Johnston runs on hydraulics — the ag-science campuses the town is known for, Camp Dodge and its equipment, and the construction and facilities fleets of the growing north metro — and when a cylinder scores a rod or blows a seal, buying new is slow and expensive. Ames Hydraulics does hydraulic cylinder repair and rebuild about thirty-five minutes south in Ames, rebuilding your cylinder for a fraction of a new one.
Pickup or Drop-Off from Johnston
Johnston is about thirty-five minutes south and inside our free 60-mile pickup range. For cylinder work you send the cylinder, not the machine — drop it off or call for a pickup — and we rebuild and pressure-test it, common sizes back in days with a written quote first.
What a Real Rebuild Does
A dedicated bench beats a seal-kit swap because we address all three wear points: the bore is honed back to a true finish, the rod is repaired or re-chromed when it’s scored, the gland and piston are rebuilt, and the finished cylinder is pressure-tested to working spec before it goes back. That’s why a proper rebuild holds instead of weeping again next season.
Research-plot and ag-equipment cylinders, loader and skid-steer rams off metro fleets, dock and facilities cylinders, dump and hoist rams, and industrial cylinders and power units around Johnston.
What Comes Off Johnston-Area Equipment
Research Plots to Facilities Equipment
Johnston’s ag-research presence means research-farm equipment and plot machinery alongside the usual metro loaders, lifts, and facilities gear — and all of it runs cylinders that wear. hydraulic cylinder repair here covers the lot with one bench: rod re-chromed, bore honed, correct seals, pressure-tested.
Cylinder or Pump? We Test First
A weak or slow machine often isn’t the cylinder — it can be a tired pump or a stuck valve. Before any hydraulic cylinder repair we flow-and-pressure test to find the real cause, then rebuild whatever’s actually failing. One shop, the whole system.
Rebuilt to Spec, Tested
What comes back from a hydraulic cylinder repair is a cylinder measured and restored to working spec and pressure-tested before it leaves — not a repaint with a fresh wiper seal. If teardown changes the quote, we call before doing the work, not after.
Common Questions from Johnston
How far is Johnston? About thirty-five minutes, inside our free pickup range. Turnaround? Days on common sizes. Cost? A fraction of new, in writing. Big cylinder? Large-bore is a specialty.
How to Start
Text the bore, stroke, and a couple of photos to 515-292-2599 for a same-day ballpark on your hydraulic cylinder repair — then drop the cylinder off or arrange a pickup within our range. Every job is quoted in writing before the work.
One Number for the Whole North Metro
Johnston sits in a stretch of the metro where research campuses, a National Guard post, and fast-growing neighborhoods all keep equipment working, and the advantage for the area is that one shop covers every cylinder on it. A hydraulic cylinder repair here handles a research-farm ram, a facilities lift cylinder, and a contractor’s skid-steer rod with the same bench, the same testing, and one written quote — instead of a separate specialist for each. Thirty-five minutes up the road, quoted before the work, back in days.
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Written by Josiah Ragsdale
Owner, Ames Hydraulics — Ames, Iowa
Josiah owns and operates Ames Hydraulics. He has worked on hydraulic and heavy equipment since he was 18, and every hydraulic cylinder his shop rebuilds is pressure tested before it ships back to the customer. More about Josiah →
Got something broken? Call or text 515-292-2599