Hercules Pump Repair at Ames Hydraulics
When a Hercules gear pump on a dump bed or flatbed hoist starts whining, leaking, or just won’t lift the load anymore, you need a shop that’s actually pulled these pumps apart on the bench, not just swapped parts and hoped. We do Hercules pump repair here in Ames every week — dump trucks, flatbed trucks with hydraulic beds, service lifts, you name it. If it’s got a Hercules gear pump bolted to a PTO or a hydraulic motor, we’ve probably had one just like it in the shop.
How We Handle Hercules Pump Repair
Most Hercules pump repair jobs start the same way — we get the truck or lift on our shop floor, run the system, and listen. A pump that’s cavitating sounds different from one with a worn gear set, and a pump that’s lost its relief valve setting acts different from one with a blown shaft seal. Once we know what we’re dealing with, we pull the pump off, tear it down on the bench, and check the gears, the wear plates, the shaft, and the seals against spec.
Sometimes Hercules pump repair means a straightforward rebuild — new gears, new seals, a resurfaced housing, and it goes back on the truck good as new. Other times the housing’s cracked or the shaft’s scored bad enough that a rebuild isn’t worth the labor compared to a fresh pump. We’ve replaced plenty of gear pumps in the 15 GPM range on flatbed trucks, and we stock common PTO hubs and stub shafts so we’re not waiting three days on a part to finish the job.
If the pump’s tied into a hoist or dump bed circuit, we also check the relief valve setting — we’ve seen plenty of pumps get blamed for weak lift when the real issue was a relief valve set way too low, sometimes adjustable up to 7,000 PSI depending on the setup. Part of doing Hercules pump repair right is checking the whole circuit, not just bolting a new pump on and calling it done. If you’re chasing a pump that won’t build pressure at all, our hydraulic pump not building pressure page walks through the usual culprits.
What a Typical Hercules Pump Repair Job Involves
- Pull the pump and inspect gears, wear plates, and shaft for scoring
- Pressure test the pump on our bench before it goes back on the truck
- Replace shaft seals, O-rings, and gaskets as a matter of course
- Check and adjust the pressure relief valve, sometimes up to 7,000 PSI
- Swap PTO hub and stub shaft if the drive coupling is worn
- Flush and refill hydraulic fluid, usually ATF or hydraulic oil depending on the system
- Deliver and install if the unit’s too heavy or awkward to haul in yourself
Common Signs You Need Hercules Pump Repair
A dump bed that raises slow, a flatbed hoist that groans under load, or a lift that won’t hold pressure once it’s up — these are the calls we get most. Whining or growling noise from the pump usually points to cavitation or worn gears. A pump that runs but the bed won’t lift at all often means a stripped gear set or a failed relief valve, not a dead pump. Fluid showing up under the truck near the pump housing is almost always a shaft seal on its way out, and if you catch it early, that’s a cheaper Hercules pump repair than waiting until the bearing behind it wears out too.
We also see a fair number of trucks come in where the customer assumed the pump was toast, but the real issue was a stuck valve or a bad cylinder downstream. That’s why every Hercules pump repair we do includes checking the rest of the hydraulic circuit — valves, hoses, and cylinders — before we hand the keys back. If the cylinder itself is the weak link, our hydraulic cylinder rebuild cost guide has real numbers on what that side of the job runs.
How Much Does Hercules Pump Repair Cost
Pricing depends on whether the pump can be rebuilt or needs full replacement. A straightforward rebuild — new seals, gears, and a bench pressure test — usually runs $450 to $900 in parts and labor. A full pump replacement, including the new gear pump, fittings, and installation labor, typically lands between $900 and $1,800 depending on GPM rating and whether we need to source a matching PTO hub or stub shaft. Lift-specific jobs that need a new pump, valves, and full reinstall — plus delivery if the unit’s too big to trailer in — can run higher, often in the $1,500 to $2,500 range once you factor in mileage and shop time.
We give a real quote after we see the pump, not before, because a Hercules pump repair on a dump truck with a simple seal leak costs a lot less than one where the gear set’s chewed up and the relief valve’s shot too. If your equipment falls under material handling rather than a truck-mounted system, take a look at our material handling hydraulic repair page — a lot of the same pump troubleshooting applies there.
Other Pump Brands We See Alongside Hercules
We don’t only work on Hercules units. If you’ve got a Blackmer pump acting up on the same equipment, check out our Blackmer pump troubleshooting guide for symptoms and fixes. But when it comes to Hercules pump repair specifically, we’ve got the parts on hand and the bench experience to get your truck or lift back to work without a long wait.
If your dump bed, flatbed hoist, or lift is running slow, leaking, or just not lifting like it should, give us a call at 515-292-2599 and we’ll get you scheduled for Hercules pump repair. We’re at 210 Freel Dr in Ames, and we’d rather look at the pump ourselves than guess over the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rebuild a Hercules hydraulic pump?
Most rebuilds run $450 to $900 depending on how worn the gears and shaft are and whether the housing needs resurfacing. A full replacement pump with installation typically runs $900 to $1,800.
Why won’t my Hercules dump truck bed lift anymore?
It’s usually one of three things: worn pump gears losing pressure, a relief valve set too low or stuck, or a downstream cylinder issue. We check the whole circuit, not just the pump, before we quote a fix.
Do you work on PTO-driven Hercules pumps?
Yes, we stock common PTO hubs and stub shafts for these setups and can rebuild or replace the pump along with the coupling if it’s worn.
Can my Hercules pump be rebuilt or do I need a whole new one?
It depends on the housing and shaft condition. If the housing’s cracked or the shaft’s badly scored, a new gear pump is usually more cost-effective than a rebuild. We’ll tell you straight after we tear it down.
How long does Hercules pump repair take at your shop?
A rebuild with parts on hand can often be done same day or next day. A replacement pump that needs a specific GPM rating or PTO hub might take a couple extra days if we have to source it.
Written by Josiah Ragsdale, Ames Hydraulics