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HF balljoint press set

Zeroek

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Jan 19, 2008
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I was doing ball joints on a 2500 gmc today and bent my HF ball joint press!!! The big U with the CHINA on it. I bent that thing. Anyone know if they do warrentys for those??
 
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autoace

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Oct 20, 2008
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The warranty is 90 days, I think, That is a HF tools that is not so hot.:(OTC is not made in USA anymore, but should be better
 
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Zeroek

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Man I hate to drop a ton on a ball joint press but I use em a lot at work.
 

ZRX61

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Aug 15, 2006
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Solar Blight Valley, SoCal
I was doing ball joints on a 2500 gmc today and bent my HF ball joint press!!! The big U with the CHINA on it. I bent that thing. Anyone know if they do warrentys for those??

Just take it back & tell them you only bought it 3 weeks ago, tell em ya lost the receipt.... they'l swap it without question.
 
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Zeroek

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May have to do that.. but man all these Press kits I've seen, especially matco's set looks identical to harbor freights but so much more expensive.
 
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Zeroek

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Yeah I noticed an OTC item number in the Matco Master set. OTC7918. I'll probably just order an OTC. I just can't believe I bent the one I have.
 
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stioc

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May 2, 2005
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SoCal
I gotta see the pics of the bent C frame. How'd you apply enough torque on the bolt to bend it? I have one too but haven't used it for heavy duty pressing, in fact, I only used it to remove and install the control arm bushings on my 3 series bimmer.

Rent one from Autozone, I know they carry them and they're free to rent. Although their tools are hit or miss too, some good quality some cheap junk.
 

russlaferrera

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Nov 24, 2006
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Central Virginia
See if they will return your money. I purchased a OTC press kit awhile ago for $80-90 and also HF adapters to complete the set.

The adapters are steel tubing which is hard to screw up.
 

autoace

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Oct 20, 2008
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Maine,USA
Are you sure about that? The OTC Stinger line is imported, but the regular OTC branded stuff is U.S.A. made, unless something has changed.

Yes I am sure,I bought slide hammer, ball jt press and adapters from Cornwell and they are all China or Taiwan, KD also went Taiwan, Snap-on makes the last USA Ball jt. press, as far as I know.
 

chammyman

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Aug 16, 2008
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Glasgow, Scotland
The bought one of those presses for getting balljont out on merc sprinters etc, we bent the cage and broke it in 2 after about 3 uses.
 

caper

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Feb 12, 2006
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cape breton
They will bend if the balljoint hangs up when your driving it in with an impact.I usually take my time and when I feel it tighten up I take the socket off and smack the pressure screw with a hammer,the shock frees it up to continue.I have an old OTC that I've had for years and its pretty bulletproof and a princess auto version I bought to modify as a anchor pin press that the pressure screw strips easily.Of course one was $200 and one was $30 so everything is relative.
 

gotmud13613

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Mar 19, 2007
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Location
Upstate, NY (Brasher Falls)
here is a pic of one off ebay that look to be the same as the HF version, that is bent :wtf:

I've been using mine for 5+ years now on almost a daily basis in the shop, with 0 problems. I think it mostly has to do with the user of the tool, with brute force anything can bend-break.
 

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wrench

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Dec 2, 2005
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159
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northwest pa.
I got mine a little off center,and bent it.They replaced it no questions asked.I have used the replacement lots of times,and it has paid for itself many times over.:)
 

justinking060310

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Nov 2, 2006
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126
I have one, and the only way I can see it bending the C is if you are not pushing directly on the ball joint, or if the hole in the other end is somehow preventing the balljoint from being pressed out.

I agree with the guy who said take it back w/o a receipt - they will swap it out.

Were you using an impact or by hand?
 
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