1 ton arbor press useful?

[tbgallant]

Hey guys, there is a 1 ton arbor press on sale at Princess Auto (Canadian versoin of HF).

• 4-3/4" dia. working surface
• 4-1/2" stroke
Weight: 34 lbs

I was thinking this could be used for pressing out suspension bushings, ball joints, press fit sleeves and bushings, and stuff like that.

Am I right?

I have a small shop, and see the LARGE shop presses that are rated for much more, but will I really need more than 2000 lbs force?

Sure it is small, but so are most of the items I will be working on (control arms, etc).

Anybody have one of these, how do you like it?

Tim

 

[the intimidator]

How much is it on for? I think they are a usefull item although if you are in the ontario area the tool circus thing is coming to shelburne soon and I saw the have a 15ton press with hydrolics included for 89$ I was thinking of picking up one of those just for the fact their is more room for working on larger items's I am a truck guy so Most of the stuff I work on is rather large

 

[tbgallant]

$35 CAN.. so pretty darn cheap. The big presses will take up too much room in my shop, so if this little guy will do the job for my smaller 'car stuff' then it'll make better sense for me.

Anybody have one of these?

 

[krj]

Damn... that looks like a good deal... I missed that one in the flyer.. I might have to pick one up myself. I think you are right.. those are perfect for small bearings, bushings etc....

 

[chevy302dz]

You're not going to do suspension work with a press that small. It could be useful for other items.

 

[Rickster]

I found this one at a garage sale a while ago. I got it for $5.

 

[michaudracing]

I have one about that size. I agree with Chevy, It won't do things like ball joints but I have found it useful for bearings, races, U-joints, etc.

-Steve

 

[tbgallant]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I'll pass then. I don't find myself doing bearings and the like too often. I was wanting it more for bushings and ball joints.

I guess I'll just hold out for a bigger hydraulic one.

Thanks

Tim

 

[Hurricane]

just use a vise. i just replaced all the bushings & balljoints in the front of my car with a vise and various scrap metal/sockets for a press
________
easy vape

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

Hey guys, there is a 1 ton arbor press on sale at Princess Auto (Canadian versoin of HF).

Wow, I've never thought of it that way...but that is DEAD ON, hahaha.

As for the press, I don't think there's anything to loose at that price.

 

[MAD]

just use a vise. i just replaced all the bushings & balljoints in the front of my car with a vise and various scrap metal/sockets for a press

I used to use my giant old seemingly indestructable vise that way, as a press, until I cracked it in half trying to press out a very tough U-joint. Broke my heart a little to replace it with a lump of Chinese iron. If you need to start pounding on the 4' cheater pipe with a hammer, it may be better to just drop the part off at a machine shop for a few bucks.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I used to use my giant old seemingly indestructable vise that way, as a press, until I cracked it in half trying to press out a very tough U-joint. Broke my heart a little to replace it with a lump of Chinese iron. If you need to start pounding on the 4' cheater pipe with a hammer, it may be better to just drop the part off at a machine shop for a few bucks.

I too cracked a large old USA made vise, damn near made me ill when I did it! I wonder, were you pressing out a u-joint from a mid eighties gm/chevy truck? I was, it turned out I should have heated the u-joint with a torch and melted out a hell for stout plastic retainer that keeps you from pressing out the u-joint before heading to the vise! That was a hard lesson learned.

 

[MAD]

I too cracked a large old USA made vise, damn near made me ill when I did it! I wonder, were you pressing out a u-joint from a mid eighties gm/chevy truck? I was, it turned out I should have heated the u-joint with a torch and melted out a hell for stout plastic retainer that keeps you from pressing out the u-joint before heading to the vise! That was a hard lesson learned.

It was an 86 Toyota 2WD P/U truck. The first u-joint poped out after a bit of heat and pounding. The second one just would not budge. I was out of oxygen for my torch so I was only heating them with a propane plumbers torch. I guess I overdid it with the big hammer on the pipe. I did not expect to break that vice. That thing was like an anvil. I do not remember what brand it was, just that it was made in Athol MA. I felt even stupider when I found out how cheap it was to drop the drive shaft off at the local machine shop and have them R&R the joints.

 

[ImportTuner]

It was an 86 Toyota 2WD P/U truck. The first u-joint poped out after a bit of heat and pounding. The second one just would not budge. I was out of oxygen for my torch so I was only heating them with a propane plumbers torch. I guess I overdid it with the big hammer on the pipe. I did not expect to break that vice. That thing was like an anvil. I do not remember what brand it was, just that it was made in Orange MA. I felt even stupider when I found out how cheap it was to drop the drive shaft off at the local machine shop and have them R&R the joints.

That gotta have ruined your day ...

 

[Major Ramifications]

Do not depend on a vise. I, too messed up a good OLD American iron vise (actually, just the handle got messed up) by pounding on the handle with a large hammer while trying to press in a bushing. That Mopar interference fit is tight. I was young at the time, and I now know that I should have heated the arm a bit and frozen the bushing. Although I couldn't afford one at the time, a hydraulic press would have made a huge difference.