Backhoe Cylinder Rebuild in Ankeny, IA | Ames Hydraulics

Backhoe Cylinder Rebuild Serving Ankeny, Iowa

A backhoe has more hydraulic cylinders than almost any other piece of construction equipment its size — boom, dipper, bucket, swing, stabilizer, front-loader arm, front-bucket tilt, and steering. When any one fails, part of the machine’s function is compromised. If you’re in the Ankeny area with a leaking or failing cylinder on your machine, backhoe cylinder rebuild in our Ames shop is the fastest and least expensive way to get the machine back in service. Our shop is 30 miles south of Ankeny on I-35 — most customers can drop the cylinder or the whole machine off and back within the same day if the roundtrip works.

We rebuild backhoe cylinders on Case 580/590 series, John Deere 310/410/710/710J, Cat 416/420/430/450, Kubota B/L series, New Holland B95/B110, JCB 3CX/4CX, Terex TX, and older backhoes from Case, Ford, and Massey Ferguson. The rebuild process is the same across every brand — pull the cylinder, disassemble on the bench, inspect the rod and barrel, replace all seals with a matched heavy-duty kit, hone the barrel if needed, reassemble with new fluid, and bench pressure test at the machine’s rated operating pressure before it goes back on the machine.

Backhoe Cylinder Rebuild — Specific Work

Boom, Dipper, And Bucket Cylinders

The boom cylinder is the biggest on the backhoe end — it lifts the boom, dipper, and bucket assembly with load. Dipper (stick, crowd) cylinder extends the dipper stick. Bucket (curl) cylinder curls and dumps. All three cycle constantly during digging — their failure rates are highest of any backhoe cylinder because of duty cycle. Backhoe cylinder rebuild on these is standard bench work.

Swing And Stabilizer Cylinders

Two swing cylinders rotate the boom side-to-side, working against each other in a closed circuit. When one fails, swing slows or gets weak in one direction — we rebuild them as a matched pair. Two stabilizer cylinders extend the outriggers; they sit exposed to weather and jobsite abuse, so rods pit fast and often need replacement in addition to seal work.

Front-Loader And Steering Cylinders

Front-loader arm cylinders (usually two, one per side) plus bucket tilt cylinders take heavy abuse from loading and materials handling. Steering cylinders take low pressure but high cycle count — usually slow leaks show up rather than dramatic failures.

Ankeny Area Customers

backhoe cylinder rebuild customers in the Ankeny area include north-metro Des Moines suburb with heavy contractor and municipal fleet activity; Ankeny operations run everything from residential contractor skid steers to municipal backhoes and dump trucks. Every one of these customer types comes to us for the same reason: dealer rebuild quotes are punishing, general shops don’t have the specialty bench equipment to do the job right, and the machine needs to be back in service fast. We handle the backhoe cylinder rebuild in-house, quote before we start, and turn work as fast as parts and shop capacity allow.

Bringing the cylinder (or the whole machine) from Ankeny to our Ames shop is a 30-mile drive on I-35. Most Ankeny customers can drop a cylinder off, run other errands nearby, and be home in a couple hours. For larger machines we can arrange pickup and delivery if you’re within roughly 60 miles of Ames — Ankeny is well inside that radius.

Bench Pressure Testing

Every backhoe cylinder rebuild we complete is bench pressure tested at the machine’s rated operating pressure — usually 3,000-3,500 psi on modern equipment. We test extend, retract, and hold soak. If the cylinder doesn’t pass on the bench, it doesn’t ship. That means when the rebuilt cylinder goes back on your machine in Ankeny, it works right the first time.

Cost And Turnaround

Standard backhoe cylinder rebuild runs $400-$1,500 per cylinder depending on size and brand. Larger cylinders on bigger machines run $1,000-$3,000. Add $500-$1,500 if the rod needs re-chroming through a specialty chroming shop. Add $300-$800 for barrel work. Multi-cylinder rebuilds (bringing in 3-4 cylinders at once) get bundled pricing. Turnaround is typically 5-10 business days for a standard rebuild, longer if rod re-chroming is required. Priority scheduling available for downed working equipment in the Ankeny area — call and we’ll be honest about the timeline.

Independent Scope

We are not a Bobcat, Cat, Kubota, Deere, or Case dealer. We do not do warranty work. If your machine is under warranty, use the dealer network for warranty items. Out-of-warranty backhoe cylinder rebuild is what we do every week — faster and less expensive than dealer service, and we know these machines inside and out.

Common Questions From Ankeny Customers

Should I pull the cylinder or bring the whole machine? Either works. Most customers pull the cylinder in the field and bring or ship it. If pulling is a hassle or you don’t have the equipment to remove a heavy cylinder safely, bring the machine in and we’ll pull, rebuild, and reinstall.

Can you match dealer warranty terms? We warranty every backhoe cylinder rebuild for 6 months against seal defects and workmanship. Dealer warranty terms vary by manufacturer and machine.

How long has backhoe cylinder rebuild work been part of your specialty? Cylinder rebuild is what we’ve been doing for years — it’s the biggest single category of work in the shop. Owner Josiah Ragsdale has worked on hydraulic and heavy equipment since he was 18.

Do you warranty rod work? Yes. Polish and re-chrome work is warranted along with the seal rebuild for 6 months.

Getting Started — Ankeny Area Customers

Call or text 515-292-2599. Tell us the machine make and model, cylinder location, and what’s failing. Text a photo of the cylinder and the leak if you can. We’ll ballpark backhoe cylinder rebuild cost over the phone and arrange pickup from the Ankeny area if you need it. Most contractors and operators within 60 miles get the full pickup-and-deliver service at no additional cost.