tractor tunes

[MikePA]

Ron,

Thanks for the tip about Worktunes. I had been using headphones connected to a small radio which worked well, except when the cord from the headphones snagged on something! /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif Neither the headphone cord nor the radio jack liked this very much. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I went to Rockler.com but they were backordered and cost $70. So, I did a web search and found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.omarksafety.com/category.cfm?acatid=61&aprodid=784>Omark Safety</A>. They had them in stock and the price is $59.21.

 

[WALT]

A less expensive alternative is to buy a good pair of hearing protector muffs. (I use "thunder muffs" $25-30) Then take a walkman speaker type head set, and trim away the connecting headband, at each speaker. Each indivdual speaker can then tuck into the ear cup of the hearing protector. I then run the speaker wire down my back (snaggs less) to a belt mounted walkman. If you break the wiring, plug or speakers, $5.00 buys you a new set, and you're back in business
Besides saving your hearing, this makes wearing hearing protection more enjoyable, so you do it more frequently.
I initially tryed wearing just the walkman headset, but you end up turning up the radio to overpower the motor noise, adding more noise. This method eliminates the ear ringing that followed past tractor use.
I wear this set up on the tractor, and using the brush cutter, table saw, orbital sander, chain saw etc.
Just remember to always pay attention to your task, vs. what you are listening to.

Happy Tractoring

WALT

 

[theboman]

Now I ain't the smartest person in the world, just one of the better looking ones (I ain't the richest either, that Gates fella makes a few bucks more a year than I do give or take a few billion dollars), but I went to the local closeout store (Big Lots) and got this AM/FM walkman type radio with those really cheap headphones and it cost me $9.95 and $4.00 in batteries. The radio keeps on ticking and had takin' a beatin' and fell off a time or two, step on, spit on, etc. So the dial is off but I still find stations. I use small elastic cord to wrap it on the ROPS... ta da. I may invest a new one this spring...

 

[RET]

Mike, Took you advice and visited OMARK Safety. Ordered the work tunes. Got'em in about a week. mowed with them a couple of days ago and was VERY impressed. The only noise I could hear was a muffled low frequency rumble from the engine. Nearly all the higher pitched noise was removed - especially the MMM noise. I only had to turn the FM radio volume up about 1/2. MUCH more enjoyable than before.
Thanks for the tip!
R

 

[Spencer]

I also got the "WorkTunes" last summer from a safety company on the web. Very good unit, and better for your hearing. If you just use a set of regular earphones and a walkman you have to turn the volume up too high just to try and drown out the tractor. My wife loves them too.

Spence

 

[djradz]

Rick, I thought about doing the same. However, most car stereos have a + and - wire for each speaker, and many say will not work with a common - connection. Did you connect the - leads together, since the headphone has only a right +, left + and common -?