Arbor press usefulness ?

[zkling]

OK, I'll check it over. He wrote back, he wants to see if there is any interest at $300.00, till the end of the week he said. I told him to let me know.

the circular thing with radial cutouts on the work table is like a support base,
it turns, and the cutouts are different size. You could pass a shaft past it.

I think the stand is shop made. Did I mention I did see it in person.
It's the same guy I brought my "plug and play" with cast iron goose egg motor cover 1940's unisaw off.
The press looked to be in good shape, and the stand sturdy.
But I did not check the teeth.
I know it's not a "You ****" price, even at $250.00.

Mean while, I looked at enco.
Are the 3 ton ones ENCO sells for around $200.00 any good?
They often have 20% off and combined free shipping promos going on.

There is an ENCO brand,
and a Palmgren brand.
I always was under the impression that Palmgren was decent quality.
You see a lot of there drill press vices.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAK ... PG=INLMK32
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAK ... PG=INLMK32

O yea, I know what it is and used for, I was just making a joke, most of the time on used presses the plates are MIA.

Just check the different bores for play and then look at the rack and pinion for cracked teeth. By running the ram up and down you will be able to see all the rack teeth. That press doesn't have shims for the bores so if the bores are worn it could get sloppy.

As for the enco ones. I'd say they are like vises. Some folks get all giggly over old industrial vises when in reality they will both probably serve the end service just fine. That enco looks pretty nice, it has a shim cap on the ram so you could always fine tune it.

 

[redwrench60]

Holy ****, what an old thread.
I use my old Dake ratcheting arbor press constantly. Bushings, bearings, sleeves, pins, clutch springs while building auto transmissions, building air tools, light bending and straightening. Anywhere you need a controlled dead straight push on an object. Keeps you from having to beat on things with a hammer so much and risk damage. I want one for home too.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Just check the different bores for play and then look at the rack and pinion for cracked teeth. By running the ram up and down you will be able to see all the rack teeth. That press doesn't have shims for the bores so if the bores are worn it could get sloppy

What is meant by checking different bores for play?
I wish ENCO would do there 20% free shipping thing soon, I would probably just go with the 3 ton Palmgren brand.
Would need a stand though.

 

[BajaBound]

Great for bushings!

 

[bluebolt]

Great for straightening the handles on vise swivel base clamps too, I can get the nut part in one of the slots on my 3 ton Dake so i get a nice flat surface to straighten the handle on.

 

[zkling]

Just check the different bores for play and then look at the rack and pinion for cracked teeth. By running the ram up and down you will be able to see all the rack teeth. That press doesn't have shims for the bores so if the bores are worn it could get sloppy

What is meant by checking different bores for play?
I wish ENCO would do there 20% free shipping thing soon, I would probably just go with the 3 ton Palmgren brand.
Would need a stand though.

The bores that the ram (vertical piece that pushes on the work) and the pinion shaft (what the handle connects to) are just plain bores in the casting. If the press has seen lots of use the bore will be worn, oblong and possibly have an issue with gear lash. Just grab each shaft an wiggle them around a bit if they have excessive play I'd pass. If they let you the whole thing comes apart with a med size allen key on the far side of the pinion shaft. Just a heads up as soon as the pinion shaft clears the ram, the ram will drop out so make sure to catch or block it to prevent damage.

On square ram presses they usually have a shim stack that can be adjusted as the ram or castings wear. I have that same press but with the large wheel on it, they are nice presses if in good condition. Reason I bought it was because it was cheaper than what I could purchase one new for, and yes that includes a HF press. Otherwise I'd probably gone the off shore route.

Yea, as much as I like Enco their shipping can be a real pain at times.

 

[Halfdawg]

I have an auto repair shop and work on alot of 4 wheel drive farm trucks, seems like I am constantly doing U joints on these rigs. Would an arbor press work well for U joints? I have a 20 ton press that lacks any feel for this type of job, and being kinda new I have wrecked a few U joints.

 

[zkling]

I have an auto repair shop and work on alot of 4 wheel drive farm trucks, seems like I am constantly doing U joints on these rigs. Would an arbor press work well for U joints? I have a 20 ton press that lacks any feel for this type of job, and being kinda new I have wrecked a few U joints.

Yes, but I think you would probably be better served with an actual U joint tool if you do enough of them.

About the only place a arbor press falls short for common car work is for wheels bearings. Well maybe install, but removal is usually out of the range of a common size arbor press. More suited to the 20T and up hydraulic. Well maybe if you live in a magical place where rust doesn't exist then possibly but....

 

[mrbreezeet1]

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html
But is says working distance 4" .
Sounds like you can only get 4" between base and ram?
Guy on CL got one for $50.00, but you could get it new for $52.00 with -25% coupon.
If 4" is the Max working height, that is too little.
Anyone have one?

 

[jeffmoss26]

They work great for crushing aluminum cans at work
Here is a modified arbor press, sold for locksmithing applications:

http://demanda1.com/detail/locksmith-tools/capping-press-plus/

 

[justanengineer]

Keep in mind when you talk "arbor presses" fellas that several manufacturers do make hydraulic versions. Id personally love to find one that had both the usual hand powered rack setup and a hydraulic cylinder, only ever saw one once and not for sale.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

anyone have the enco one.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=951710&PMAKA=805-1030
the reviews are not very good at the enco site or amazon for the Palmgren brand.
Reviews at Enco were good for the Enco one.

 

[bulletpruf]

bumping an old thread. I have one of the larger HF hydraulic presses. Looks like an arbor press would be a good addition to the garage.