New to me 1277. Looking for tips and advice.

[CB1993 34]

Hello everyone. I recently purchased a 1277 tractor at an estate auction. I got what I think is an amazing deal. My wife thinks otherwise but she is starting to come around.  I'm a first time home owner so this is my first riding mower. It runs great and I am planning on using it this summer. I'm going to change all the fluids, filters, and belts. Is there anything else I should do on a new to me tractor? Also can anyone tell me what drive belt this tractor uses? It's very dry rotted. All tips and advice would be a great help to me. Thanks!

Edited January 23, 2021 by CB1993
Forgot a word.

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

I would also re-grease , and check for leaking transseals.

[ebinmaine 67,628]

Your wife will learn to appreciate the machine as she uses it and sees that it isn't a lawn tractor. It's a GARDEN TRACTOR 

That's 2 VERY different things. 

 

Do a search here on the site for 

Baseline

 

That'll bring up some threads that show what we do to "new-to-us" Horses. 

 

Be sure to get a good quality filter for the transmission. Napa 1410 or Wix 51410. Same filter. 

Transmission fluid should be red. 

If so it's Napa part number 75-200. 

 

Good luck and please keep asking questions!

 

[CB1993 34]

10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Your wife will learn to appreciate the machine as she uses it and sees that it isn't a lawn tractor. It's a GARDEN TRACTOR 

That's 2 VERY different things. 

 

Do a search here on the site for 

Baseline

 

That'll bring up some threads that show what we do to "new-to-us" Horses. 

 

Be sure to get a good quality filter for the transmission. Napa 1410 or Wix 51410. Same filter. 

Transmission fluid should be red. 

If so it's Napa part number 75-200. 

 

Good luck and please keep asking questions!

 

Thanks for your reply! Do you know how much fluid the transmission holds?

[BeninCT 451]

That is a sharp tractor- nice work and best of luck with it!

Looks to me like there is a red wire connecting the battery neg terminal to the chassis which should be black and more importantly it should be shorter so its not touching any vibrating parts as she runs.  

 

 

[CB1993 34]

Can anyone tell me what this cable does that is attached to the hitch and how it works?

[953 nut 55,321]

The 1277 was the top of the line tractor for 1967.  Looks like yours was well cared for. Your drive belt is a 4L-780 and I have found the Kevlar Belts from Tractor Supply to be very good. This manual should be helpful.

 

[ebinmaine 67,628]

3 minutes ago, CB1993 said:

Can anyone tell me what this cable does that is attached to the hitch and how it works?

That raises/lowers the hitch. 

 

It should work by raising/lowering the handle on the left. 

Edited January 23, 2021 by ebinmaine
Added info

[ebinmaine 67,628]

5 minutes ago, CB1993 said:

Thanks for your reply! Do you know how much fluid the transmission holds?

The manual that @953 nut just popped in will tell you. 

 

Be sure to verify the color of the transmission fluid. 

[CB1993 34]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

That raises/lowers the hitch. 

Is there a lever that adjusts it? 

[CB1993 34]

3 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

The 1277 was the top of the line tractor for 1967.  Looks like yours was well cared for. Your drive belt is a 4L-780 and I have found the Kevlar Belts from Tractor Supply to be very good. This manual should be helpful.

 

Thanks alot!

[rjg854 11,387]

There's a handle on the left side of the tractor than does, if it's hooked up.

[CB1993 34]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

The manual that @953 nut just popped in will tell you. 

 

Be sure to verify the color of the transmission fluid. 

Thank you. It is red so its ATF

[ebinmaine 67,628]

Just now, CB1993 said:

Thank you. It is red so its ATF

Yes. 

Old style ATF. 

 

Napa fluid 75-200 is compatible. 

[squonk 41,155]

Someone has done some mods to that tractor. The mower deck is not correct. The mid hitch is on backwards and the deck drive set up is all homemade except for the PTO as well. (At least I have never seen this set-up) Looks well done though.

 

[ebinmaine 67,628]

@squonk

Good eye!

I agree that does look well done. Maybe a front tachomatic welded on to brackets?

 

@CB1993

 

I can see in the picture there may be a readable label on the belt. 

It would be a great idea to get the number off of that for reference. 

 

[CB1993 34]

28 minutes ago, squonk said:

Someone has done some mods to that tractor. The mower deck is not correct. The mid hitch is on backwards and the deck drive set up is all homemade except for the PTO as well. (At least I have never seen this set-up) Looks well done though.

 

Could you point out to me where the mid hitch is? Do you think it should be flipped around? The mower deck appears to work great. 

[ebinmaine 67,628]

6 minutes ago, CB1993 said:

Could you point out to me where the mid hitch is? Do you think it should be flipped around? The mower deck appears to work great. 

 

 

The piece in white is the mid hitch. 

It was likely bolted on reversed to correct lineup. 

 

The piece in yellow is a modified and/or home built front hitch. 

 

The whole appears to be well made and should be perfectly functional. 

 

I wouldn't change a thing!

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,628]

Oh!

You asked about "things to do"....

 

Lift the rear seat pan and methodically clean off the transmission. It's VERY important to keep that clean because the fins are what keeps it cool. 

 

 

 

[Zeek 2,286]

That tractor is in awesome condition and I would have bought that in a second as most would have here. I love that style and the automatics. I have a 1276  that was really rough when I first bought it. I restored it and still have it.

[Ed Kennell 38,227]

52 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

The piece in white is the mid hitch. 

It was likely bolted on reversed to correct lineup. 

 

The piece in yellow is a modified and/or home built front hitch. 

 

The whole appears to be well made and should be perfectly functional. 

 

I wouldn't change a thing!

 

 

 

 

 

Eric, the front mule drive (in yellow) is factory correct for this model. I have several of these mule drives.

The mid mount (in white) has been turned 180 degrees probably to move the newer deck with the newer carriage  to the rear.     

This probably means the stock belt will be too short.  Best to take the existing belt to TSC and find an exact match.

Edited January 23, 2021 by Ed Kennell

[Handy Don 12,237]

2 hours ago, CB1993 said:

Can anyone tell me what this cable does that is attached to the hitch and how it works?

The other end of that cable attaches to an arm in the middle underside of the tractor which is operated by the same lever that lifts and lowers the mower. The attachment looks similar to the one at this end, with a clevis and a pin. If moving the mower lift arm isn't also moving this hitch (called a slot hitch) it is possible that the cable is simply not connected at the other end!

[lynnmor 7,308]

2 hours ago, CB1993 said:

Can anyone tell me what this cable does that is attached to the hitch and how it works?

 

It looks like the hitch may have been modified so that it will not move.  Also, the pin thru the transmission often rusts preventing movement.  Remove the pin and cable, take another photo and we can maybe help.

[squonk 41,155]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

Eric, the front mule drive (in yellow) is factory correct for this model. I have several of these mule drives.

The mid mount (in white) has been turned 180 degrees probably to move the newer deck with the newer carriage  to the rear.     

This probably means the stock belt will be too short.  Best to take the existing belt to TSC and find an exact match.

Funny Ed. I have never seen this type. All I've ever run across is the style where the belt went straight down to an idler on that funky looking piece that is always broken. Like this pic:

 

 

 

 

My 1267 was that way. learn somethin new every day.

Edited January 23, 2021 by squonk

[Ed Kennell 38,227]

28 minutes ago, squonk said:

. All I've ever run across is the style where the belt went straight down to an idler on that funky looking piece that is always broken.

Mike, I think this was the first attempt to get away from that weak  swing arm side drive tensioner that was always breaking.

This front mule drive used a spring to tension the belt.    I'm not sure which models and years used this mule drive, but the design was short lived.

The front attach-a-matic and current mule drive followed very quickly.

Maybe Garry @gwest_ca can shed some light on the history of this mule drive.