HF 12 Ton Press - no more leaky bottle jack!

[ndnchf]

I've had my HF 12 ton press for over ten years and it has served me well except for one thing - the *#%! bottle jack always start leaking after a couple years. After 3 different bottle jacks, I'd about had it. I thought about looking for a good quality US made bottle jack, but then I came across a good size screw type house jack at a flea market. I thought "No, that thing will never leak!". It is about 4" taller than the bottle jack and has a 10x1-3/4" acme threads. I'm not sure of the exact capacity, but I think its close to 12 tons.

I bought the jack for $10, took it home cleaned, painted and greased it. Made a new strong handle from a 3/4' breaker bar. Since it is taller than the old bottle jack, I had to buy new 3 foot, 3/4" threaded rods to extend the top piece and a couple of long eye bolts to accomodate the longer return spring distance. After I had all the pieces ready, I just swapped the parts and it is ready to go.

Yeah, I know its slower to use than a hydraulic jack, but I just use it occasionally, and I also have a 3 ton Dake arbor press. So this just gets used now and then. I'm pleased with the outcome and am mighty glad not to be mopping up hydraulic fluid any more

 

[Hiball]

Im guessing that thing is gonna be mounted to the Floor?

 

[Outlawmws]

Slick "upgrade"

Do keep an eye on the all thread, its yield strength in strain is likely lower than the original bar stock. Watch for any indications of stretching at the threads.

 

[Outlawmws]

Im guessing that thing is gonna be mounted to the Floor?

Good point. Maybe a second "handle" looped through the handle of the jack?

I'd be thinking "how" can I get a ratchet on this" too...

 

[Hiball]

Good point. Maybe a second "handle" looped through the handle of the jack?

I'd be thinking "how" can I get a ratchet on this" too...

Im thinking Head Gear and shoulder pads would be a good option.. I admire the ingenuity but think fixing the Hydraulic problem would have been a better option.. to the Op, keep us informed.

 

[ndnchf]

I hadn't planned to mount it to the floor, but that is a good point. Under heavy load the press will want to turn with the handle. I'll just have to see how much of a problem this is. I can always weld or bolt another handle to the frame to hold onto if need be. I'm not ruling out a good reliable quality made US made jack, it is easy to revert back to to the original configuration if necessary.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[JASTECH]

Safety Always First! I have seen too many accidents.

 

[mooman]

Oh God!!!!

 

[2chipped]

When you change your car to pedal power due to leaks, let us know lol lolhiting head and face palm.

 

[Danglerb]

At least its not a scissors jack, but I think you took a big step backwards. Main thing I wonder about is how it will behave under load. A hydraulic jack will have a big rise in pressure as the force is applied in the press and various bits deform to accommodate that force, and not a great deal of movement when the thing you are pressing moves. A screw jack is more of a positive displacement, turn the screw and the "ram" moves, and its not clear to me how exactly this will behave in practice.

 

[ndnchf]

I agree, it is a step backwards technologicly, but it seems to work and that's what I needed. I'm in the process of rebuilding a bandsaw and need to replace the bearings in it, so I'll try it out this week. Like I said, it can always be changed back to a hydraulic jack if things don't work out.