Looking for a way to quiet down a lawn mower

[Chevy-SS]

My neighbor has a beautiful lawn, which he mows almost every day, and it takes him two hours with his self-powered walk-behind mower. The problem is - his Honda lawn mower is noisy. Even with my windows closed up tight, the drone penetrates throughout my house and drives me nuts.

I approached him and he agreed to install a quieter muffler (which I would pay for). My problem is, I can't seem to find a quiet muffler. I see them for other mowers though, just not this Honda. I tried this place with no luck: www.jackssmallengines.com

I'm looking for some suggestions here. I mean, if I have to buy him a new mower, I just might go to that length to resolve the noise. But I'd like to solve the issue without spending $500.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mech-tech]

What model he has? Is the muffler damaged in any way?

 

[Chevy-SS]

What model he has? Is the muffler damaged in any way?

Model #: HRR2169VKA
Serial #: MZCG-8697511

I looked at the mower yesterday. Muffler does not appear damaged. But perhaps the internals are blown out. I know he takes very good care of his stuff. Everything is neat and tidy and well-serviced.

Thanks

 

[Stuart in MN]

My neighbor has a beautiful lawn, which he mows almost every day

Does it grow that fast, or does he just like mowing? Maybe he could cut back to once a week or so.

 

[L.Cheapo]

The man has too much time on his hands and needs a quieter hobby. Buy him a TV. Or a fleshlight.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Does it grow that fast, or does he just like mowing? Maybe he could cut back to once a week or so.

Almost every single nice day (without rain or snow or ice), the lawn gets mowed. Perhaps he has some OCD about it, or it may just be his way of relaxing.

I don't want to interfere with his routine. I just want to remain sane while he carries it out.

 

[chrisexv6]

The man has too much time on his hands and needs a quieter hobby. Buy him a TV. Or a fleshlight.

At first I read it wrong and figured a flashlight would only encourage him to cut the grass at night too.

Then I read it correctly........

 

[chrisexv6]

Almost every single nice day (without rain or snow or ice), the lawn gets mowed. Perhaps he has some OCD about it, or it may just be his way of relaxing.

I don't want to interfere with his routine. I just want to remain sane while he carries it out.

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/diy/super-trapp-quiet-muffler-selection-guide/

Yes, that SuperTrapp

 

[four.cycle]

not really a heck of a lot you can do.
a lawnmower muffler is just a can with a baffle (or two) inside - really not a heck of a lot to it.
lawnmowers are inherently noisy.

I had a neighbor that went out and mowed almost daily, but he ran a Cal Trimmer. had a front lawn like a putting green.

I have no solutions, other than to suggest maybe earplugs or turn up your stereo.


maybe contact a Honda mower dealer and see if there's some sort of optional "super quiet" muffler available, but if it's anything like Briggs or Tecumseh it will be spendy.

 

[CobraChevelle]

buy some steel wool and jam that into the muffler.

Another reason why I want live out in the country. God forbid my lawn mower annoys someone or my snowblower.

 

[Wamsutta]

Model #: HRR2169VKA
Serial #: MZCG-8697511

LINK

They only show one muffler for it that I can see. On some other makes like Briggs & Stratton, they give you the option of a super low tone muffler, but it looks like Honda is giving you just that one. Maybe your neighbor just needs a new one.

 

[1950mercury]

Buy him a battery powered mower

 

[Zeke]

I think a lot of the noise a rotary mower makes is from the blade. Kinda like a helicopter where you don't hear so much of the engine but the blades. The guy ought to get a reel mower with a nice quiet motor.

Another thing I see all too often is that everyone, gardeners included, run the mower full throttle. I run my edger just over idle and mower at about half speed. This won't help the self powered type as it won't move very fast and it will take him even longer.

But look into the blade issue. There might be a quiet model. Needs to be kept sharp too.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Buy him a battery powered mower

This might be your best solution....:

 

[Ray-CA]

Buy him one of these....

Ray

 

[AirJunky]

Whoever heard of a quiet gas powered lawn mower??

 

[CobraChevelle]

works wonders...

 

[Chevy-SS]

Whoever heard of a quiet gas powered lawn mower??

Yes, yes, yes, I ******* hear you. If the ******* guy mowed his ******* lawn once or twice a ******* week, I wouldn't ******* gripe about it. But every ******* nice day, he mows the ******* lawn and it's driving me ******* nuts. Can u tell?

 

[CobraChevelle]

Wonder how quiet that 427 is

 

[littleponderosa]

I had the same problem with a neighbor years ago when I lived in town. Always mowed when I was on nights. Gave him a copy of my schedule. No change.

So, I pulled the softail out of the garage @ 0515 when I got home, pushed it out to the street, pointed ***-end to his house and fired it up.

Supertrapps.

He changed his routine.

Bill

 

[Skin]

Take the old muffler off and shake it. A broken baffle will rattle. A lot of the noise is from the blade though.

 

[Larryjones]

Modify the mower, route the exhaust under the deck, I would think that would muffle the sound somewhat.

 

[mech-tech]

I can give you this piece of advice...my next door neighbor has one of those electric Kobalt cordless push mowers, and even it has this steady humming noise that I can hear from inside my house while he is mowing. As mentioned you may be hearing the blade noise.

 

[RedF]

The problem is your neighbor is mowing his lawn daily. Could you convince him to use a manual push mower?

 

[CobraChevelle]

I had the same problem with a neighbor years ago when I lived in town. Always mowed when I was on nights. Gave him a copy of my schedule. No change.

So, I pulled the softail out of the garage @ 0515 when I got home, pushed it out to the street, pointed ***-end to his house and fired it up.

Supertrapps.

He changed his routine.

Bill

Wow your so cool!

 

[Chevy-SS]

Wonder how quiet that 427 is

It was actually kinda quiet and I always had enormous respect for the neighbors when I was driving through the neighborhood.

 

[littleponderosa]

No, just after too many attempts to quell the issue sometimes the only solution is give a little back. I simply wanted to sleep in a shift work oriented town. Only problem I've had with a neighbor.
Bill

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

If you can change the angle of he muffler so it points straight down (and low to the ground) it will quiet it up a lot. I had an old rider and no money for a muffler. A plumbing ******, an elbow and another short ******. It was the quietest mower on the block.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Take the old muffler off and shake it. A broken baffle will rattle. A lot of the noise is from the blade though.

Yeah, you have a good point. Take the Occam's Razor approach. The simplest solution (replacing the stock muffler) may be the best.

Thank you

 

[firworks]

Go to your local pick and pull and grab the smallest compact car muffler you can find. Fab up some exhaust pipes to it from the dinky one and away you go. Some time this summer I'm hoping to give it a shot with my rider. Could end up stupid and terrible but maybe it'll be fun!

 

[Chevy-SS]

Modify the mower, route the exhaust under the deck, I would think that would muffle the sound somewhat.

If you can change the angle of he muffler so it points straight down (and low to the ground) it will quiet it up a lot. I had an old rider and no money for a muffler. A plumbing ******, an elbow and another short ******. It was the quietest mower on the block.

Now that's a dang good idea. It wouldn't look very good though. The neighbor is VERY meticulous about everything, so I know he wouldn't want to be pushing around some sort of Rube Goldberg contraption. But thanks for the idea.

 

[Chevy-SS]

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/diy/super-trapp-quiet-muffler-selection-guide/

Yes, that SuperTrapp

Interesting idea. I emailed them about retrofitting something and they seemed stumped. I don't mind spending the money, but I want to get something that fits without much modification.

thanks

 

[mech-tech]

Might also look into replacing the muffler with a generator muffler, they are pretty quiet. Also if the blade is a mulching blade, they tend to have a noise of their own.

 

[G_P]

You will likely never get it quiet enough. You need to see if he can be convinced to stop mowing the lawn daily.
Seriously, there has to be some kind of mental condition causing him to do this. The grass cant be growing that fast!

 

[AV tinker er]

The man has too much time on his hands and needs a quieter hobby. Buy him a TV. Or a fleshlight.

I think you mean a "t.v. AND a fleshlight"

 

[Ghost11]

Agreed

 

[Ray-CA]

Wonder how quiet that 427 is

That's why I have custom ear molded plugs.

Ray

 

[SuitorsGarage]

I had the same problem with a neighbor years ago when I lived in town. Always mowed when I was on nights. Gave him a copy of my schedule. No change.

So, I pulled the softail out of the garage @ 0515 when I got home, pushed it out to the street, pointed ***-end to his house and fired it up.

Supertrapps.

He changed his routine.

Bill

Had a similar deal with a neighbor that moved into a multi family that I was living in. Talked to them and they seemed like awsome neighbors. First night they were staying there they had a party until about 2:00 am.

I was pissed!

When my alarm went off at 4:00 am I went out and started my Jeep and backed it up so the exhaust was pointing at their bedroom wall about 10 feet away. Lifted cj5 with a v8 and duals sticking out the back. Let it idle and rattle the windows of the old house for a half hour before i left.

They where pissed!

We were even!

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Seriously tho...Sounds like a good time to fabricate up some cool exhaust for his mower.

 

[PeterT]

No, just after too many attempts to quell the issue sometimes the only solution is give a little back. I simply wanted to sleep in a shift work oriented town. Only problem I've had with a neighbor.
Bill

Yeah, I do the same,, I installed a set of nathan airchimes on my truck,, blast bikers daily.