Lombardini 510 diesel normal noises?

[freedomlives]

Motor running (youtube video)

Does this sound normal? The noise changes when I'm driving it and it is under load, but there is definitely this sort of noise that sounds like hitting. I assume if it were really some mechanical problem (like badly adjusted valves?) that it would quickly stop working altogether...

Could the muffler be no good? Because also, when I'm going any faster than idle, the sound level is such that I ought to be wearing hearing protection. I drove about 10 minutes on it up a hill here and when I stopped at the top to look at my field, and the motor was off, there was that sort of numbness in my hearing for a bit.

The engine is probably about 30 years old, and for all I know the muffler is original...

 

[wstr75]

I have a later model Lombardini diesel on a BCS 853. Your diesel sounds normal to me. Yes, I wear hearing protection when using my diesel.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Yes that is normal for a diesel.

The diesel cycle is such that the ignition happens on compression at a high compression ratio, so it is loud and sudden, hence the knocking sound.

Newer automotive diesels have used newer tech to make that noise much quieter, but older tech diesels sound like this.

Regarding the muffler. You could consider replacing it with a newer tech muffler with spark arrestor to lower fire danger if that is an issue in your area (it is in mine), and it might reduce some of the exhaust noise, but you will still need to wear hearing protection. My Grillo has an 11 HP Honda gas engine and I need to wear hearing protection at anything above idle. Same with my chain saw and Stihl Kombi. Small engines like these just don't have the muffling that a larger engine has.

 

[freedomlives]

Thanks for the replies (I know its a bit late, thought I'd already thanked...)

Motor has been working fine, I haven't bothered looking for another muffler, though I did notice in the parts catalog of Lombardini that several sizes are standard options for that engine.

 

[freedomlives]

Thanks for the replies (I know its a bit late, thought I'd already thanked...)

Motor has been working fine, I haven't bothered looking for another muffler, though I did notice in the parts catalog of Lombardini that several sizes are standard options for that engine.