OTC 12 Ton Hydraulic Press

[quilty]

Found this locally online for $400. I'm sure it will need a replacement bottle jack sooner or later. It probably doesn't come with any tooling, which I currently own none of. I don't necessarily need it right now, but I'm sure I will someday. Mostly working on motorcycles & powersports (pressing bearings and such). I really don't have the room for it right now either, but if this is a good deal I'll make it work.



Thoughts?

 

[M635_Guy]

That seems like a lot of $$ for that...

 

[kyrbz]

That seems like a lot of $$ for that...

I’ll second that seems like a lot of $$$ for a used 12ton press

 

[WWheeler]

If that kind of coin is in your budget I'd suggest looking at HF's 20 ton. When on sale or with a coupon still can be had for $200 or thereabouts. I've had mine for about 10 years now. It doesn't get used a lot in my shop, and not yet anywhere near pushing its limits, but enough it's been worth every penny to me. Zero complaints.

When I got mine I'd read a few reviews, watched a few youtube videos and even ran into a few posts on GJ back when I was just a lurker before I ever signed up. I'm pretty sure this was one of the posts I'd read ...

Harbor Freight 20 ton press is changing - Major Changes - Info inside

So many have come to trust the 20-ton Harbor Freight press despite it's enduring reputation for a leaking jack. The outstanding price and solid construction at the $150 price point with various coupons have made it a useful tool for DIY's of all types. This would be the original, well known...

www.garagejournal.com

And here's a few more recent threads to get a more recent glimpse in what other GJ members think about it and even some of the mods/improvements they've made. FWIW I've not ever changed a thing on mine (yet).

Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press

I recently purchased the Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press and I thought that some of you maybe interested is seeing a short video on it.

www.garagejournal.com

Harbor Freight 20 Ton Hydraulic Press Upgrades

Here are some mods I made to my 20 ton Harbor Freight press: Air/hydraulic jack, table winch, guide rollers, casters, pinned table plates, release knob, grade 8 frame bolts, finger brake, support pin shaft collars

www.garagejournal.com

Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press Modifications Video

A couple years ago I bought a HF 20 ton press, part number 60603. Subsequently, I made a number of modifications and improvements that made it much more user friendly. I've had quite a few questions about it, so I decided to make a short video explaining what I did. I hope you guys find it useful.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[619DioFan]

Asking price is way to high IMO. as suggested you can get the HF 20 ton for half that and be good to go.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

Way too much. I would be hard pressed (ha!) to pay HALF that price for a 12 ton. I am all about choosing old American tools over new Chinese tools, but this is too much.

As a side note, I got a used 25ton frame cheap and got a used pneumatic actuated bottle jack for it.

No sense spending a lot on something you will very rarely use.

 

[nadogail]

When I went to work in the middle 50's OTC was the Gold Standard, now they have been imitated.

Imitation is the most sincere form of appreciation.

 

[Steve_P]

Dunno, I wouldn't pay more than $100 for that when the HF 12T sells for $170. Plus, IMO you want to get a 20T as I've run into a few things that a 12T wouldn't work on; and then I bought the 20T.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I know I would rather have that then the harbor fright one, but that seems high without a built in ram, two speed pump, or something fancier than a old bottle jack.

 

[ItsNemo]

OTC presses these days are massively overpriced new, so I get the used price of this one...but agreed with everyone else that it's not worth it when you can get a new 20T for the same price that won't be any worse than this one.

 

[vssjim]

AS I see on the top left of frame a US made frame for 400.00 I think is good deal the bottle jack is probably commie import but the frame is good.

 

[pelletman]

I have a 20 ton OTC like that and I don't like it, probably because I used to have a 75 ton Dake, but this press just isn't heavy duty

 

[WordMan]

Would I pay $400 for an American made 12 ton press which sells for more than $2K new?

Hmmm....

Hmmmmm....

Damned right I would!

Don't let the Chinesium lovers fool you, that's a damned good press.

 

[Oil leak]

Would I pay $400 for an American made 12 ton press which sells for more than $2K new?

Hmmm....

Hmmmmm....

Damned right I would!

Don't let the Chinesium lovers fool you, that's a damned good press.

It's just C channel bolted together with a cheap Chinese jack. I don't care what retail price is. You could build your own for less.

 

[sz0k30]

I'd absolutely take the harbor Freight 20 ton for half the price.

 

[gizardlizard]

Agreed. 100 bones is all I would have payed

 

[redmondjp]

I built this exact same press in high school welding shop (you don't know how many weeks it took me to drill all of the 1" holes LOL). I agree with other posters that I might pay 100-150 for it - at the end of the day it's still pretty light duty - I had mine twisted all kinds of ways just to get an axle bearing off of a 9" ford axle (then heated bearing with a torch, and it sounded like a 30.06 going off when it popped loose). Bigger is better here and I would go for at least a 20 ton, even the HF one.