WHAT?

[frank_f15]

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]

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_]

Anything that gets AM talk radio I use.

 

[lrunge]

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]

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]

<font color="blue">"WHAT do you use for hearing protection while running your tractor?" </font>

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]

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> They just don't go in there and set up right. </font> )</font>

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]

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]

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.

 

[Cactus]

<font color="blue"> </font><font color="blue" class="small">( Pura-Fit 6800 )</font> </font>

These are very comfortable. They are a real soft foam...more comfortable then the ones I use to wear.

 

[meanstreak]

dude wear hearing protection please, for the long term. there is nothing more anoying the shouting at some one just to have a normal conversation.

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue"> 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
</font>

Interesting, I am at the very least thinking about it now.

 

[hudr]

I agree w/ tc35dforme... I can actually hear BETTER with earplugs or muffs. It's like all the "background' noise is filtered out and I can hear what I really need to hear. If a part starts banging, I can hear it over the general din of whirring blades and roaring exhaust. And, no ringing in the ears later. Actually, no extra ringing. I went a long time w/o using hearing protection. I am 34 and my ears ring ALL THE TIME now. Also, I had a hearing test a few years ago... I have lost about 30% from my last hearing test several years ago. So...(and I am NOT a big 'safetycrat') I suggest wearing eye and ear protection.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue">I use MF (Massey Ferguson) Actually this tractor is so quiet with its down sweep exhaust no extra protection is needed. </font>
Thanks for verifying what I have thought for a long time. It has been mentioned here several times that the tractors were loud about more than one brand. The MF 1250 that I had and the MF 1440 that I have now have always been quite. Or so I thought. I am glad that I am not the only one that thinks that. I have no problem listening to my radio without turning up the sound very much.

 

[RalphVa]

I've ear plugs held together with a plastic string. They're the kind that are soft rubber with the rounded ends and a rubber-like round flapper in between the rounded ends and the bigger part that the string is attached to. They go in easily and take out a lot of the noise. The string is prone to catch on a sweaty, sticky neck and by other stuff. That's their main drawback.

I've plastic and steel stapes replacements in my right ear. MUST wear ear protection. Otherwise, noise jangles those pieces like mad. Since I've had to have the stapes replaced, I'm also more careful about just protecting both ears from noise.

Ralph

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't wear any hearing protection while using my tractor, and have no ringing in ears or anything like that. My tractor is not too loud. I also need to hear the noises when running my tractor to make sure everything is working ok.
I do wear earplugs when running chainsaw, weedeaters, welding grinder, etc.
Ben
*On a quiet day I can hear oil dripping from the neighbors Ford.
)</font>
=========
*Is this with or without the earplugs?

 

[JoshJ]

Along with the others, earplugs (soft foam, 30 cents at the local hardware store /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) are what i use, along with an occasional set of muffs. ive learned to carry earplugs in my car, in stick bags for drums, to my dorm, and the ear muffs on the tractor.

they say that most farmers have more hearing loss in their left ears. this is caused by years of turning to the right to look at equipment (think about it, most ag equipment is hitched to the right of the tractor, if not centered behind. tho one exception would be plows), this leaves the left ear exposed to the engine noise all of the time. i guess with CUTs, it wouldnt be as much of a problem, as most of the attachments are 3ph, and centered right behind. even so, i still turn to the right, just a habit that ive picked up i guess.

 

[Highbeam]

I used a pair of the foamys yesterday for a little skeet shooting. The advice to lift up on the top of my hear was spot on. I was able to jamb those puppies way in there where they did a great job. Problem is reusability. My work supplies them for free with permission to use them anytime since they really want to protect your hearing. Cool.

 

[To20Chris]

I used to be amazed from the sound pressue around jets - we used foam inserts AND muffs, but it did not help when you opened your mouth. The sound that would get into your head with your mouth open STILL hurt your ears!

I try to remember to use ear protection (muff type), and I too find I can hear sounds better with them on. I think the constant loud sounds overwhelm your ears, and make it harder to pick up the details.