Hydraulic Pump Refurbishment for Ankeny Trucks, Lifts, and Farm Equipment
When a customer from Ankeny calls us about a pump that’s whining, leaking, or just not lifting like it used to, we don’t guess. Hydraulic pump refurbishment Ankeny operators bring us usually starts the same way: a flatbed truck bed that won’t raise all the way, a shop lift that groans under load, or a gear pump on a piece of ag equipment that’s lost its punch. We pull the pump, tear it down on the bench, and tell you straight whether it’s worth rebuilding or worth replacing.
We’re based at 210 Freel Dr in Ames, but a big chunk of our pump work comes from Ankeny — close enough that we can get parts delivered or pick up a bad pump without eating half your day in drive time. Hydraulic pump refurbishment Ankeny customers ask for most often involves gear pumps in the 15 to 20 GPM range, PTO-driven units off flatbeds, and the occasional Blackmer-style pump on a fuel or lube truck.
How We Handle Hydraulic Pump Refurbishment
Every hydraulic pump refurbishment Ankeny job starts the same way at our bench: we drain the housing, inspect the gears or vanes for scoring, check the shaft seals, and measure case wear against spec. If a pump’s internals are still tight, we’ll rebuild it with new seals, bearings, and a gear set — that’s a medium rebuild in our shop, not a full teardown replacement. If the housing is scored past spec or the shaft is worn out of tolerance, we tell you it’s time for a new gear pump instead of throwing good money at a bad casting.
- Full disassembly and bench inspection of gears, bearings, and seals
- Pressure testing before and after rebuild to confirm output GPM
- Replacement of pressure relief valves when they’re stuck or drifting off spec (we stock adjustable 7000 PSI relief valves for this)
- Fitting and hose barb replacement when JIC or O-ring connections are worn or cross-threaded
- Fresh ATF or hydraulic fluid fill and system flush before we hand the unit back
If the pump feeds a lift, we’ll also check the valves and cylinder before we call the job done — no point refurbishing a pump only to have a bad cylinder seal undo the work. For lift work specifically, our cylinder rebuild cost guide walks through what we look at alongside the pump.
Common Pump Failures We See on the Bench
Most hydraulic pump refurbishment Ankeny jobs land on our bench for one of a handful of reasons. Here’s what we see most:
No pressure or weak lift. This is usually a worn gear set, a bad relief valve, or a suction-side leak pulling air into the pump. We’ve got a whole breakdown on this at hydraulic pump not building pressure if you want to troubleshoot before you haul it in.
Loud whining or cavitation noise. Almost always a sign of air getting pulled in somewhere — a cracked suction hose, a loose fitting, or fluid that’s too thin for the season. We check every fitting, including the 1 1/4 hose barb and JIC connections, before we sign off on a rebuild.
Slow cycle times on a flatbed or lift. This points to internal wear letting fluid bypass instead of doing work. On flatbed trucks we’ve replaced entire PTO pump and hub assemblies — stub shafts, orbital hubs, and all — when the wear’s gone past what a rebuild kit can fix.
Leaking around the shaft seal. Almost always a seal that’s dried out or a shaft that’s scored from running dry at some point. A medium rebuild handles this in most cases.
If your pump is on a forklift, scissor lift, or other material handling equipment, our team covers that ground too — see our page on material handling hydraulic repair for what that side of the shop looks like.
How Much Does Hydraulic Pump Refurbishment Cost
Straight numbers, based on what we’ve actually billed: a medium rebuild on a gear pump — new seals, bearings, gear set, pressure test — typically runs $350 to $700 in parts and labor combined, depending on pump size and whether we have to source a specialty gear pump. Shop labor runs by the hour, and most rebuilds take 1 to 3 hours of bench time once the pump is off the machine.
Full pump replacement, like we do on flatbed trucks with PTO-driven units, runs higher — often $1,200 to $2,500 when you factor in the new gear pump, hub and shaft hardware, fittings, labor to pull and reinstall, and mileage if we deliver within 100 miles of the shop. A lift pump replacement with new valves and installation typically lands in the $900 to $1,800 range, plus a bucket of ATF hydraulic fluid to top it off.
We quote every hydraulic pump refurbishment Ankeny job after we’ve actually looked at the pump — no flat-rate guessing over the phone. If you’ve got a Blackmer-style pump acting up, check our Blackmer pump troubleshooting page first; it might save you a trip.
If you’re dealing with a pump that’s lost pressure, making noise, or just feels tired, don’t wait until it strands a truck or shuts down a lift. Call us at 515-292-2599 and we’ll talk through what you’re seeing and get you scheduled for hydraulic pump refurbishment Ankeny equipment owners have trusted us with for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does hydraulic pump refurbishment take?
Most medium rebuilds take 1 to 3 hours of bench time once the pump is off the machine. If we need to source a specialty gear pump or hub assembly, add a day or two for parts.
Can you rebuild a hydraulic pump or does it need to be replaced?
It depends on wear. If the housing and shaft are within spec, we rebuild with new seals, bearings, and gears. If the case is scored or the shaft is worn out of tolerance, replacement is the better call and we’ll tell you straight.
Do you work on flatbed truck hydraulic pumps in Ankeny?
Yes, PTO-driven pumps on flatbed trucks are one of our most common jobs. We handle pump replacement, hub and shaft hardware, and the labor to get the bed lifting right again.
Why is my hydraulic pump making a whining noise?
Usually it’s air getting pulled into the suction side — a cracked hose, loose fitting, or thin fluid. Sometimes it’s worn gears causing internal cavitation. We check both before rebuilding.
What does hydraulic pump refurbishment cost near Ankeny?
A medium gear pump rebuild typically runs $350 to $700. Full replacement on trucks or lifts runs $900 to $2,500 depending on the pump, hardware, and whether we deliver.
Written by Josiah Ragsdale, Ames Hydraulics