A Ditch Witch trencher or directional drill runs on hydraulics and takes hard abuse in the ground, and that’s exactly the work our shop does. Ames Hydraulics offers independent Ditch Witch repair for contractors and utility crews across Central Iowa — hydraulic drive and dig systems, digging chains and teeth, and the welding that keeps the frame and boom together. Free pickup within 60 miles of Ames.
Trenchers, Skid Trenchers, and Directional Drills
Whether it’s a walk-behind trencher, a ride-on, a skid-steer trencher attachment, or a directional drill, the failure points are hydraulic and structural. Drive motors and pumps lose pressure, dig chains and teeth wear out, boom and frame steel cracks, and hoses blow. As an independent shop we can often turn Ditch Witch repair faster and cheaper than waiting on a dealer, and we work on the machine as a whole.
What We Fix
- Hydraulic pumps, drive and dig motors, cylinders, and valves
- Digging chains, teeth, sprockets, and headshafts
- Cracked booms, frames, and mounts — welded and reinforced
- Hoses and leaks — assemblies made same-day
- Attachment and quick-coupler repair for skid-steer trenchers
Independent — We Work on Any Brand
We’re not a dealer, so along with Ditch Witch we service Vermeer, Toro, Barreto, and other trenchers and drills. If it digs and runs hydraulics, we can fix it.
Free Pickup Within 60 Miles
Pickup and delivery are free within 60 miles of Ames. Text a photo to 515-292-2599 and we’ll tell you the same day what your Ditch Witch repair needs and what it’ll cost.
Common Trencher and Drill Symptoms
The problems we see most: the dig chain won’t turn or bogs (dig motor, pump, or worn chain and teeth), drive or steering is slow or dead (hydraulic motor, cylinder, or valve), the machine leaks and lost power (hose, pump, or oil), or the boom and frame are cracking from ground shock (welding and reinforcement). A real Ditch Witch repair covers the hydraulic dig and drive systems plus the structural steel.
Why an Independent Shop
Utility and excavation crews lose money every day a trencher sits. As an independent hydraulic-and-welding shop we’re usually faster and cheaper than a dealer wait, and we’ll fix the machine as a whole — dig chain, hydraulics, and cracked frame — so it goes back to the job ready to work.
How We Quote It — and Free Pickup
The fastest way to a price is a photo. Text a picture of your machine and a quick note on what it’s doing to 515-292-2599, and we’ll tell you the same day whether it’s a seal kit, a pump, a valve, or a welding job — and roughly what it’ll cost — before anything comes apart. No surprise bills. If the machine can’t be hauled in easily, pickup and delivery are free within 60 miles of Ames: Des Moines, Ankeny, Boone, Nevada, Marshalltown, Story City, and the towns between. A shop that does the hydraulics and the welding in-house is why our Ditch Witch repair turnaround is quick and the fix lasts.
Get Back in the Ground
See our full hydraulic repair, hydraulic hose repair, and welding & fabrication services. Call or text 515-292-2599 or bring it to 210 Freel Dr in Ames. Open Monday through Friday, 7AM to 5PM.
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