Hello, I'm doing my ball joints and bushings opn my chevy express 2500. I tried using one of those 10ton c shaped presses you can rent from autozone, also an air hammer, joints didn't budge. I may buy a press, what is a good size to have in the shop, anyone know? I was thinking 30-40 ton, Chinese one, so not too expensive. Torin or atlas maybe. Anyone have experiance with these? Thank you
shop press how big?
- Thread starter bassman
- Start date
Provincial
Well-known member
I have found that if you only have one press, get at least a 20-ton model. 30-40 will handle most anything less than heavy trucks or equipment.
NC-Fordguy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2012
- Messages
- 1,391
I have the HF 20 ton. The press itself works well but the arbour plates ****. They are cast and I had one shatter. I got a set of forged arbour plates from swag offroad--no problems
Depending on what axle you have, there's a retaining ring next to the bearing. Sometimes some cuts into this ring is neccessary to get the bearing off--just make sure you don't cut into the axle shaft.
Warning note---when pressing off axle shaft bearing they can fragment. With 20 tons of pressure the fragmentation can be dangerous, even lethal.
I cover up the shaft around the bearing with a welding blanket to contain fragmentation if and when it occurs.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I would suggest at least a 20-ton hydraulic press. I was fortunate to find a 20-ton Nugier hydraulic press from a company that was replacing it and getting a new 40-ton air-over-hydraulic press for their maintenance department shop. I picked it up about seventeen years ago when I first finished my shop at home for $125.00. The table was bent slightly, the gauge was broken and the ram leaked terribly. I straightened the table in our press at work, repacked the ram after special ordering new packings/quad-rings for it and replaced the gauge. Total I am into it under $200.00. I was even able to talk the guy out of the arbor plates that came with it when new. I cleaned them up and deburred them after getting it home as well. I also made two new, larger arbor plates out of worn out forklift forks a few years ago.
It has worked great for the past seventeen years and I have never needed any more than the 20 ton capacity that it offers. I also like the fairly small footprint as it doesn't take up much room in my shop.
Mike.
Here is one very close to the condition mine was when I bought it. It was probably about 10-15 years old when I bought it seventeen years ago. This one also looks like the table is bent a little.
Another neat feature on the Nugier that I haven't seen on very many others is the small cable operated table lift that is operated by the hand crank on the right side and the locking notched wheel on the left side. I really like that feature on mine although I have had to replace the cable several years ago.
Rather than purchase a POS cheapy press, I would keep an eye on ebay, Craigslist or your local classifieds for companies upgrading their older higher quality presses. Purchase a good one once and don't worry about when it will give you problems.
Mike.
It has worked great for the past seventeen years and I have never needed any more than the 20 ton capacity that it offers. I also like the fairly small footprint as it doesn't take up much room in my shop.
Mike.
Here is one very close to the condition mine was when I bought it. It was probably about 10-15 years old when I bought it seventeen years ago. This one also looks like the table is bent a little.
Another neat feature on the Nugier that I haven't seen on very many others is the small cable operated table lift that is operated by the hand crank on the right side and the locking notched wheel on the left side. I really like that feature on mine although I have had to replace the cable several years ago.
Rather than purchase a POS cheapy press, I would keep an eye on ebay, Craigslist or your local classifieds for companies upgrading their older higher quality presses. Purchase a good one once and don't worry about when it will give you problems.
Mike.
Absolutely. Carolina presses are good quality, and still made in USA.
Does it look anything like their current 50-ton model?
http://www.carolinaequipment.com/item/22
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Carolina is a good manufacturer. If you could snag that one it would serve you well for many more years if in descent condition.
Mike.
Mike.
BWS
Well-known member
Got any steel suppliers in your area?When we're building shop "stuff"(vs payin gigs),I go into the shop where we get our steel and tell them what I'm building.The guys are usually interested and will dig through their "stashes" and get us sumthin pretty cool.Then they spec a scrap price on it and pay the nice lady in the office on the way out.........
There are people in biz that still value customers.Cool deal on the press,am sure you'll get VG service from it.
There are people in biz that still value customers.Cool deal on the press,am sure you'll get VG service from it.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you have any forklift repair shop around ask for an old worn out fork. I have cut several forks apart at work and they make great arbor plates. I have a set at home and we have several sets at work that we use.
I prefer to use the section at the back of the fork rather than the section that actually lifts the product. The back is more uniform as the other part is generally tapered slightly.
Mike.