugs which for me at least don't work. Been thinking about those Bose but the price is too high.

Highbeam · May 20, 2005

I use the shooting type ear muffs for anything more than a 5 minute run on the dozer. The enigne sounds quiet for short periods but really starts to echo in your head after a while and then at the end of the day you notice that your hearing has suffered.

I never use muffs while mowing with a push mower around the house but I find that if I run that push mower for more than a couple of hours that I get that same hearing loss. So its on with the muffs.

Also while working with metal I use the muffs during grinding. That high frequency banging really makes an immediate pain in the ears.

I have always had problems getting the foam ear plugs to work. They just don't go in there and set up right. The muffs work now.

I do keep a set of the foam ones in the truck for some emergency target shooting or whatever while away from home.

Cactus · May 20, 2005

( They just don't go in there and set up right. )

I roll mine up real thin and push them down in the ear canal and let them expand. I don't push them so far you cannot grab them to pull them back out...although I have had to use the tweezers on occasion.Not very often have I ever had to use tweezers though.

Jagmandave · May 20, 2005

I also have problems with the plugs, they hurt my ears after a while. I've learned the hard way to wear muffs anytime I'm making noise, including hammering on something that rings out when I hit it. I pretty much always use them with the weed whacker, chainsaw, or any grinding. When I use them on my ZTR, it seems to not work as well, it's like they work sometimes but when I hit a bump or chew some gum they seem to open up and let noise in for a second - something about my jaw moving or something unseats them for a moment, I don't know how to describe it exactly, but it's not so good................ and they do get hot in the summer.........

SteveInMD · May 20, 2005

I had to take an OSHA safety class for work. They covered using ear plugs. They said to...

1) wash your hands - the ear canal is very thin and any chemicals or grease on your fingers will go right through you skin in there

2) roll the plug back and forth between your fingers to make a thin roll

3) reach over your head with the hand opposite the ear (right hand for left ear) and grab the top of your ear

4) pull up to open your ear canal

5) push the plug in with your finger and hold it there until it expands

Also, use the soft plyable foam type not the harder type for better comfort and performance.