Muffler or no muffler?

Does it effect the way your tractor runs or performs? I put a straight pipe on my 300 this weekend for a pull and I noticed more popping in the exhaust like small misfires only when the tractor wasn't under load it was just fine when I pulled not to mention it was alittle obnoxious. I have had people say that tractors need backpressure to run right and others say it is alright. My brother's 1256 runs just fine with a straight pipe. I would like to see your opinion! Regarless I think I am going to put the muffler back on it.

You can use a pipe if you like, but I like a muffler a lot better than a pipe or chrome stack. I think they sound better with a muffler, I don't think it would effect the performance very much either.

Doesn't hurt a thing to run one with a straight pipe. Your problem sounds like your carb it set either to rich or to lean either one can cause that problem. The reason you don't here it with a muffler on it because it hides it from your ears
Hobby farm

Well from what i have seen on my junk, My S/MTA will do just a wisker over 2 ponnies more with the muffler inplace then with a stright pipe plus my ears like it much better.

Here's a YouTube with a Farmall H with muffler and with chrome stack. You can see how each one sounds. Kinda neat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAi8rb2PMEo

I'm not a tractor engine expert by any means but have run a few high horsepower off road trucks in the past and I ride a modified 84 Harley with straight pipes. I don't think it matters either way for a low rpm, low horsepower engine. The simple explanation is straight pipes are more commonly used on high rpm engines to let one exhaust pulse help pull the next exhaust pulse out of the cylinder at higher rpms. And that requires sizing the pipe for diameter and length to make it work effectively. The M and H Farmall owners manuals suggest using a muffler in "urbanized" areas leading me to believe they were not standard equipment. The straight pipe was just tall enough to get the fumes and noise above the operators head. I would guess the 300 came with a muffler as standard equipment so tuning for the muffler was incorporated into it's design. If you want a pony or two more maybe advance the timing till it pings slightly under load and then back it off a touch. Not sure if this will help on a lo-po engine but it shouldn't hurt the performance either. Getting the fuel to ignite as soon as possible is a good thing within reason. With todays junk fuel though it's a cropshoot. ...Randy

I have a straight pipe on my 300 too, You will hear some pops and sputters because it is a straight pipe. The only downside is when the governor kicks in your ears ring, plus you have to remember to take that darn Folgers can off the pipe before you start it.

Valves may last longer with a little backpressure. As for performance, its a crap-shoot. Tuned straight pipes help high RPM engines and a low-restriction muffler helps build torque. On a constant RPM load (tractor with governor) it is more a matter of are you deaf now, or will you be deaf later in life... My F504 diesel is LOUD with no muffler, was a little quieter with the rusted out muffler, and still somewhat loud with a new muffler. My TC-30 NH sounds like a Honda Accord compared to the F504D.

Charles