HelisandHarleys
Well-known member
Any experience with it? Is it decent or a waste of money?
HF 20 ton shop press
- Thread starter HelisandHarleys
- Start date
rockwithjason
Well-known member
it's useable. you will want to get different plates for it tho
fflintstone
Well-known member
I wanted one, then I was going to build one, and use a HF air over oil cylinder.
then I found something better.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202879
then I found something better.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202879
rslaback
Well-known member
The general consensus is that it is a usable machine and a good buy for the money.
WILD-BILL
Well-known member
I have one and my only complaint is the post on mine wasn't welded square. It's on a little bit of an angle.
For what I've asked it to do though it's worked great.
For what I've asked it to do though it's worked great.
BD1
Well-known member
No problems with mine. Made a metal brake for it and does well. Only issue is it is short. I set it on some 6x6 wood blocks.
I got mine on sale and 20% off. I think the total was $120, about 14 months ago. Used it to press some crossover wheel bearings and ball joints. Worked just fine on that pretty light duty. As another GJ-er said, you'll need more plates and fixtures. HF has some useful ones, and as with the press itself, a very good value, at least on sale. I take the force spec with a grain of salt, which is why I opted for the 20T, when probably the 12T would have worked. Understress the thing and it'll probably live forever with the occasional use I give it.
As with many other Harbor Fright tools, not the best quality, but the best deal for casual use.
As with many other Harbor Fright tools, not the best quality, but the best deal for casual use.
dirttracker18
Well-known member
Had mine at least 10 years now with no issues on occasional use.
willymakeit
Well-known member
Swag off road has some nice mods for it.
I bought one.
Look in some of the car mags that HFCS advertises in for a good discount coupon.
I bought one.
Look in some of the car mags that HFCS advertises in for a good discount coupon.
Angelfire
Well-known member
Mines fine. Replace the plates they give you....not safe to use
TurboCup87
Well-known member
What do you suggest and where do you get them?
Hghgrad
Well-known member
I bought one last year. Has worked great so far. Few sets of wheel bearings, ball joints, u joints, removing studs. Gets a lot more use than I ever expected.
rslaback
Well-known member
You have a few options. On the press I have at school I just cut some pieces of 1" thick bar stock and use them. Otherwise you can get some from SWAG Offroad, Undercover Fabworks or Battlement Fab.
rslaback
Well-known member
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ilovevocs
Well-known member
Mine is really out of square as well. If their wasn't such a massive amount of play in the gantry it is mounted to it would be an issue. As it is it just tilts slightly until everything is aligned. While initially I felt it would affect my ability to press certain items i have yet to have the deficiency prevent me from competing a project and consequently correcting the flaw.
Winmon
Well-known member
I just ordered the 12T the other day. We shall see..
Falcon67
Well-known member
I've had a 12T unit for 14 years. Great tool. I'd love to have a 20, but the 12 hasn't come up short on anything so far so that's just a bigger/better/more kinda thing. Mine is the older 12T with the triangle top. I put it on wheels and that makes it more handy and easy to store.
I just bought one and replaced two wheel bearings with it. I didn't have any problems except that I could have used different or larger plates pushing the old bearings out.
I did also break a steering knuckle(similar to those plates pictured). But the press itself did hold up fine. I have the newer grey model. Bolts together. I think its pretty sturdy compared to what I had read about it.
I did also break a steering knuckle(similar to those plates pictured). But the press itself did hold up fine. I have the newer grey model. Bolts together. I think its pretty sturdy compared to what I had read about it.
I've had a 12T unit for 14 years. Great tool. I'd love to have a 20, but the 12 hasn't come up short on anything so far so that's just a bigger/better/more kinda thing. Mine is the older 12T with the triangle top. I put it on wheels and that makes it more handy and easy to store.
I think I might do something similar to what you have done, build a rolling base for it. Make it double as arbor plate storage. I also want a specific spot for the jack handle to go as currently there is nothing for it.
rslaback
Well-known member
I tack welded my two pieces together and then slide it into the pump backwards. Works ok.
Angelfire
Well-known member
A few sources were mentioned already ( ie. SWAGOFFROAD, etc). I just bought scrap plate to fashion mine.
I bought one of their 30 Ton arbor presses ( same frame as the 20 ton ) from a friend about 10 yrs ago. I dont use it to often ... every few weeks. Its done everything I have tried.
I have picked up a few extra plates 3/4" thick and approx. 3" x 9".
I have picked up a few extra plates 3/4" thick and approx. 3" x 9".
junkman104
Well-known member
I've had a 12T unit for 14 years. Great tool. I'd love to have a 20, but the 12 hasn't come up short on anything so far so that's just a bigger/better/more kinda thing. Mine is the older 12T with the triangle top. I put it on wheels and that makes it more handy and easy to store.
I have a 12T mounted on a HF moving dolly and a 18" lift kit like yours. The press has done everything I needed it to do. If not the local parts store has a 20 ton.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It's ok but nothing to write home about. I bought one about 20 years ago and used it for about four or five years and to be honest I used the hell out of it and never had any issues. I did however replace the arbor plates as they didn't look trushworthy. I cut some old forklift forks and used (still use) as arbor plates. If you can find a forklift repair facility and ask them for a worn out fork or two and use the back side where it hangs on the carriage apron, not the tapered part of the fork.
I ended up purchasing a used Nugier 20-ton hydraulic press about 15 years ago and sold my HF one to my brother who still uses it.
Mike.
I ended up purchasing a used Nugier 20-ton hydraulic press about 15 years ago and sold my HF one to my brother who still uses it.
Mike.
Ditto here.
I have the 20, it's a little off square. There's too much play which can be a slight annoyance, but not frustrating. There's much nicer presses out there, but for 2-5 times the money.
I drilled holes in the bottom angle iron and put some casters on.
I have the 20, it's a little off square. There's too much play which can be a slight annoyance, but not frustrating. There's much nicer presses out there, but for 2-5 times the money.
I drilled holes in the bottom angle iron and put some casters on.
ilovevocs
Well-known member
I also mounted casters to mine, but the holes were already in the base; just used a stud style caster in lieu of a plate.
I also painted mine with a dark grey hammer tone, that orange color makes me sick.. Seems like HF is getting away from the orange for some items. That orange color just screamed "You cheap F^&*er" every time I looked at the press. The grey machine only reminds me of my cheapness when I use it. Honestly for the price I don't know how I got buy without it; well I do, I used to use a hammer for allot of things that should have been pressed out.
Bender78
Well-known member
Been using mine for years without any complaints.
Good little press for the cost, couldn't buy the steel to make a frame for the price of them. That said the QC on the welding is terrible and you may end up having to beef it up some. I would definitely open the box in the parking lot and inspect the whole thing before going home, which I didn't do. My ram failed after a month of heavy use and was replaced with a better one.
Edit - as stated toss the cast steel arbor plates it comes with, they're insanely dangerous.
Their rubberized paint burns pretty well btw...
Edit - as stated toss the cast steel arbor plates it comes with, they're insanely dangerous.
Their rubberized paint burns pretty well btw...
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OP
HelisandHarleys
Well-known member
I've had a 12T unit for 14 years. Great tool. I'd love to have a 20, but the 12 hasn't come up short on anything so far so that's just a bigger/better/more kinda thing. Mine is the older 12T with the triangle top. I put it on wheels and that makes it more handy and easy to store.
I like the wheels.
OP
HelisandHarleys
Well-known member
Ha! I actually prefer the orange - garage is getting done in orange/black/steel.. Hopefully it screams "Harley!" vs "cheap fu@&er!"
Casters are a great idea. Those are on sale with the press this month.
OP
HelisandHarleys
Well-known member
@ farmtruck - good to know. My brother is a pro welder. I can get him to beef up the frame a bit.
Thanks all for the opinions and advice.
Thanks all for the opinions and advice.
Looked at the 12 ton unit (H-frame, not the A-frame unit) and the 20 ton unit a while ago.
Just cranked the jack down onto the OEM plates on the work platform right there in the store.
12 ton deflected a LOT more than the 20 ton. 20 ton frame is bigger and 'beefier' than the 12 ton frame.
Figured if I use the 20 ton unit and don't go completely ape on trying to crush things, it should be better than the 12 ton unit.
Bought the 20 ton unit. It works.
The 12 ton A-frame 'bench-top' press seemed just too wiggly and wobbly to me, so I went with the bigger and heavier H-frame 20 ton unit. Also, the overall size of the 12 ton A-frame unit seemed a bit too small for any 'big' jobs. YMMV.
note that QC from the Chinese factories is often hit-or-miss, so look at the specific one you buy before going too far (from the store or in applying load to a workpiece). Mine seems 'passable'.
Just cranked the jack down onto the OEM plates on the work platform right there in the store.
12 ton deflected a LOT more than the 20 ton. 20 ton frame is bigger and 'beefier' than the 12 ton frame.
Figured if I use the 20 ton unit and don't go completely ape on trying to crush things, it should be better than the 12 ton unit.
Bought the 20 ton unit. It works.
The 12 ton A-frame 'bench-top' press seemed just too wiggly and wobbly to me, so I went with the bigger and heavier H-frame 20 ton unit. Also, the overall size of the 12 ton A-frame unit seemed a bit too small for any 'big' jobs. YMMV.
note that QC from the Chinese factories is often hit-or-miss, so look at the specific one you buy before going too far (from the store or in applying load to a workpiece). Mine seems 'passable'.
Falcon67
Well-known member
OP
HelisandHarleys
Well-known member
Thanks. They are off a failed HF moving dolly.
I have one of those! Busted right in half - great idea!
383 240z
Well-known member
Thanks. They are off a failed HF moving dolly.
What the heck are you guys doing with these?? I've got them under a BUILT YJ and my 41 Chevy pick up in my shop right now. They work better than the car dollies I bought from HF to roll my projects around. Keith
justanengineer
Well-known member
I go to a lot of auctions and often wonder with the amount of good used industrial iron selling cheap, why anyone would spend more to buy the HF. I just passed on a 30 ton KR Wilson last month that was strangely "ornate" like yours is. My buddy the scrap man bought it for $45 then spent half the night trying to convince me I really had the room (I dont).
FWIW, my Dad's 70 ton Enerpac didnt cost $160, but that was also the early 90s.
rslaback
Well-known member
I'll go with A) when I want/need a tool I want it now, not in 6 months when I find one at auction and B) I have better things to do with my Saturday mornings than stand around at an auction.
