1450 Quiet Line Not So Quiet

nutzboutoldies · #1 06-17-2013, 07:12 PM

My 1450 Quiet Line seems to be very loud. I bought the tractor used, rebuilt the engine did the engine cradle modification and torqued the rubber engine mounts to the proper specs. Tractor is running fine but "Quite Line", I don't think so. I'm not talking loud exhaust noise but engine/drive line/hood/chassis noise.
Is this just the nature of the beast or is there something I should be looking at/fixing?

Maxwelhse · #2 06-17-2013, 07:15 PM

FWIW.... I think my 149 is quieter, or no different, than my 1650...

Get a set of nifty hearing protection radio headphones and it won't matter anymore!

nutzboutoldies · #3 06-17-2013, 08:53 PM

Yea, I got the hearing protection and all is great. Mow for about two hours, no problem. I was just worried something was going to come apart and smash into my head. So should I start wearing a helmet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxwelhse

FWIW.... I think my 149 is quieter, or no different, than my 1650...

Get a set of nifty hearing protection radio headphones and it won't matter anymore!

Maxwelhse · #4 06-17-2013, 09:08 PM

I don't know you well enough to recommend a helmet or not...?

(j/k)... My fear with the Cubs is that the driveshaft will someday take my "boys" out if it lets go...

(not very probable)...

It sounds like you have checked the usual things that you should have (well... I dunno.. How are the rag joints in the driveshaft? If they're REALLY gone, I guess it could get noisy?)... If it's all good, then I say you have nothing to worry about. The simple fact of the matter is that these valve in block Kohlers are loud and no amount of side panels and rubber mounts is going to change that. I've noticed my QL is slightly louder with the side panels off. That's about the only engineering contribution that I can think of as adding to any "quiet" benefit, and it's very slight and not worth it vs. the extra heat around the motor (in my opinion... without a real fan all of the QL "ducted cooling" is totally worthless, and was only a marketing ploy, as far as I'm concerned).

----

Anyhow, if nothing is rattling or knocking in an obvious way, then the tractor is probably golden. I don't believe that the QLs are actually quiet, because they certainly are not... My Dad's '05 2210 *Diesel* Greene tractor is WAAAAY quieter than any K series Kohler anything I've ever run... That includes deck noise with his 62" deck....

sawdustdad · #5 06-17-2013, 09:35 PM

this was my first impression of my 1650 and 1450...neither exactly quiet. I found that most of the noise is hood/sheet metal noise, so judicious use of weatherstripping will quell some of the rattles. I don't like the hood latch (or lack of one) on the QLs, the ones on my 108 and 149 are much better.

I suspect some of the noise from my two QLs was due to new rag joints being stiff and causing some vibrations. As the joints loosened up with use, the vibration seemed to settle down a lot. They both seem quieter now than right after I restored them--probably 10 or 15 hourse of grass cutting each.

Maxwelhse · #6 06-17-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

this was my first impression of my 1650 and 1450...neither exactly quiet. I found that most of the noise is hood/sheet metal noise, so judicious use of weatherstripping will quell some of the rattles. I don't like the hood latch (or lack of one) on the QLs, the ones on my 108 and 149 are much better.

Funny you mention that... I've weather stripped the tar out of my 149 and latched the hood... Almost no difference except the hood isn't wearing on the gas tank cap nearly as bad anymore.... I need to weatherstrip it again though (and probably add the rubber bumpers it is supposed to have as well).

I don't even bother to latch the hood on the 149 these days because the latches are so worthless.... My Dad's 123 seems to be the quietest and the hood latches are effective. WF and QL... Not so much...

Anyhow... Loud pipes save lives and run it loud like you brung it!!!

Shaner · #7 06-18-2013, 12:37 AM

the 1200 i fixed up for my exgirlfriends step dad was the same way. REALLY loud and rattled everywhere. some rubber washers in the grill screen, and trim material around the hood solved that problem. but they were loud naturally.

cubby102 · #8 06-18-2013, 03:40 AM

Here's my idea of it and it goes with the loud pipes. Also the reason I put a straight cut gear timing set in my old camaro. The louder the engine is the less rattles and squeeks ya hear from the vehicle

but back on topic my 1650 was extreamly quiet. But my 1250 had more rattles and clanks then a unbalanced washing machine. Make sure your driveshaft is nice and straight and check the rag joints. Also the little bushing on the engine that holds the driveshaft. My 1250 had that bushingpop out and then it really made some noises

340demon · #9 06-18-2013, 07:43 AM

Just curious if you guys have the air box installed and make any difference in the exhaust noise? Thinking about making one out of 1/4" aluminum? Seen them on Extreme Motorworks.com for $46 plus shipping. Mine is in bad shape.

Berwil · #10 06-18-2013, 10:37 AM

Mine was terrible when I got it, shook and rattled real bad. Since then I've done the cradle mod, tweaked the front grill screen, added rubber edging to the hood, fastened the engine tins correctly, adjusted the carb and it has made a world of difference. It's not embarrassing to drive across the yard at part throttle, it sounds like a normal mower haha. It still vibrates just off idle, but its quiet....aside from the front roller on the deck which rattles when the deck is up and the seat rattling on the worn pin if your not sitting on it. To me its just as loud as other brands I grew up on powered by kohler or onan. Horsepower makes noise, you can hold a conversation while mowing with my O.