Mower tunes

[yardboyltd]

I consider music on a mower a distraction and possible safety hazard. However I was just wondering if there is anyone on here that listens to music while working. I mow a couple apartment complexes where I can be in the Z seat for 6 hours straight and it gets a little old especially on humid days. I find myself singing to myself alot.

I mow several secluded lots where it could be relatively safe. I would consider actual open air speakers safer than headphones...

My super rich neighbor has a ZTR with a 4" tuner TV on the front hood to mow his 6 acres for watching baseball... I would think that very distracting.

I've had several customers ask me if I had a CD player on my mower. I tell them well it should for what it cost...

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by yardboyltd
I consider music on a mower a distraction and possible safety hazard. However I was just wondering if there is anyone on here that listens to music while working. I mow a couple apartment complexes where I can be in the Z seat for 6 hours straight and it gets a little old especially on humid days. I find myself singing to myself alot...

First, I hope you realize that 6 hours in the seat will give plenty of time in a wheelchair by the time you're 50.
I'd much rather make $70 an hour doing the small stuff "riders" pass up. Just think, 15 minutes mowing, 7 minutes weedwhacking, and 3 minutes blowing the walks.... for $35. Then it's 5 minutes to the next stop. Sure beats a "full" hour actually riding, regardless if you're making $85/hour. Also, you don't get board, plus you get "10" minutes each hour in the truck with the A/C on.

Pete

[longviewlawncare]

i listen to music while i mow. It is really just like lsitening to music while you drive. You don't really pay that much attention to it but it does keep a beat in your head. I also find that it keeps my tempo up and i get more done faster. Hope that helps.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Yes
use personal CD player running off of homemade cigarette lighter socket that has gator clips on it to hook to the battery, most cd players come with a 12V DC cigarette lighter. Plug that adapter into the lighter socket and put the cd player in a little handy pouch from walmart for $15 (in the bike section) that has a zipper top and a pocket for a water bottle (comes with one) and has a strap on it like a fanny pack (those should work if they're big enough) and strap that onto the seat springs, tightly so it won't bounce off. Get a CD player with a good 45 second anti skip, and don't drive too fast over rough ground. Or hang it from something so it suspends and won't skip as easy. You can also use a little tape player or stereo in this pouch. So far I use the standard headphones but I'd like to make ones that are little speakers inside of big soundproof safety ear muffs (for gun shooting etc). That would be cool.
Gotta have music when I'm working!
Eric

[yardboyltd]

So do you suggest I sell my ZTR, market soley at small residentials, and pushmow the apartment complexes?

In fact, I plan on pursueing larger commercials next year for the greater benefits. More job security because not everybody can jump in on these accounts, there not as picky usually, etc...

Explain exactly why I would end up in a wheelchair by the time I'm 50 by sitting in fully suspended seat maneuvering at applicable speeds for close quarters mowing... Oh and those 10 min inbetween lawns isn't making you money, it's costing you gas, etc.. So is evertime you stop you have to walk back and forth to the truck to get trimer and blower... And I tend not to run AC inbetween yards because it's tough on me to get back out :)

[lawnkid]

I sing to myself the whole time while I'm mowing, some customers have laughed in the past. :D :cool:

[JET]

I think that music is a motivator and can be listened to while working. Like it was said above, you listen to music while operating a vehicle. That is a lot more dangerous then a piece of landscape equipment. There are also a lot more people out on the road while you are driving and listening to music, so more of a chance of hurting someone. I feel that listening to a CD player, a tape player, or my choice an MP3 player, is safe and motivating while running a machine. Maybe you should try listening to some music while you are mowing one of your secluded lawns as you said. If you can do it there with no problem, then give it a shot on one of your more open areas with more traffic. You never know, it could even make you more productive and put more $ in your pocket.

[mdb landscaping]

I use elvex ear muffs with the radio, and if my battery dies while im mowing i have to change them as soon as possible. I cant see mowing a lawn without them. Ive had them for 3 years now, and they arent distracting by any means. You can still hear the equipment and your surroundings. I would suggest giving them a try. I guarentee you wont be sorry when you use them

[TLS]

I use(d) Elvex's headset for the past 3 seasons. Cant mow without them! Just bought a pair of Peltors 3 weeks ago. The Peltors have FM, AND AM! (AM reception is a little funky) But I find that the Peltors aren't as comfortable as the Elvex's, and for some reason push in on my ears a bit? Like they're meant for small ears??? (Thats what I have! Hate to see a BIG eared person try these!)
The Peltors also dont sound as nice as the Elvex's. Too Basy not enough trebile. Also, on the Peltors, I find that if you bump it wrong, the channel changes too easily. The only complaint I have with the Elvex's is the headband that goes across the top of your head, it GRABS every stinkin' branch that you go under and quickly removes the muffs from your head! The Peltors have a real thin padded head band. The Peltor Ear cups stick out further to the sides than the Elvex's. They both protect about the same from outside noise. Wouldn't advise Against buying either, they're both excellent quality.

I cant see mowing without hearing protection for anybody. Your ears are one short step down from your eyesight, and should be taken more seriously in our profession!

Oh, and the music really makes the day go better, and when your singin', at least your singin' along to a cool new song, not just singin' in your head to the song you last heard in your truck!!!

[Doogiegh]

I have on order a set of the Peltor Worktunes right now as we speak. Tracking the order on UPS shows it should be in my hands on Wednesday.. I'll see how they go, I'm looking forward to getting them for sure!

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by yardboyltd
So do you suggest I sell my ZTR, market soley at small residentials, and pushmow the apartment complexes?

In fact, I plan on pursueing larger commercials next year for the greater benefits. More job security because not everybody can jump in on these accounts, there not as picky usually, etc...

Explain exactly why I would end up in a wheelchair by the time I'm 50 by sitting in fully suspended seat maneuvering at applicable speeds for close quarters mowing... Oh and those 10 min inbetween lawns isn't making you money, it's costing you gas, etc.. So is evertime you stop you have to walk back and forth to the truck to get trimer and blower... And I tend not to run AC inbetween yards because it's tough on me to get back out :)

You're right, what the heck do I know. I did wonder though, how do find time to mow all these big commercial properties and still go to school????.
Pete

[Doc Pete]

FWIW, Radio shack makes a nice pair of full size cushioning headphones with digital AM/FM FM stereo and work well for surpressing noise for only $39.99. All the guy's around hear use them..............They seem to work as well as the peltons etc.
Pete

[TLS]

The Radio Slack jobs will NOT supress decibels properly, if at all! The Peltors are only $69 the Elvex's are only a little over $120.

The whole reason for these headsets are to protect you hearing. This is something that the Radio Slack units DO NOT do.

When I put on my headsets in the house at night just to try them out, I missed the phone ringing only 5 feet away! Took them off and heard the answering machine clicking off!

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Switchless@aol.com


First, I hope you realize that 6 hours in the seat will give plenty of time in a wheelchair by the time you're 50.
I'd much rather make $70 an hour doing the small stuff "riders" pass up. Just think, 15 minutes mowing, 7 minutes weedwhacking, and 3 minutes blowing the walks.... for $35. Then it's 5 minutes to the next stop. Sure beats a "full" hour actually riding, regardless if you're making $85/hour. Also, you don't get board, plus you get "10" minutes each hour in the truck with the A/C on.

Pete

Lets see, I am close to 2/3's the way there and spent close to 8000 hours in a ZTR seat, and see no wheel chair in my future.

You stick with your $70 an hour and I will take my $15 more an hour ridding in comfort on my throne.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by TLS
The Radio Slack jobs will NOT supress decibels properly, if at all! The Peltors are only $69 the Elvex's are only a little over $120.

The whole reason for these headsets are to protect you hearing. This is something that the Radio Slack units DO NOT do.

When I put on my headsets in the house at night just to try them out, I missed the phone ringing only 5 feet away! Took them off and heard the answering machine clicking off!

Not that I use them;) . I use the 29 db peltors. However, I hardly see anyone with real ear protection, let alone eye protection. So, true they ain't great, but they're better than nothing.....AFter all, if guy's always had protection on, you wouldn't be reading about the top of the ears getting too much sun:p
Pete

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER


Lets see, I am close to 2/3's the way there and spent close to 8000 hours in a ZTR seat, and see no wheel chair in my future.

You stick with your $70 an hour and I will take my $15 more an hour ridding in comfort on my throne.


Not everyone is created equal. I'm not one of the lucky ones with a good back. However, I didn't find that out til I was almost 40. Hey, some guy's never get tendionitus, not me. I'm light skinned, light haired, and have to take care of myself.
Glad a ztr is comfortable for you. At 155, they all just bounce too much for me. And, didn't you say you were only getting $65 per man and machine :rolleyes:
Pete

[Got Grass?]

The worst, is when you get really dumb/bad song you dont even like stuck in your head & can only rememer a verse, so ya keep repeating it in your head tring to remember the rest. Then when ya get home for the day you try & D/L it MP3 style but cant remember what it was, till the next day you find yourself singing it again.
:dizzy:

[Brickman]

I will take the rider work over WB any day. (which is why I am out of shape) :D

I would NEVER allow an employee to use head phones while attempting to work. All the ones I have had were so spaced out I do believe that they had a radio in their head. If allowed to listen to the radio along with that condition my equipment would have really gotten messed up.

I am considering getting a set of head phones for myself however.

[yardboyltd]

I'm concerned about headphones not allowing me to hear what's going on around me, but it's probably the only way to go. The same reason why it's illegal in my state to have headphones on in a car. You can't hear your surrounding enviroment. I'd hate for someone to be screaming at me to stop for some reason and not hear them...

I was considering to mount small speakers and a small mp3 or shockless CD player for it.

[David Haggerty]

Originally posted by yardboyltd
I was considering to mount small speakers and a small mp3 or shockless CD player for it.

You'd have to crank them up too loud just to hear them. They've got headphones with microphones that let you hear ambient sounds at safe levels.

With headphone radio/hearing protection you have protection when weed eating and backpack blowing also. The little two cycle engines are more damaging to your hearing than some of the bigger engines.

Dave

[SLS]

What??? You guys need to speak up...I can't hear you! :D

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Originally posted by TLS
The Radio Slack jobs will NOT supress decibels properly, if at all! The Peltors are only $69 the Elvex's are only a little over $120.

The whole reason for these headsets are to protect you hearing. This is something that the Radio Slack units DO NOT do.



I beg to differ. I believe we've been through this before. I use the Radio Shack Racing Headphones and will block all outside noise even without music playing. These headphones are obviously designed for race car fans to block the noise out at the track and at the same time you can plug the headphones into a radio and listen to the race. I use a CD walkman along with my superb Radio Shack headphones while mowing.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[Stinky]

i use a sony no skip portable cd player with sony earplug headset. it seems no less distracting than the engine noise of the ztr

[ksland]

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=33%2D1158

they block out up to 20db it says. For those still interested in these

[nu83]

I use the radio headphones, they block out the deafning noise from the mowers and allow me to listen to Rush every day. One of the best benefits of the job.

[GarPA]

I use the Peltor worktunes....and I wish someone would have said what was said above...the AM reception is lousy...plain lousy...no matter where I am...and also as stated above they are NOT comfortable....wish I had not bought them...sorry Peltor but I have to be honest about it ...

[jeffyr]

I owned the Elvex and now have the Peltor worktunes. Here is my opinion:
Elvex Sounded better (they were stereo) but did not block out as much noise as the Peltors. The elvex were a little more cumbersome and changing batteries was difficult. The foam in the one ear had to be removed and the battery case and speaker slid out attached to a little wire. The wire broke many times. The 1 speaker stopped working, I believe because of the wiring, but I couldn't find the problem. They didn't hold up well in my opinion.

Bottom line was I paid 1/2 the price for the Peltors and they block out more noise and still play music. Given the environment we work in I think they sound fine (after all, we are not in a sound proof room). And I didn't have any reception problems with either in my area. But if you are looking for a lightweight set of comfortable hearing protectors then you shouldn't get ones with a radio and batteries. They are much heavier than standard protectors made by the same companies.

jeffyr

[eslawns]

Using a headset does not detract from safety. Anybody stupid enough to hurt themself wearing one is stupid enough to do it without wearing one. That's kind of like saying the radio in your car distracts the driver. Are you telling me you trust a truck with the lives of the driver and occupants and all the gear it holds or tows, not to mention all the other people going 55 on the highway, but you won't trust a mower or trimmer and its operator?

I don't require my help (when I have it) to wear ear protection, but I have it if they want it. I do require eye protection at all times. I only give one warning about it.

Any owner or crew leader who wears one and won't let the crew do it is a jerk. Set an example.

[Santa]

Radio of choice for my employee's has been the elvex unit. Never had a problem with distraction yet, and they are a great morale booster on those long hot days.

D.L.

[Planet Landscaping]

I use radio shacks digital . Dont like mowing without them. Best 40 bucks I spent.

[Doogiegh]

I replied earlier when this thread started, and I'll say it again.... The Peltour Worktunes are the only hearing protection I've ever tried, and the only ones at this point I would try.

I started out like everyone else listening to the buzz of the mower. It is Loud, Boring, Unmotivating, and allows your mind to get DULL cause you are thinking about NOTHING. And mowing grass is inherently BORING as a task, by itself... It's only fun because we add sulkys, cool machines, stripes, floating decks, electric starts and a whole other assortment of "goodies" to make it fun and interesting, as well as professional.

I mentioned when I first got the headsets, I put them on.. Took a pile of small sticks/twigs and ran the mower over them on purpose.. I could hear the clatter of the sticks just fine.. And the mower sounds like a beehive from a distance. Not a 12+ HP engine that's..... 4 feet away....

It's motivating, it keeps you in touch with the world, and if you have a pro-slide like me, you can dance and mow at the same time. :)

I totally agree that those who are going to have an accident will do so, whether the headset is on or not...

Cops don't ask at accidents if the radio was on, they ask if you had on your seatbelt. <G>

Gary

[cglservice]

Would hate to mow without mine now, The music volume is not loud enough to block out all noise just enough to make things pleasent .

[Gravely_Man]

I personally do not listen to music while mowing. It distracts me far too much. Eric Elm was a big user of a radio headset. Just be safe in all that you do. It only takes a moment for a disaster to strike.


Gravely_Man

[Guido]

I run construction equipment all day and it would be very lonely in those cabs without my radio hearing protectors. It keeps me going and does a great job of keeping the unwanted noises out.

I believe it was Eric ELM and Kirby (I think) that talked me into them about 1.5 years ago.

They're a good chunk of change, but I think they're worth every penny.

[TurfGuyTX]

Originally posted by eslawns
Using a headset does not detract from safety. Anybody stupid enough to hurt themself wearing one is stupid enough to do it without wearing one. That's kind of like saying the radio in your car distracts the driver. Are you telling me you trust a truck with the lives of the driver and occupants and all the gear it holds or tows, not to mention all the other people going 55 on the highway, but you won't trust a mower or trimmer and its operator?



What is the opinion of wearing music headsets if you're doing medians on a very busy street, known to have alot of accidents? Would not hearing what's going on around you keep you as safe?

[GarPA]

I have 2 accounts that are right on the white line of the busiest highway in my town....and I never wear the Peltors there....in fact about the only time I wear them is open field mowing...working close to traffic is dangerous enough....and now you got me thinking...what the heck are we doing working on the berm of the road....all it takes is one yuppie on his Nokia not paying attention and we're roadkill...now you got me thinking again about dropping this account...but damn it its soooo profitable!! so what huh...

[dr grass]

i bought some worktunes about 2 months ago. i really kick myself for not buying these things years ago!!! my hearing has improved greatly, and the day goes by much better.

Brickman - why are you going to get some worktunes?? are you getting back into lawn care? good luck if so!!


shep :blob4:

[M&SLawnCare]

I have worktunes and love them. First off these aren't complete noise blocking earmuffs, which i think would in fact be dangerous. They simply reduce high DB noise to a safer level, aka mower engine noise. With mine on i can still hear my surroundings, still hear someone call my name, and still hear what my mower is doing just fine. Music makes a huge difference to me as far as enjoying the job. Its also nice to put on something heavy and get the adrenaline pumping for those PITA jobs.

I broke my darn mp3 player a week ago though so i've been stuck using my phone and running regular earplugs under my worktunes (phone cable is different than standard earphones jack, have yet to find a converter). :cry: Kills my ears from having those things jammed under my headphones after a while, but its still worth it for any yard that will take me over 15 mins to do

[swingset]

I listen to music while I mow, trim, blow, drive, sleep, eat, do #2 and party with the wife.

I fully intend to be buried with headphones on...and hooked up to XM Radio.

[swingset]

What is the opinion of wearing music headsets if you're doing medians on a very busy street, known to have alot of accidents? Would not hearing what's going on around you keep you as safe?

Nothing says you have to have them loud enough to be a distraction. If you have DB reducing headphones, and the music quiet, you can hear better than if you had NO hearing protection on and had to hear things above your mower running.

That's a fact.

[touhey33]

I listen to sports radio on my work tunes. I believe there peltor. How can they be a distraction you can't hear anything over the mower anyway. I like to listen to Jim Rome, Tony Bruno, and my local sports radio show. The am comes in fine here in indy (noblesville)

[Sym]

Personally I have a pair of Sennheiser (EH150) over the ear headphones. Cuts down the noise a bunch, but I can still hear plenty around, like if the mower sounds funny or I hit something. I am most thankful for the headphones (well my right ear is) when I am trimming or edging.

I just hook'em up to my 4GB MP3 player.....hit shuffle and mow away....

[Pastaboy62]

if got some ear buds built into my over-ear head phones, then i listen to my ipod, 1500 songs, 3 days worth...gets me through my day