Folks Of Interest 20 ton press

I shoulda bought the 20T but I skimped and bought the 10T. It wouldn't do the suspension stuff I bought it to do so I put an old American made 10T bottle jack I had lying around in it (oddly it has very similar external dimensions to the 20T chinesium bottle jacks) and it has served me well for 10-15 years, maybe longer. Lots of suspension stuff, transmission work, 9 inch rebuilds (several) and stuff I used to beat on. Love having a press. It does need all the upgrades that jmountainjr did to his 20T but those are way down on the to do list.

 

I bought the HF 20-ton more than a decade ago. Didn't expect to use it much but every time I turn around, I've got something in it. At 73 now, I don't much beat on things with a big hammer with the same outcome, so having a press is a necessity.

 

My old one-arm arbor press finally died, so I bought a 20 ton Harbor Freight replacement tonight. Probably pretty stupid at my age, but I'll get a few years out of it, hopefully.

 

You need one of these... Bearing Separator with 1/2 in. to 4-5/8 in. Jaw Capacity (harborfreight.com)
Use some threaded rod to hang the axle below the beam, use the rod into a couple of pieces of angle or C channel across the beam.

 

Had some socket Torx bits that were broke. I used to beat them out with a punch. Used my overkill 20 ton to press them out. And installed new bits with the press. So far, it seems like I have a sledgehammer to beat in a nail.

 

Today used my near years HF 25% coupon for a Gantry Crane, prob should of got a press tho LOL

 

So I wanted to test the stock seat belt s***ch compared to a s***ched one by me. It is illegal to sew a seat belt. Federal regulations. Here is what I found out. It held.

 

Now the seatbelt police are following you.....

 

I always wondered when people would have me sew cargo straps.

 

I've been casually looking for a used press for awhile now. I just picked up a HF 20 ton from a resto shop that closed. Looked to be lightly used as they mostly did body/paint. It was price tagged at $140, he said make any reasonable offer as it has to go. I said $80, (thinking I might get it for closer to $100), he said back up your truck! Got lucky as it has flame cut arbor plates, they also threw in a 5 gallon bucket of various press tooling and plates. Not something I would use very often but it'll pay for itself the next time I need to press a set of axle bearings.
I like the idea of upgrading the hardware to grade 8, and the SWAG press looks pretty handy for bending brackets.
I like mountainjr's shrapnel guard and rolling platform. That would get my arbor press off my bench and provide a place to store press attachments, all the while allowing me to shove it all in a corner when not in use.

 

Any of you put wheels on the press so you can shove in a corner when not in use? Any good ideas?

 

I have mine on wheels. If I own it, it has wheels.

 

I as well. I keep the press in a corner and roll it out to use under better light and where there is more room. I am totally committed to Roothawg "s idea "If I own it, it has wheels." Makes your workspace seem bigger!

 

I with Roothawg. The lathe and mill are the only things not on wheels.

 

I guess the verdict is in, off to get heavy duty locking caster wheels I am. Tanks guys.