12 ton hf press for d44 bearings?

[jgorm]

What are your thoughts on pressing a d44 bearing and retainer with the hf 12 ton press? I have about an inch to go, but I'm at substantial pressure on the jack. I have the swag offroad plates, but adding a cheater bar to the pump seems like a bad idea. I wrapped the assembly with an old sheet because i got scared. Cheater bar and geterdone, or go buy the 20 ton? I probably should have done the bearing first, then the retainer, but too late now.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

What does the setup look like?
It's been a minute since I've had/used my press and I can't even remember if it was 12 or 20T.

I wouldn't put a cheater bar on the jack. If it's hard to pump I'm thinking the workpiece is binding. Is the the jack fully extended.

 

[BFBOB]

Umm...don't all jacks have a pressure relief valve to prevent untoward events - like the jack exploding?
I know my 4T cheapie does - a cheater won't let you pump it any harder.

 

[jgorm]

I put a cheater bar on. Even then i was nearly hanging on it. I don't think this jack had a pressure relief, but maybe. I wrapped it in a sheet and **** a box over it in case it might explode. I'll freeze the axle and do the bearing and retainer separate on the other axle. I really need the 20t press. This was bending on the top and bottom.

 

[landlord30]

I bought the 12 ton first, figured it was all i would ever need. Just doesn't seem like it's enough. Found the 20 ton about 2 years later at a yard sale. I wished I bought the 20 ton first. I gave the 12 ton away.

 

[Lou's Garage]

I'm thinking the bearing or retainer has gotten slightly cocked and is binding. I used to press axle bearings all the time with a Harbor Freight 12 ton press.

Lou

 

[Millwrong]

Take that bearing back off, put it in a toaster oven set to 250F for a while and it'll practically fall onto that shaft.

 

[Millwrong]

And I've always installed the bearing and the retainer separately, always seemed to be easier for me.

 

[Worsedog]

A dealership I worked they used to blow the old bearing and retainer off with a torch and pound them back on at the same time with an iron pipe.

 

[matt_i]

What is a d44 bearing? Is that a chassis lower ball joint?...the amount of tonnage depends on the amount of interference. Pictures would be of great help.

 

[428PI]

Never install bearing and retainer together.

 

[brownbagg]

weld a I beam across the top and just get a bigger jack

 

[FastKat]

I would take it apart and see if it's cocked. I rebuilt a set of D44 stub axles and I don't remember having any issues like what you're experiencing.

 

[csp]

Pretty sure he's referring to the carrier bearings on a Dana 44.

As someone said, heat them up in the oven and they'll press on easily. It does sound like it's not going on straight.

The sheet and box wouldn't have made any difference if things went south.

 

[TractorJeff]

If it goes South, the box would be handy for putting Body parts in and the Sheet for wiping up the Mess!

 

[nutjob]

If it goes South, the box would be handy for putting Body parts in and the Sheet for wiping up the Mess!

Yep, this

Not mine but a good idea for a cage or shield for the press.

Kevin

 

[chazzz]

What is a d44 bearing? Is that a chassis lower ball joint?...the amount of tonnage depends on the amount of interference. Pictures would be of great help.

I think D44 refers to Dana model 44 axle. Some Jeep Wranglers have them. It's the strongest axle, excellent for offroading with big and heavy wheels.

 

[jgorm]

Yeah dana 44 axle bearings. I'll be doing the other side next week, but the bearing first then the retainer. D44 is the little brother of the d60 (tons), not the strongest, but much better than the d35.

 

[greg86z28]

The sheet and box wouldn't have made any difference if things went south.

x2

Be safe, if something lets loose it can cause severe bodily injury or death.

Safety aside, I also wouldn't use a bar on your press, it wasn't designed to be used that way which means you're risking damaging your equipment.

I've never used the heating up method described here but it sounds like multiple people have done it. Or at a minimum try to press it out and press it back in again.

 

[Falcon67]

Take that bearing back off, put it in a toaster oven set to 250F for a while and it'll practically fall onto that shaft.

X2 - I use a coffee warmer to heat the bearing and a little anti-seize. You can also use a can of compressed air - like for blowing out a keyboard - upside down to chill the shaft area a tad. And yes, do not try bearing and retainer together. One at a time. I have the 12 ton and haven't had anything come up that it can't do. I build my own 9" units and have replaced plenty of axle bearings on 31 spline performance axles.

 

[jgorm]

I finally got to the other side. The bearing pressed on just fine with minimal effort. The retainer was a pain and still not done. It only needs to go another 1/16” maybe. My 12t hf press is in bad shape. The lower bars are bent with the center about 1/4" lower than the ends. The center press bar is crooked about 1/4" to 1/2" off center. I'll give it a few more pumps with the cheater bar and then retire this press.

 

[bubinga]

I finally got to the other side. The bearing pressed on just fine with minimal effort. The retainer was a pain and still not done. It only needs to go another 1/16” maybe. My 12t hf press is in bad shape. The lower bars are bent with the center about 1/4" lower than the ends. The center press bar is crooked about 1/4" to 1/2" off center. I'll give it a few more pumps with the cheater bar and then retire this press.

please be careful!

 

[bubinga]

A dealership I worked they used to blow the old bearing and retainer off with a torch and pound them back on at the same time with an iron pipe.

Same here..............L0L