Hydraulic Pump Repair Des Moines Trusts Ames Hydraulics For
When a pump quits pushing fluid, everything downstream stops — the lift won’t raise, the flatbed won’t tilt, the loader arm just sits there. That’s why hydraulic pump repair Des Moines fleets and shops call us out of Ames, Iowa rather than wait for a big-city dealer to fit them into a schedule three weeks out. We’ve pulled and rebuilt gear pumps off flatbed trucks, replaced worn units on scissor lifts, and re-timed piston pumps that were starving for oil. If your equipment lives anywhere between Ames and Des Moines, we can usually get a technician looking at it the same week — sometimes the same day.
How We Handle Hydraulic Pump Repair Des Moines Jobs
Every hydraulic pump repair Des Moines job starts the same way on our end: we pull the pump, drain and inspect the fluid, and check the shaft for play before we ever quote a rebuild versus a straight swap. On flatbed trucks we’ve done full pump replacements where the labor alone runs a good chunk of the ticket because of how the PTO and mounting bracket are buried behind the frame rail. On lift repairs, a typical job includes a new hydraulic pump, matching valves, fresh fittings, and a 5-gallon bucket of ATF hydraulic fluid to flush the system clean before we button it back up.
If the pump itself is salvageable, we lean toward a rebuild rather than pushing a new unit on you — it’s usually cheaper and just as reliable once we replace the gears, bearings, and seals. We’ve rebuilt gear pumps rated in the 15 GPM range and swapped in higher-output units, like a 1BL-D style gear pump spec’d for 400 to 18,000 RPM depending on application, when the original was undersized for the load. We also carry stock on common fittings — 1 1/4 hose barb by #20 O-ring, 3/4 male JIC by #20 O-ring — so we’re not waiting on a supplier to finish a straightforward hose run.
For customers north or south of us who can’t easily trailer equipment in, we deliver. Mileage for a round trip within 100 miles of the shop with no trailer is a flat rate, and that covers most of the Ames-to-Des Moines corridor without much fuss.
- Pump pull, teardown, and inspection before any parts get ordered
- Gear pump and piston pump rebuilds — bearings, seals, gears replaced as needed
- Full pump replacement with matching valves and fresh hose ends
- System flush with fresh hydraulic fluid to clear contamination
- Pressure relief valve testing and adjustment up to 7,000 PSI
- Delivery and pickup within 100 miles, no trailer required
Common Hydraulic Pump Failure Symptoms We See
Most hydraulic pump repair Des Moines calls we get start with one of a few complaints: the lift is slow to raise but drops fine, the pump is howling louder than usual, or the truck’s flatbed just stopped moving mid-cycle. A pump that’s cavitating — sucking air instead of fluid — will usually announce itself with noise before it fails outright, so if something sounds different, that’s worth a call before it turns into a full pump replacement.
We also see a lot of pressure problems where the pump is running fine mechanically but the system isn’t building the PSI it needs. If that sounds like your setup, our page on hydraulic pump not building pressure walks through the usual culprits — worn relief valves, internal bypass, or a pump that’s just tired. On gear-driven setups specifically, we’ve written up common failure points in our Blackmer pump troubleshooting guide, which covers a lot of the same wear patterns we see on flatbed and material handling pumps.
Leaking shaft seals, chewed-up drive couplings, and a PTO hub that’s worn its splines are the other big three. We recently replaced a 1 7/8 ORB-6 PTO hub and matching output shaft on a unit where the pump itself was fine — the failure was upstream in the drive components, which is a good reminder that not every dead pump is actually a dead pump.
How Much Does Hydraulic Pump Repair Des Moines Cost
Cost depends heavily on whether we’re rebuilding or replacing, and what the pump is bolted to. Straight shop labor for pump diagnosis and basic repair runs in the neighborhood of $95–$125 per hour, and a medium-complexity pump rebuild — new gears, bearings, seals — typically lands between $450 and $900 in parts and labor combined, depending on pump size and availability.
A full hydraulic pump repair Des Moines customers need on a flatbed truck, where labor to access and remove the old pump is the bigger cost driver, usually runs $800 to $1,800 including the new pump itself. Lift repairs that include a new pump, valves, fittings, and a full fluid flush tend to fall in a similar $900–$2,200 range depending on lift size and how much of the hydraulic circuit needs attention. Delivery within 100 miles of our shop with no trailer adds a flat mileage charge, generally in the $75–$150 range round trip.
If you’re dealing with a cylinder instead of — or alongside — a pump issue, our hydraulic cylinder rebuild cost guide breaks down pricing the same way. And if the equipment in question is a forklift, scissor lift, or other material handling gear, check our material handling hydraulic repair Iowa page — a lot of those jobs bundle pump and valve work together.
We don’t quote a number until we’ve had a hand on the pump. Every hydraulic pump repair Des Moines job is a little different, and giving a real range up front matters more to us than a low estimate that changes once we open things up.
If your pump is howling, leaking, or just not building pressure like it used to, call us at 515-292-2599 and we’ll get you scheduled. We’re at 210 Freel Dr in Ames, and we deliver and pick up around the Des Moines area regularly, so distance shouldn’t be the thing keeping your equipment down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does hydraulic pump repair take?
A straightforward rebuild can be done in a day once the pump is on our bench. Full replacements on flatbed trucks or lifts, including sourcing a matching pump, usually take 2-4 days depending on parts availability.
Can you come pick up my equipment near Des Moines?
Yes. We handle delivery and pickup within 100 miles of our shop in Ames, which covers the Des Moines area without a trailer needed for most jobs. Call 515-292-2599 to arrange it.
Is it cheaper to rebuild or replace a hydraulic pump?
Rebuilding is usually cheaper if the pump housing and shaft are still in good shape — we replace the gears, bearings, and seals. If the housing is worn or cracked, replacement ends up being the better long-term option.
What does it mean if my hydraulic pump is loud but still works?
A noisy pump is often cavitating — pulling in air instead of fluid — which points to a suction-side leak, low fluid, or a clogged strainer. It’s worth having it looked at before the noise turns into a full failure.
Do you work on hydraulic pumps for flatbed trucks and lifts, or just forklifts?
We work on all of it — flatbed truck pumps, scissor and platform lifts, material handling equipment, and general hydraulic gear pumps and piston pumps used in ag and construction equipment.
Written by Josiah Ragsdale, Ames Hydraulics