Genie S45 Lift Cylinder Repair in Ames, Iowa
When a Genie S45 boom lift starts drifting, leaking at the rod, or won’t hold height under load, the problem is almost always in the lift cylinder itself — worn seals, a scored bore, or a rod that’s taken enough abuse to lose its finish. We do Genie S45 lift cylinder repair on our bench at 210 Freel Dr in Ames, and we’ve pulled enough of these cylinders apart to know exactly what to check first.
Most of the S45s that come through our shop show up because a rental fleet or a contractor noticed the platform sagging over a shift, or a technician spotted fluid weeping past the rod seal during a walk-around. Either way, it’s the same conversation: does the cylinder rebuild, or does it need to be replaced outright. That decision usually comes down to how the bore looks once we’ve got the piston out.
How We Do Genie S45 Lift Cylinder Repair at the Bench
Our process for Genie S45 lift cylinder repair is straightforward, but every step matters — skip one and you’re back on the phone with us in three months.
- Remove the cylinder from the boom and cap the hydraulic lines to keep the system clean
- Disassemble the cylinder and inspect the bore, rod, and gland for scoring or pitting
- Measure and source the correct seal kit — for the S45 that typically means a head seal around 3″ x 0.062″ x 3/16″, a piston seal near 3″ x 1.062″ x 3.25″, U-seals, and a wiper seal sized to the rod
- Hone or clean the bore if it’s within tolerance, replace the rod if it’s grooved
- Rebuild the cylinder with new seals, reinstall on the boom, and bleed the system
- Cycle the lift multiple times under load to confirm it holds pressure and doesn’t drift
If your machine needs a lock cable replaced along with the cylinder work, we handle that in the same visit so you’re not paying for two separate teardowns. For jobs outside Ames, we charge shop mileage — generally figured at 40 miles round trip with no trailer needed for this kind of work, though that depends on where the lift is sitting.
Common Failure Symptoms on the Genie S45 Lift Cylinder
Before we even open the cylinder, the symptoms usually tell us most of the story:
Slow drift under load. The platform creeps down over minutes rather than seconds. This is classic worn piston seal or U-seal failure letting fluid bypass internally.
Visible fluid at the rod. A weeping or dripping rod almost always points to a failed wiper seal or rod seal, sometimes made worse by a scored rod surface that’s chewing up every new seal we install.
Jerky or uneven raise/lower. Air in the system after a partial seal failure, or a bore that’s scored badly enough to cause uneven sealing pressure as the piston travels.
Complete loss of hold. The boom won’t stay up at all — this is usually a fully blown seal package or, less often, a cracked weld on the cylinder body itself.
One thing we tell every customer up front doing Genie S45 lift cylinder repair: it’s really common for the other lift cylinder to blow out shortly after we rebuild the first one. Both cylinders see the same duty cycle and the same wear, so if one failed from age or scoring, the second one is often close behind. We’ll flag it if we see early signs while we’ve got the boom apart.
How Much Does Genie S45 Lift Cylinder Repair Cost
Pricing on Genie S45 lift cylinder repair depends on whether the cylinder rebuilds clean or needs to be replaced outright, plus how much travel is involved if we’re coming to you.
A straightforward rebuild — removal, new seal kit, reassembly, install, and bleed — is the base job. If the bore is scored too badly to hold a rebuild and you end up needing a full new cylinder instead, expect that to add anywhere from $300 to $800 on top of the rebuild labor, depending on cylinder size and availability. We won’t know for certain until we’ve got it apart and measured the bore, which is why we always inspect before quoting a firm number.
If your lift is on a job site rather than in our bay, mileage applies — typically calculated as a 40-mile round trip with no trailer required for this style of repair. For a broader breakdown of what drives cylinder rebuild pricing across different equipment types, our hydraulic cylinder rebuild cost guide covers the variables in more detail.
We also do this kind of work for customers outside Ames proper — if you’re closer to central Iowa generally, take a look at our hydraulic cylinder rebuild Iowa page, and if you’re near Winterset, we’ve got a dedicated page for hydraulic cylinder repair in Winterset as well.
Whether it’s a slow drift, a leaking rod seal, or a cylinder that’s already blown out on one side, we’d rather look at it in person than guess over the phone. Call us at 515-292-2599 and we’ll get your Genie S45 lift cylinder repair scheduled and give you a real number once we’ve seen the bore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Genie S45 lift cylinder repair take?
A standard rebuild usually takes one to two days once the cylinder is on our bench, depending on seal kit availability and whether the bore needs honing.
Can you rebuild the cylinder or do I need a new one?
Most of the time a rebuild holds fine. If the bore is scored too deep for new seals to seat properly, we’ll tell you before we quote final pricing, and a replacement cylinder gets added to the job.
Why did my other lift cylinder fail right after you rebuilt the first one?
Both cylinders on the S45 see identical wear cycles. If one failed from age or scoring, the second is often close behind — it’s a common pattern we watch for.
Do you come to our site for Genie S45 lift cylinder repair or do we bring the machine in?
Either works. We charge shop mileage for on-site work, typically figured as a 40-mile round trip with no trailer for this type of job.
What does a Genie S45 lift cylinder repair cost if the cylinder needs full replacement?
Expect the rebuild labor plus an additional $300 to $800 for a new cylinder, depending on size and parts availability — we confirm the exact number after inspection.
Written by Josiah Ragsdale, Ames Hydraulics