Hydraulic press-northern tool?

[Landscraper83]

I’m wondering if anyone has experience with the cheaper presses from northern tool. I’m talking about the ones in the $200-350 range. 10-20 ton.

Are they junk or would they actually work for me?

The only thing I really need one for is pressing bearings on and off of tapered shafts on lawn mower spindles. I’d only rprobabsly need to do this once or twice a year. How many tons, and how quality of a press do I realistically need for this?

Here’s a couple examples of the ones I’m curious about

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641793_200641793

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641786_200641786

 

[Mr_B]

HF 20 ton do you
got a good coupon too

 

[motofool33]

if i was going to spend more then 200 it would have air over hydro setup. as the Harbor Freight 20 ton is like 130$ on sale

 

[Landscraper83]

Is the HF quality on par with the northern tool ones? I didn’t even consider them just because.....well.....it’s HF.

 

[motofool33]

i would say that the northen tool ones are better but have similar flaws, cast iron press plates, throw them away get some from swag offroad or ebay that are steel plate so they dont explode.

the press is one of the better items you find at HF, has a big following, and swag off road has alot of cool add ons that fit it and similar 20ton presses.

one flaw ive seen to check for when you buy is:we had a HF 20ton we bought many many years ago and the ram wasn't perfectly straight on it so it would spit things out one way all the time.

 

[Tallpilot]

It's mild steel from China; so are the Northern Tool ones. Buy the 20 ton...don't press more than about half that. You will be fine. Lots of people have been using them for quite a while. The only real known problem was the old cast arbor plates which were a serious personal injury risk. The new ones are steel and plasma cut.

 

[Mr_B]

yep the plate in the current HF one are steel stock and notch cut so half decent so the NT one worse in that respect.
NT one is slightly bigger and heavier but not worth the price .
For OP's intended use the HF 20T would be overkill but very usable and durable for that sort of use . few mods like better pump handle and knob for valve release and you good to go .

 

[Tallpilot]

 

[ndnchf]

There are two 20 ton Harbor Freight presses, get the #60603. Its the bolt together version. You can replace the stock bolts with grade 8. The other is welded together and often a bit crooked.

 

[anndel]

I have a 10 ton Dake benchtop press and used that many times for pressing wheel bearings and wheel hubs. At work I use a 50T press and the Dake is sufficient for the job. The harbor Freight is good for your needs and I saw a floor model while stateside but $200+ shipping to Hawaii I'm holding off.