Kwik way loader

[AHS 1,679]

New to me. 314-H FEL. The loader works great, but some housekeeping to do to it. 

1; the belt 32”?

2; the bottom suction hose 3/4” x 40’

3; Hydraulic fluid 

 

The belt is cracked and way too tight. The slide bolts are at their tightest position and the belt is already tight! I hear it’s supposed to be 32”. (Must have had a 30” belt on there?)

 

the bottom suction hose is cracked, and i want to replace it. It doesn’t look like too high a pressure hose with the two band clamps?

 

Hydraulic fluid…. Which kind do i use?

[ebinmaine 79,100]

I saved a great reference thread in my own notes for how to do a fluid flush/refresh on the older Kwik way loaders. 

I'll text a link of that to you. 

 

It's from MyTractorForum.

 

@Sparky or @nylyon if it's ok to post links from that site, I'll put it here too.  

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 79,100]

52 minutes ago, AHS said:

Hydraulic fluid…. Which kind do i use?

 

Do you know if there is red or brown/tan fluid in it now? 

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 25,506]

Just now, ebinmaine said:

I saved a great reference thread in my own notes for how to do a fluid flush/refresh on the older Kwik way loaders. 

I'll text a link of that to you. 

 

It's from MyTractorForum.

 

@Sparky or @nylyon if it's ok to post links from that site, I'll put it here too.  

 

 

 

  Sure, Im good with it, post it.

  Just give credit to wherever you got it or the person that wrote it up (if you know)

[JoeM 10,024]

You can get a 31" belt, you have to measure the outer circumference. It is an 1/2" or A belt width. The 31" is called A29, the 32" is a A30

Should use suction hose for the pump input

 

Hydraulic Fluid is AW32 Works good in all weather conditions.

Not sure if yours has a suction filter or it may have a screen in the tank on the output, might pay to check.

Edited Sunday at 11:29 AM by JoeM

[AHS 1,679]

11 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Do you know if there is red or brown/tan fluid in it now? 

 

 

I don’t know, time to take off the cap and check!

[wallfish 20,025]

1 hour ago, AHS said:

The belt is cracked and way too tight. The slide bolts are at their tightest position and the belt is already tight! I hear it’s supposed to be 32”. (Must have had a 30” belt on there?)

It also appears like it's rubbing the PTO hoop. 

I think a 1/2" belt will slip on the PTO pulleys because they are designed for a wider 5/8 belt and not variable like many aftermarket pulleys are designed. Maybe that's why it's so tight but IDK. If the pump pulley will handle a wider belt then go with a wider belt.

The suction hose doesn't have any pressure on it. But use a stiff hose because stronger suction pressure could collapse a flimsy hose.

The reason for asking about the color is to see if it's ATF or motor oil. It possible it could've been changed to hydraulic fluid too. 

[JCM 11,164]

Mine came with Trans fluid in it. Bought it with very low hours . Changed it twice, never an issue.

[AHS 1,679]

@JoeM Ok. Ive never heard of a ‘8’ belt before? 

[JoeM 10,024]

I am sure it is a typo. It is an A or 1/2" belt. 

The best way is to take it off and measure it or better yet take it to the store and get a slightly longer one. 

 

5 minutes ago, wallfish said:

I think a 1/2" belt will slip on the PTO pulleys because they are designed for a wider 5/8 belt

Your thinking of the transmission drive belt the deck belts are 1/2"

 

[wallfish 20,025]

Ah, correct. I never run a mower deck.

I'd still go with a 5/8 belt though

[JoeM 10,024]

Belt sections

[AHS 1,679]

@JCM Does your loader turn fine? Mine is hard, (the once and only time I drove it). I have changed out to loader spindles, (the old spindles came out dry!), grease, grease, grease!!!! I have changed to 20” tires. I haven’t got the thrust washers yet. Illl be getting them and will want to try out that thrust washers on the bottom of the spindle trick!

[wallfish 20,025]

Tri rib tires help

Steer only when the tractor is in motion.

More counter weight behind the rear tires also helps lighten the front

Steering reduction from a 520 is great option for a FEL tractor

Edited Sunday at 12:36 PM by wallfish

[JCM 11,164]

I sold it years ago mainly because of the steering using it on the 417-8 terrible . When it was on the 91  520 - H  it was way better.  No comparison.

[ebinmaine 79,100]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

  Sure, Im good with it, post it.

  Just give credit to wherever you got it or the person that wrote it up (if you know)

 

 

Here's the link.

Credit to those in the thread.  

The second post has an excellent write up.  

 

 

https://www.mytractorforum.com/threads/older-kwik-way-loader-fluid-change.996066/

 

 

 

 

[squonk 46,819]

2 hours ago, AHS said:

@JoeM Ok. Ive never heard of a ‘8’ belt before? 

That was probably supposed to be a "B".  A  32" B Belt is  #B29 or 5L320W (Gates)

[ri702bill 12,216]

You MAY need to trim the axle boss height to allow room for the thrust washer & upper snap ring... When I redo an axle, I take the material off the bottom of the axle bosses to make the surface flat and perpendicular to the spindle bore...

 

and will want to try out that thrust washers on the bottom of the spindle trick!

[lynnmor 8,838]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

That was probably supposed to be a "B".  A  32" B Belt is  #B29 or 5L320W (Gates)

Correct, a B belt should be used, mine slipped with the 1/2" belt installed by the previous owner.  The quick attachment point on the tractor can develop a lot of play making belt adjustment an issue.  You really should have the 1" heavy duty front axle for a loader, at least use the needle type thrust bearings to ease steering.

[Handy Don 16,745]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

You MAY need to trim the axle boss height to allow room for the thrust washer & upper snap ring... When I redo an axle, I take the material off the bottom of the axle bosses to make the surface flat and perpendicular to the spindle bore...

and will want to try out that thrust washers on the bottom of the spindle trick!

Bill gave this treatment to our non-FEL 312-H and it radically reduced steering effort. 

While examining steering bits, look closely for bent spindles, too.

 

This spindle shows the HD bracing--also an important strengthening. 

  

[Pullstart 70,078]

All this belt and hose and loader talk, makes me think about my 90% loader project… I need to rebuild the cylinders and paint the thing.  Another few years and it’ll be done 

[953 nut 66,503]

23 hours ago, AHS said:

I have changed to 20” tires. I haven’t got the thrust washers yet. Illl be getting them and will want to try out that thrust washers on the bottom of the spindle trick!

The biggest improvement I made as far as steering goes on a FEL was going to six ply tires and running them at 40 PSI.      the thrust washers made no noticeable difference with a bucket full of soil or rocks.

[JoeM 10,024]

On 6/8/2026 at 8:00 AM, 953 nut said:

The biggest improvement I made as far as steering goes on a FEL was going to six ply tires and running them at 40 PSI.      the thrust washers made no noticeable difference

My experience is just about the same. As far as tires, I went with trailer tires and 50 psi. Kenda loadstar K399

 

The lions share of the drag is caused being the load is overhung and the forces are transmitted into the joint. The needle bearings will help some especially with lighter loads but as the load increase the amount of friction in the axle tube is significant. Larger spindles reduce the area inside of the tube and help but at some point a mechanical advantage (ie gear reduction steering) is needed to help over come the resistance.

 

Using a B size belt is over kill but okay.

The calculation of a 4 gpm pump at 1000 psi works out to 2.6 horse power and that is well within the A belt capability. 

I have built and worked on several FEL loaders using A belts for all with no problems. If your belt is slipping need to look for another issue.

 

[lynnmor 8,838]

2 hours ago, JoeM said:

 

Using a B size belt is over kill but okay.

The calculation of a 4 gpm pump at 1000 psi works out to 2.6 horse power and that is well within the A belt capability. 

I have built and worked on several FEL loaders using A belts for all with no problems. If your belt is slipping need to look for another issue.

 

 

Under ideal conditions perhaps this is correct.  But conditions are not ideal with the pulley designed for a B belt and the belt tension changes as the play in the Attach-A-Matic allows movement.  Keep in mind if the belt is adjusted tightly it will be supporting the sub-frame.