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Heat Housers - Do They Work

B

Bill VA

Well-known Member
Thinking about some cold weather bush hogging with the Farmall 350 over the winter and have a few questions regarding heat housers

Do they work?

How cold temps will they keep you warm?

They look like they would channel leaky exhaust fumes right to the operator - is that typically a concern?

Any brand preferences and options to consider?

School me on heat housers for an old tractor like my Farmall 350.

The older I get, the colder I get.

Thanks!
Bill
 
I wouldn't say they keep you warm. They block the wind so you're not absolutely freezing to death. You might get a little engine heat but it's far from sitting in a heated cab.

Fix your exhaust leaks. Problem solved.

There might be one or two places still making heat housers in the world. Femco and/or Burch is pretty much it, and that's assuming the websites are current. It's not like there are dozens of different competitors to choose from.
 
Do they work? Darn skippy. Are they as good as a cab? Not even close. However growing up in Iowa hauling manure in the winter with dad's JD A the heat houser was a god send. Kept the wind off and provided some warmth in subzero weather.
 
If there is one truth about winter operation it it warm is better. Heat Housers are far warmer than an open station or even a cab with no heat. Properly installed and with the engine warmed up they can be the difference between OK and miserable. Quality fabric designed for the size of tractor, is a must. Adapting the wrong one is not easy to get tight enough to channel the heat to the operator. A windshield is necessary. I installed ours on H Farmalls and 350U internationals till I went away to University.
Good footwear is also important to add to the window of reasonable temps. I come from Northern Indiana and used them plowing snow in just above zero F temps. Jim
 
I had one on an M once. Acctually made it down right pleasant in cold weather. However,wind was an issue at times,but it darn sight better than nothing. As said,FIX any exhaust leaks!
 
Like mentioned it is not a cab but it will keep you warm. As to how warm it depends on how hot the tractor is running. We did not have a cab tractor until mid eighties. We ran the barn manure out every day of the year that the cows stayed in the barn sometimes as cold as -20. A tractor with a gunney sack on the front, 230(overgrown C)will keep you warm pushing through 1 foot deep snow. One fall I plowed with a 560 gas in a snow storm to finish up and the snow was melting off my coveralls. Just had to make sure I did not overheat the tractor.
 
Everyone else has pretty much steered you in the right direction. If and I really do mean IF you can find one custom made for your tractor buy it. The universal versions don't fit anything properly. They don't fit up tight against the tractor and let the engine heat out instead of helping warm you up. They also let the wind in. I bought a Burch Heathouser for my tractor and am not impressed. It is canvas which is good. The Femco fit the tractor much better but they only have vinyl which won't last long. If you can find an old original one just for your tractor at an auction or something buy it. Overall they help when you are going against the wind. They're open in the back so going with the wind is colder.
cvphoto137449.jpg
 
Burch Mfg lists one for your tractor. $430.00 My experience with them in sub-zero Wisconsin weather hauling out manure every day was a positive one. They make life at least liveable.
 
You need the windshield too.. Helps break the wind.. With heat-houser; get the old
windshield, you can replace with plexi-glass, but you need the frame.. That helps a lot.
Yes; a heat-houser does make a big difference..
 
I make mine out of a tarp. I have a number 30 loader which helps. not perfect but does work.
 
Yes they work. If you're putting a load on the tractor they work better from the added heat off the radiator. Exhaust not a problem unless the manifold or the pipe leaks. Muffler is normally over the houser.

Back in the late 80's I made one out of some old rod I found and a plastic tarp. Sewed it up with fish line. I didn't have a windshield but it was still better than out in the open.
 
I made one for my Jubilee only to discover the exhaust manifold gasket is leaking and I got a headache.
Anything is better than nothing..
 
Yep they work well if they fit your tractor, and anything is better than nothing. Not a houser but had a Ford 602 picker on a 961-D which channeled heat very well on a cold day. Not as good as something with a windshield but it sure made a difference!
 
Well, heat housers are better than nothing but the visibility is terrible when snow plowing. You're call. As others have said - you don't get a lot of heat until the tractor is hot. How hot is hot when it's 15 degrees out? Not much. If you're doing a quickie job in cold weather, forget about it, - bundle up. If your're working the tractor all day, it might be worth it.
 
I had one on a 1365 oliver, then adapted it to a 685 case/ih [easy job]. the 685 has a canopy. I put plexiglas on the sides up to the windshield and a piece on the rollbar behind me. I took a couple small shields off on the sides and it would get very comfortable. Going into a barn when loading out hay was a different story. Until completely inside, no visibility.
 
Marcus H nailed it. 1963 winter -10 not toasty .not warm, but the Houser made the manure spreading tolerable . North west corner Illinois. My how we have advanced in the last 60 years. CM
 
i fixed a rod across the back of my cover on my 1650 oliver.it stopped cold wind blowing up your back. ive ran dads A and 630 jd with them. my farmall md with 1.it never made much heat but stopped the wind.
yes they work
 
Hot going against the wind--Cold going with the wind--But--better by far than nothing!!---Tee
 
Been putting one a on an H Farmall for 20 years now. Wouldn't be without it. Just a universal fit. We had some late tractor rides last year and put 120 miles going, doing and returning home with it. Was toasty all the way. Was cleaning the church lot and a fool running a walk behind snow blower came up to me and was laughing how cold I was, showed him my dry boots and warm hands, guess who was laughing now!!!!!!
 
Like everyone said! Hauling manure with the 1940 SC Case, bouncing along on big link chains, that windshield and the warm air made it bearable in below zero Iowa weather.
 
For field work yes. For pushing snow, not really. They will block the wind, but you never really get a tractor warm enough pushing snow around to give you any heat.
AaronSEIA
 
They work good. Run two to three every winter. Used to run ih ones, then switched to regal which didn't last very long. Switched over to femco and haven't looked back. They hold together pretty well. Time is hard on the windshields. They get brittle after a couple seasons. Usually replace them with thicker cheaper plexiglass type stuff when they get bad.
 
If you are going north into the north wind, They work great but turn south they
will freeze your a## off.
 
Don't know what type or make your tractor is BUT they do work. I reworked one of new old stock to Farmall 550 To fit our Farmall IHC BN. Also installed a Canvas top and back ( reworked ) from a similar tractor. Put a cover over the rad to assist. Within 5 minutes of running on a cold winter's day in central southwestern Ontario Canada AM always toasty warm no matter which way the wind blows. Best winter investment we ever made.
Wm
 
Don't know what make or style of tractor>>>BUT I have one that was new old stock made for a 550 IHC farmall that I reworked to fit our IHC Farmall
 
Biggest issue we had was that a tractor doing chore work will barely warm up because the engine isn't being put under load. Usually put a burlap bag in front of the radiator to restrict airflow to get the tractor warmer - but the restricted airflow meant less warm air blowing on the operator. Running a brush hog should get the tractor warm on its own though.
 
If anyone is looking for one I bought a brand new still the box IH red heat howser with a glass windshield that I really have no use for. It has to be 40+ years old. NE Kansas
 
Electric socks and gloves with carhart coveralls works much better and can be used when not on tractor!
 
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