Why are lawn mowers so loud

To reduce lawn mower noise, you can try options such as tightening all the screws, replacing the muffler, changing the engine oil, adding mass to the deck, and fixing the blade assembly. None of these are particularly complicated so should be easy for you to do at home. Some are much louder than others in the first place, and this only gets worse with age and wear. Very few lawn mowers designers have ever considered noise levels when designing their product, as their main focus is to function.

But why are lawn mowers so loud? Like all machines, lawn mowers have lots of moving parts in their engines. Electric lawn mowers are generally quieter, but they can still make plenty of noise. As the engine ticks over, it vibrates. So along with the noise, the engine makes directly, you also have to deal with the sound of the body rattling. A standard lawn mower operates at around 90dB, which is loud enough to cause damage to your ears when exposed to it for too long.

This is reason enough to want to make your lawn mower quieter. Over time, wear and tear to the machine will often cause it to make more noise. Screws can come loose, causing parts to rattle more, and things can get stuck or be broken. Some of the most common issues that cause it to make more noise are:. You can avoid all of these by regularly inspecting and maintaining your lawn mower. Ideally, you should solve these problems before they start making noise, as this can be a sign of damage.

These issues are characterized by clunking, knocking, or squeaking noises, so if you hear any of these be sure to get it checked out. The last thing you want to do is cover up a sign of a bigger problem.

Some of these options are about noise reduction but others are simple fixes for these common problems. Loose components rattle more than they should, which increases the amount of noise coming from your machine.

Start by giving it a once over and tightening all the screws you can find. A muffler is a device fitted onto an exhaust pipe to deaden the sound that escapes from it. It contains several chambers and insulation to reduce noise but also increases engine pressure for greater efficiency. Any cracks or gaps will allow sound to escape, which reduces its effectiveness. This may be the cause of the noise of your lawn mower.

At the same time, muffler gaskets can be a source of the noise. These are metallic pieces that stand between the engine and the muffler.

The primary purpose of these parts is to make a seal, and if they break, you can hear the sound and notice the gas coming out. It is recommended to check these parts occasionally and see if these are placed correctly.

If only one part of the mower is broken, you can hear the annoying sounds, and your mower can be in danger to suffer from a bigger problem. Blades create a lot of noise as well. Most lawn mowers have two or three blades that cut the air at more than mph, which is very effective for the functionality of the mower, but these blades make much noise.

To diminish this noise, you can remove the deck to coat the underside by using the truck bed liner. This will help in reducing the noise and protecting against corrosion. Engines are another source of loudness in lawn mowers. Crankshaft, valves, and the fan can make a noticeable noise. You should check and adjust valve lash each year to ensure optimum performance. There are also essential factors that affect the engine in a large amount, like the oil quality. When the oil is old, it may affect the sound of the engine.

Check the performance of the engine every season to ensure the effectiveness of the engine. When it comes to the engine fan, it needs to be well maintained to stay cool. Its main role is to cool down the engine, and you can lower the loudness of the fan by putting the self-adhesive bitumen where the hood's underside is placed.

This will help reduce the noisy effect of the fan. Other parts of the lawn mower like deck linkages, levers, body panels, and seat and hood rubber stops need attention as well. Greasing and spraying these parts will help reduce noise in the days to come. Most lawn mowers have absorptive mufflers that are very noisy and very basic in functioning. These mufflers usually come with a spark catcher. It represents the mesh screen that holds the sparks that go out from the engine. Absorptive mufflers are fitted to most engines of lawn mowers.

These mufflers make slight restrictions to the gas flow. With blades capable of cutting off fingers and toes, it is probably a good idea for everyone nearby to be totally aware when a lawn mower is running. An engine that runs louder than normal is often a sign that maintenance needs to be done on the machine. Check that the muffler is still in good shape and not rusted or cracked.

Also, be sure to replace the engine oil in your lawnmower every season. Some mowers have a governor that regulates the engines RPM during higher loads. Sometimes this lever or spring can become stuck and stay in the full throttle position. Verify that it can move freely. While adding a modified muffler is an option to reduce the sound of your lawn mower, that solution may be too costly or have less impact on the sound than you hoped that it would.

Also, it is difficult to find a modified muffler for your exact model of lawn mower. And if you try to weld your own without being a master designer and welder, you might just make the problem much worse. It generally comes in sheets which you can then apply to the top of the deck. I have not tried this but in theory, it should provide some relief from that annoying clanging and banging.

Another option is to buy an electric mower rather than a mower with a gas-powered engine. Although an electric motor is typically not as loud as a gas-powered engine, an electric mower is usually still extremely loud. The reason that electric mowers can still be loud is that not all of the sounds that a mower makes are generated by the engine.