05 GT550 Kwik way loader

[AHS 1,698]

I am helping a guy fix the loader. Bill, ( my friend w/ the GT550) bought it yesterday. The loader is quirky! I told him to check the hydro fluid. Once you pull the PTO switch; 90% of the time the loader will do nothing. The other 10% of the time it will lift the bucket. The old WH dealer has been around the GT550, and he says the GT550 needs a pump. (And they don’t make the pump anymore). So, what do you guys use for a pump? Any questions, please ask. 

[953 nut 67,703]

@JoeM probably can help you out.

[Handy Don 17,058]

2 hours ago, AHS said:

the GT550 needs a pump.

The built-in hydaulic for a GT550 is the charge pump for the Eaton 1100. Same as for most other hydro WHs of that era.

Using that pump for a loader’s hydraulics would’ve required some knowledgeable messing with the stock plumbing and still has serious limitations. 

Too complicated and too many possibilities for a simple thread but the gist is that that pump has neither sufficient volume nor sufficient pressure to properly operate the large cylinders of that loader. That’s why an external pump, usually actuated by the PTO is the norm.

(ARE YOU POSITIVE there isn’t one, because it sure looks to me like the plumbing is connecting to something behind the front grille.)

If you can, do some tracing/photos of the hydraulic plumbing where it connects to/from the control valves and to/from bottom of the fluid reservoir in the left side sub-frame upright member and let us know.

PM me and we can speak if that helps.

Edited Wednesday at 01:06 AM by Handy Don

[Bill D 3,014]

Is it really the pump, or is the electric PTO clutch bad?  My money's on the clutch. 

[oliver2-44 11,651]

3 hours ago, AHS said:

 

 

The left vertical post of the loader is the hydraulic reservoir. In the 1st picture you can see the suction hose that goes to the pump at the bottom the upright. In the 2nd picture you can see a galvanized pipe cap that is the fill, I don't see where you check the level

When it does nothing, do you hear hydraulic fluid gargling like the pump is loosing suction, or any difference in noise from when it works and when it doesn't.

Does the system have a pressure gauge, or a place to install one?

 

  

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,390]

The 2005 550 was a 522xi in 2004

[TT-(Moderator) 1,172]

The pump for the loader is belt-drive. Has anyone actually checked the belt?
You'll find a lot of helpful info in this thread:

 

[AHS 1,698]

@oliver2-44 I don’t know where a pressure gauge would go. It’s nice to have a pressure gauge! Where would a pressure gauge go? Fill and 516” check plug, that’s all, right?

[AHS 1,698]

So, what i got is; start the tractor, put the parking brake on, put the PTO on and look under there and see if the belt is moving or the clutch is bad.

[peter lena 9,978]

@AHS     hydraulics  can quickly  OVERWHELM  A REGULAR  PRESSED  FRAMEWORK , look for related spider cracking , sloppy engagement areas .  maybe  remove some paneling  for a  related movement area ?  also bad clutch indicates  , excessive loading , examine every stage of INTENDED  MOVEMENT ,  probably  show you the way , [ete 

[Handy Don 17,058]

3 hours ago, AHS said:

The cap also vents the reservoir because its fluid level changes significantly due to the difference in each cylinder's fluid volume between extended and retracted.

 

3 hours ago, AHS said:

I don’t know where a pressure gauge would go

A pressure gauge would be at the output side of the pump. That said, understand that the pump runs constantly (once engaged) but builds significant pressure only when actuating a cylinder against resistance (e.g. lifting the bucket). Thus, the reading would vary a lot!

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:23 PM by Handy Don

[AHS 1,698]

@Handy Don Yes!! I forgot about that!! Wait a minute!! Upon looking at the tractor; i thought that’s an odd looking cap. What if someone had switched the caps… and it’s a solid cap. No air hole or nothing! Would that make it do what its doing?

[Handy Don 17,058]

56 minutes ago, AHS said:

@Handy Don Yes!! I forgot about that!! Wait a minute!! Upon looking at the tractor; i thought that’s an odd looking cap. What if someone had switched the caps… and it’s a solid cap. No air hole or nothing! Would that make it do what its doing?

Not venting the reservoir will cause issues. 

Try removing it and covering with something to keep bugs & dirt out like a filter cloth.

[JCM 11,304]

My Kwik- Way loader I bought with around 20 hours on it. I believe mine had a black plastic cap with possibly a vent hole in it from the factory. I have pics but not sure you can see a hole / vent ?  It also called for ATF Fluid.

[JCM 11,304]

Right below the 2 levers is the vent cap / fill.

Edited Wednesday at 05:21 PM by JCM

[lynnmor 8,930]

On 8/4/2026 at 6:35 PM, AHS said:

I am helping a guy fix the loader. Bill, ( my friend w/ the GT550) bought it yesterday. The loader is quirky! I told him to check the hydro fluid. Once you pull the PTO switch; 90% of the time the loader will do nothing. The other 10% of the time it will lift the bucket. The old WH dealer has been around the GT550, and he says the GT550 needs a pump. (And they don’t make the pump anymore). So, what do you guys use for a pump? Any questions, please ask. 

 

I bought a pump from Northern Hydraulics since the original was NLA. Find the specifications for the original and buy the one that is close.

[AHS 1,698]

@lynnmor whats the GPM of the pump?

[lynnmor 8,930]

2 hours ago, AHS said:

@lynnmor whats the GPM of the pump?

I found the brand and model number on the pump and googled it, I don't remember the numbers.

Here is some discussion that might help.

[wallfish 20,264]

https://www.northerntool.com/products/concentric-high-pressure-hydraulic-gear-pump-0-517-cu-in-model-g1232c5a300n00-10567

 

 GPM can be fine tune adjusted by the speed of the engine and different size pulleys