Cheap hydraulic press "kits"?

[lane smith]

Anyone know of a local source for a cheap (and I mean reeeeeally cheap) method of making or assembling a frame to put a bottle jack in, to be able to remove bearings/retainers etc?

I was having a most annoying time trying to remove a bearing and retainer from a transfer case output shaft, while balancing it on a milk crate, on the kitchen floor, using my knees for a "vice" and a cobbled together clamshell bearing remover and a loan-a-tool 3 jaw bearing remover from Canadian Tire. (don't ask...)

Then I had temporary access to a hydraulic press, and man, was it ever cool. Literally took 5 seconds, and a gentle bearing removal was completed.

I don't care if it's $39.95, made out of 2x4's kinda deal, it's the hassle of having to go somewhere and use/borrow the stupid thing.

Princess Auto? Summit tools? Canadian tire?

I have searched until blue in the face and can't find one, but I *know* I've seen cheap "kits" where you supply the bottle jack (which I have) somewhere


Also any ideas on one of those Black&Decker Workmate (or facsimile) mini bench/vise things? You used to be able to get them at Sears, but couldn't find any trace of them listed now.

[bobknob]

Harbour freight or northern tool might have something like that?

[lane smith]

Harbour freight or northern tool might have something like that?

:idea:

ok, two more company names to search for, thanks! :)

[bobknob]

I remember seeing one similar to what you describe. Might have been force tools that sold it. The one I saw had two pipes to guide piece that jack travelled on.

Saw this at harbour freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos//04700-04799/04711-t.gif for $69.95 someone must have similar. Here is page it came from http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=hydraullic+shop+press+kit&Submit=Go

[lane smith]

I remember seeing one similar to what you describe. Might have been force tools that sold it. The one I saw had two pipes to guide piece that jack travelled on.

Saw this at harbour freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos//04700-04799/04711-t.gif for $69.95 someone must have similar. Here is page it came from http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=hydraullic+shop+press+kit&Submit=Go



Ya, that's pretty much exactly what I was thinking of!

Now to try and track it down local, if possible...

Thanks!:D

[muddhunter]

Princess Auto would be your best bet. I think they also have small arbor presses cheap too.

[Enigma]

KMS tools have some, but Princess Auto will have cheaper ones.

[lane smith]

KMS tools have some, but Princess Auto will have cheaper ones.


Just from what I could see online at Princess, I could only find a great monster 50 ton jobby @ $2000.00 + bucks lol.

***I have the catalogue downloaded on PDF at home though, so I will scope it out:D

Any ideas on a workmate type folding bench/vise type thing? I don't recall seeing anything like those last time I was at either Summit or Princess, but then I wasn't looking for, so might have walked right by it...


***edit- just looked through the pdf catalogue and the smallest/cheapest press they show is a 20 ton $350.00 model. I'll be darned if I can find any others.

[Beast]

Any ideas on a workmate type folding bench/vise type thing? I don't recall seeing anything like those last time I was at either Summit or Princess, but then I wasn't looking for, so might have walked right by it...


Crappy tire has em, jobmate makes em i think - not as good as the original blacker and decker workmates but they'll do the job

[lane smith]

Crappy tire has em, jobmate makes em i think - not as good as the original blacker and decker workmates but they'll do the job

Thanks, I'll check that out after work tomorrow.

[bobknob]

Princess no longer shows the cheap ones in catalogue. Kms doesn't show them in online catalogue. Those arbor presses sure are a lot faster.

[lane smith]

Princess no longer shows the cheap ones in catalogue. Kms doesn't show them in online catalogue. Those arbor presses sure are a lot faster.

Yup, added to my earlier post in an Edit-couldn't seem to find anything either.

Arbor presses "faster"? I have never used one before (that I'm aware of anyway) are they pretty much just manual presses that use leverage with a breaker bar?

I saw one in the Princess PDF, but it looked really really small, more like a metal punch. I can't see how it could work in my application:confused:


I thought it would be easier to find one of these things.:confused2

[lane smith]

Woohoo, I found them at Summit tools in Burnaby.

6-ton A-frame for $69.00 should be more than enough for the few times I will need it. There was a 12 ton model for $127 that I was coveting, but more than I need for now.

Got the cheapo workmate knockoff @ Cdn tire last night for $19.00 on sale, and it worked just fine to tear the t-case apart in the kitchen.

Thanks guys:D

[lane smith]

Well, for anyone contemplating getting a cheap 6-ton hydraulic press, I can't say as I'd recommend the 69.00 dollar jobby ("Samona" brand from Summit tools) for anything more than bicycle strength bearings:laugh


While it juuuust barely held up long enough to get the bearing and retainer off, it was interesting to watch/hear 1/2" thick metal pins bend like pretzels, and angle brackets deform and take on the profile of the part you are applying pressure to:confused2

Cut off some pieces from the frame of it with an angle grinder, clamped them to the bent parts to beef them up, and managed to get the stoopid bearing/retainer/gear off the zook output shaft seconds before it deliquesced and returned to it's component atoms.:redneck

[Dan]

I have one in my scrap metal pile right now, it was used for crushing oil filters with a hydraulic jack.

You can have it for a buck a pound.

[bobknob]

You need a press to straighten out your press. lol. Might be worth welding bracing on to strengthen it up?

[barracuda]

I have one in my scrap metal pile right now, it was used for crushing oil filters with a hydraulic jack.

You can have it for a buck a pound.

what size type etc

[lane smith]

You need a press to straighten out your press. lol. Might be worth welding bracing on to strengthen it up?


Bahahahaha:laugh

Ya, I might revisit this at a later date and add some material to make it a little sturdier, and then just use it for lighter duty tasks.

It ended up being basically a $70.00 one-shot bearing remover. Oh well, I'm just glad I was able to get it to do what I needed before it turned to silly putty:redneck

[bobknob]

I have a carolina unit. The frame is good but hydraulics are flow through. I put oil in and it flows through onto the ground. Cheap made in usa crap.