Heavy equipment around the Des Moines metro runs its cylinders hard, and when a cylinder starts leaking down or will not hold a load, the machine stops earning. Hydraulic cylinder repair is the work Ames Hydraulics was built on, and we serve Des Moines from our shop in Ames — rebuild it, pressure test it, and get it back under your equipment fast.
Serving the Des Moines Metro from Ames
Ames is about 35 minutes north of downtown Des Moines on Interstate 35, and our free pickup-and-delivery zone covers the whole metro — Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, Waukee, and the towns around them. You do not have to haul anything to us. We come to you, do the work in our shop, and bring it back.
Built for the Metro’s Construction and Municipal Fleets
Excavators, loaders, dump trucks, skid steers, and refuse trucks across greater Des Moines all live and die by their hydraulic cylinders. A scored rod, a blown seal, or a bent cylinder takes a machine out of the rotation on a job that cannot wait. We rebuild cylinders for metro contractors, excavation crews, and city and county fleets — and because we stock chrome rod, hydraulic cylinder repair for Des Moines customers does not stall waiting on parts.
Rebuilt and Pressure Tested — Every Time
A cylinder is not fixed until it holds under load. We tear it down, hone the barrel, replace the seals, repair or replace the rod, and then pressure test it to the pressure it will actually see in service before it leaves the shop. That is the difference between hydraulic cylinder repair that lasts and a reseal that leaks again in a week. It is the same standard on a small skid-steer cylinder as on a big excavation boom cylinder.
Ship It In or We Will Pick It Up
Des Moines customers have two easy options: pull the cylinder and drop it off (or ship it), or let us come get the whole machine within our pickup range. Either way you skip the weeks-long wait on a new cylinder — a rebuild is usually faster and a fraction of the cost. We even receive cylinders from across the country, so a metro fleet shipping us a batch is routine.
One Hydraulic Shop for the Whole Metro
When the cylinder is part of a bigger problem, we handle the rest too — pumps, valves, and full systems. See our complete hydraulic cylinder repair and rebuild services for how we do it. For hydraulic cylinder repair in Des Moines and across central Iowa, you want a shop that actually rebuilds and tests cylinders in-house, not one that just orders a new one and marks it up.
From Skid-Steer Rams to Excavator Boom Cylinders
No cylinder is too big or too small. We rebuild tie-rod and welded cylinders, telescopic dump-hoist cylinders, single- and double-acting rams, and the long boom and stick cylinders off excavators and loaders working metro sites. Whatever came off your machine, we can match the seals, repair the rod, and hone the barrel so it performs like the day it was new.
Why Metro Crews Rebuild Instead of Buying New
A new cylinder for a late-model machine can run into the thousands and sit on backorder for weeks while the equipment collects dust. A rebuild usually costs a fraction of that and turns around far faster. For Des Moines contractors and municipal crews trying to keep a fleet working, that math is easy — especially when the rebuilt cylinder is pressure tested and ready to put back in service the same week.
Polk County and the metro never really slow down, and neither does the wear on your hydraulics. Keep our number handy for the next time a cylinder lets go.
Des Moines Hydraulic Cylinder Repair FAQ
How long does a hydraulic cylinder rebuild take?
Most rebuilds turn around in a few days once the cylinder is here. We stock chrome rod, so we are not waiting weeks on parts the way a dealer often is when they order a whole new cylinder.
Do I have to bring the whole machine to Ames?
No. You can pull and ship just the cylinder, or we can pick up the machine anywhere in the Des Moines metro inside our 60-mile free pickup zone.
Is a rebuild really cheaper than a new cylinder?
Almost always — usually a fraction of the cost of new, and faster, since a replacement cylinder can sit on backorder for weeks.
Get Your Cylinder Back to Work
Send a photo of the cylinder and the equipment it came off, and we will tell you what the rebuild takes. For hydraulic cylinder repair Des Moines crews can count on, call or text Ames Hydraulics at 515-292-2599.
Written by Josiah Ragsdale
Owner, Ames Hydraulics — Ames, Iowa
Josiah owns and operates Ames Hydraulics. He has worked on hydraulic and heavy equipment since he was 18, and every hydraulic cylinder his shop rebuilds is pressure tested before it ships back to the customer. More about Josiah →
Got something broken? Call or text 515-292-2599