heat housers

Do any of you have experience with these things? Do they really keep you much warmer than if it weren"t on or is it mostly for blocking the wind? I don"t know how available they are used but do they make them for Super Cs or just larger tractors?

freeze going one way, burn up the other, a lot of them were used in our area years ago

We had one for our M. Basically just a wind-break with a little heat coming back, but when the wind was behind you, you froze just the same. I would say it was better than nothing, but not much. Ours was in pretty bad shape so I can't speak for how they work when new/good shape.

Hi Joshua,
We had one on a B414D in the mid 1960s. Not only did it block the wind but by blocking off most of the rad to bring the engine up to running temp, the side curtains would direct engine heat back to your feet.

JimB

Hey, I live in Iowa and have a Femco for my 4010. Wouldn't do a winter without it. My 4010 is a gasser so it may be a bit warmer than a diesel but the harder you work them, the warmer you get. My 4010 is the loader tractor so I use it to feed silage, feed round bales, and to move snow. Yes if the wind is directly from the rear you may get cold but it is worse without any protection. The first winter I farmed, only made it to January before I bought one and installed it.

I have one for my Super C, it,s better than nothing.

Put your heat houser on, put your umbrella up and an old rug across the back of the heat houser and stay warm !!

It makes a big difference, unless you are backing into the wind. I have thought about adding a back cover to mine.

I have a heat houser on my 300 utility that was modified into a cab. Really works good in winter when having to move snow. Has to be removed in summer. Al

Make sure you have a good manifold gasket.

I hauled corn with a neighbor's M that had a heat-houser. It was a real "Gasser!"

Had one back in the '70's. We had the top and the back curtain. They were great, would melt the snow off your boots ploughing snow after half an hour or so. A lot better than nothing....Ron

I will add that putting some cardboard over the radiator will dramatically improve the heat flow. In 30degree conditions as much as 50% can be covered. The heat gauge should be at least moving toward run. They do make a difference that is worth it, especially if plowing snow, or doing farm routine feeding manure etc. Layer your clothing so you never get cold. Mickey Mouse Boots are a real advantage. Jim

We had one a 52 A JD when we plowed..roast you right out going one way and cold going the other way. But it was well worth having for us,,also had one on a 54 ford tractor.

I sure like mine, you can duck down below the wind, and that alone is worth the 15 minutes it takes to put it on each fall. The engine heat blowing back on you is just a bonus.

Joshua,

Burch Manufacturing of Fort Dodge, Iowa, still makes Heat Housers. For a Super C, it includes the windshield and side "windows"; cost is listed at $430.00. Just type their name when you search.

I drove many tractors in the 1950s before cabs came along. When we pulled wagon loads of corn from the field in late fall in Iowa, hauled manure and moved snow all winter, they were really nice. We used some canvas parts to plug up most of the "holes" around the brake and clutch pedals and that really kept our feet warm.

Even when driving with the wind there was still some heat coming to your feet. When it"s -20F and windy you will really appreciate it.

On early Spring days when it got warm, we just peeled the front of the sides back and retied them and the excess engine heat wouldn"t bother us.

If you store it in a dry place where mice can"t get at it, it will last you for a lot of years.

I am wondering if the "better than nothing" crowd has experienced a severe winter and having to drive a tractor without a cab for hours every day. I never saw freezing nearly to death to be a measure of how tough I was!

LA in WI

PS No, I don"t own the company, nor sell for it.

Used to run a 1951 Farmall M with a heat houser on it when I was growing up. We had livestock and crops so the tractor got used all year. The heat houser made a lot of difference.

Agreed, Just hauling out manure to spread when it is howling and -20, that heat -houser is a welcome friend !

My father had a B275D in the early 60s. He had a heat houser for it. As I recall it worked wonders in the winter weather of south western Ontario near Sarnia across from Port Huron MI.
Later I re worked one, that my mother's brother had had for his Alis CA., for My BN. It also worked wonders. Unfortunately I have no pictures of either. It wouldn't be difficult to make one. Just a reasonable quality canvass tarp, some aluminum tubbing and a bit of heavy gage plastics [the kind used on rag top cars, some imagination and thought. and some dungy cords.