Hydraulic Press Question

[Machspeed 219]

I need a press....have needed one for a long time. I thought about building one, but cost of materials and time needed to build makes a Harbor Freight or Northern Tools Press look good. The biggest thing I'll likely need this press for is pushing axle bearings. What is the minimum size press, in tonage, for this job?

[1969vert 55]

When I worked in a parts store long ago ... We used a 20ton for everything from u joints to axel bearings...I like the cheap price of harbor freight but I like the height of a industral press....Im looking on craigslist now for a good old shop press with arbors now...

[MikeStang 247]

The Harbor freight press works just fine "the cheap orange one?

Think its 10 or 20 ton.

I have used mine for pressing axle bearings, U joints, smashing metal pieces etc....

[69volunteer 84]

The Harbor freight press works just fine "the cheap orange one?

Think its 10 or 20 ton.

I have used mine for pressing axle bearings, U joints, smashing metal pieces etc....

 

Same here--I stow the jack and use it in the side yard to hang and paint parts from. Had it about 5 years. Works fine for u-joints, bushings, etc.

[LindenBruce 27]

Yes, I have the Harbour Freight 20ton orange press and it works great. Except for the 20 ton bottle jack. It leaks like a coffee filter so it needs fluid each time I use it which isn't to often. But it never rusts sitting in the barn all winter every winter!!!!! B.

[Kris 90]

My buddy has the harbor freight press also and he replaced the jack with the air over hydraulic jack from hf also to make it faster and more like a high end shop press. Works great.

[maxum96 32]

20 ton Harbor Freight press here. Works fine.

[Jimjific 23]

HF Press here also. This is a mandatory tool to have. It has bailed me out many times. The hardest part is reminding myself I have it after I struggle pounding on something for an hour.

 

Jim

[Machspeed 219]

Hey thanks......checked out the Harbor Freight 20 Ton yesterday and will likely go with it. It appears they make two now, the old orange one and a new silver colored model. The respective item numbers are 32879 vs. 60603. The 60603 (silver model) is replacing the old orange model #32879. They did not have the newer replacement model when I went to look. I'm curious as to which one is the better press. The orange model appears to be welded, while the silver, newer model, is bolted together. Attempted to find a link on this subject but came up only with the following:

 

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197534

 

Here's a link to the Harbor Freight:

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=hydraulic+press

 

 

Thoughts?

[buening 63]

For once I like the newer version better. Bolted at the top, added leg braces at the bottom, springs spaced out further, straps around the ends of the work surface channels, and they finally got rid of that god awful orange paint!

 

BTW, be sure to upgrade the arbor plates. The ones that come with it are grenades waiting to explode!