CB1993 34 #1 Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) 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. 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,270 #2 Posted January 23, 2021 I would also re-grease , and check for leaking transseals. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #3 Posted January 23, 2021 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! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CB1993 34 #4 Posted January 23, 2021 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? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeninCT 451 #5 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CB1993 34 #6 Posted January 23, 2021 Can anyone tell me what this cable does that is attached to the hitch and how it works? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,629 #7 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #8 Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #9 Posted January 23, 2021 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CB1993 34 #10 Posted January 23, 2021 1 minute ago, ebinmaine said: That raises/lowers the hitch. Is there a lever that adjusts it? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CB1993 34 #11 Posted January 23, 2021 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! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,725 #12 Posted January 23, 2021 There's a handle on the left side of the tractor than does, if it's hooked up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CB1993 34 #13 Posted January 23, 2021 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 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #14 Posted January 23, 2021 Just now, CB1993 said: Thank you. It is red so its ATF Yes. Old style ATF. Napa fluid 75-200 is compatible. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,905 #15 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #16 Posted January 23, 2021 @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. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CB1993 34 #17 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #18 Posted January 23, 2021 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! 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,081 #19 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek 2,284 #20 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,734 #21 Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) 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 3 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 10,588 #22 Posted January 23, 2021 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! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 6,765 #23 Posted January 23, 2021 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,905 #24 Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) 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 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,734 #25 Posted January 23, 2021 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. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
