Wheel Horse 1077

[woodtick007 0]

I am looking at a 1077 with a cutting deck and plow. I  have never owned a small garden tractor before. The owner acquired it from his great uncle before he passed.  What I need to know is what to look at and check over so I do not  end up with a total POS. Are there common problems/issues?  Although I can fix about anything.... I do not have the $$ resources to fix major problems. What would good compression readings be on the Kohler. Was this a very common tractor?  On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best tractor wheel horse made,,,,where does would the 1077 fall? Are there resources online for pre-enjoyed parts? 

 

Thanks for your input on this and hopefully it will check out ok and I can join the elite group of Vintage Wheel Horse owners

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,169]

I think the tranny would be the weak point at 47 years old. Plenty of guys work the older stuff but I think that owning a 300 or 400 series machine for the chores and a 1077 for fun is a better way to go. But if your determined to buy it and work it hard try to get the tranny all warmed up and give it a workout. Commpression testing is a bit tough as these Kohlers have a compression release. I have heard about spinning the motor over backwards to get a true compression reading but try and get a seller to agree to that!!

   Mike.........

[953 nut 60,097]

 As Sparky said, the hydro may be a weak point, but if it has been serviced and not abused it could be fine. Give it a test drive, chain it to a stump and test it out forward and back. If it runs strong and pulls hard it is good!  

Same for the mower deck, if the bearings are bad you will know it right away. Personaly I love the older     and mow with one that is 50 years old.   When you get it  

Edited November 4, 2013 by 953 nut

[Kelly 1,033]

Trans is the weak link in them, not saying they are weak, but over time that is the main issues that tractor will have, and the most costly to replace, warm it up if there is a hill see how well it pulls up the hill, or hook it to something heavy and see if it will pull it good, I see your in MI where abouts ? I'm in Olivet, MI and have 100+ tractors for parts and some runners if you buy it and need something. 

[Wheel Horse Kid 105]

Like the other guys said, warm up the trans and see how it does (make sure it does not loose power etc.). Check for smoke and knocks from the engine. The 1077 is a good tractor and is up there with all the other good ones (I don't think they ever made a bad Wheel Horse)!!!! Parts should not be hard to find, and some, if not most parts should interchange with some other models of the same era (and even different era's). Good places to get parts from are Ebay, swap meets/shows, and guys like me (and others) here on the forum. Oh ya, be sure to check you trans and engine fluid levels.

[Kegler 68]

I have a 1077 that is my everyday runner. I use it in the garden, plowing snow, pushing gravel & dirt, etc. Guess the only thing I don't do with it is mowing. I do that with a self-propelled rear bagger. (cheaper than a gym membership). Replaced the axel seals for the first time this year,. Normal maintanance and I expect it to last many more years. Also have a Charger 10 that is a basket case waiting restoration. Hope to get it done this winter, it has the hyd lift and the 1077 doesn't. other than that and the motor they are almost identical tractors. As long as everything works and has no major problems I don't think you can go wrong with that model for a starter.