http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-shop-press-4711.html

Quote :

"Description of Central Hydraulics 4711 Remove and install bearings, gears, U-joints, bushings, ball joints and pulleys. This hydraulic press produces substantial pressure for your arbor and press-out jobs with minimal effort. Specially hardened steel press has removable tempered steel cap, replaceable with different tool ends. H-frame shop press may be used for electric motor and armature repair, installation and removal of pressure-fitted parts, and bending or straightening of metal. 6-ton hydraulic bottle jack. Assembly and floor-mounting required. * Includes free pair of arbor press plates * Open-side construction allows work on the longest work pieces * Raise and lower table for the best working distance * Spring return ram speeds up your work * Working distance: 3-1/8" to 9" * Width between channels: 13-3/8" * Hardware included Base dimensions: 16-1/2" x 19-3/4" Overall height: 36-1/4" Weight: 59-1/4 lbs."

it's on special at Harbor Freight. Yes I know it's Harbor Freight and what that may entail as far as longevity. The question is, would this get the job done for pressing out bushings and other run-of-the-mill stuff?

Of course it says it will work but can anyone give advice based on experience with owning or using a press?

[Edited on February 16, 2011 at 7:49 AM. Reason : .]

2/16/2011 7:35:31 AM

Of course, I can give you all grades of experience. What do you think I pressed in the suspension bushings on your white FC with? Well, it wasn't a press from Harbor Freight, but it was a press nonetheless. I've used a whole slew of presses, and I can honestly say, the bigger, the better.

And just to let you know, that model right there is a supreme piece of shit. You need to pony up and get the 12 ton model, which is light years better. The 20 ton press is just lovely. That little 6 ton shit will NOT do suspension bushings or a lot of axle shaft bearings and is just damn awkward to use to press FWD wheel bearings out of knuckles (of course, if you don't have the right press plates, etc, ANY press is damn awkward to use).

We've got two presses at Matt's garage. One is his little $100 press, very similar to that one. The other one is mine, and it's one of the bigger Harbor Freight ones...MUCH more practical, useful, and easier to use because you don't have to crouch down to use the damn thing if you have it on the floor. The little press needs to be on a bench.

Come by and try mine out if you want.

2/16/2011 9:16:42 AM

ah the voice of experience. just what I needed to hear.

2/16/2011 9:42:05 AM

mine is the 20 ton. I paid about 200 bucks for it, and it was worth every penny for the jobs I have needed it for. You won't be disappointed if you go that route.

One thing that I can tell you is this: stability and rigidity is damn near EVERYTHING when it comes to doing presswork. If you take a look at the 20 ton model, you'll notice that the basic frame is welded instead of bolted like the 6 and 12 ton models. Use it and you can tell all the difference in the world. No shifting, no torsional flex. It's very stable, and you won't have shit ricocheting off of walls when that flex causes a piece to shift and pop out.

And it never hurts to have the sheer force available so that your skinny ass isn't hanging from the jack handle while you're trying to press out a hub bearing or something.

2/16/2011 10:09:18 AM

What about this one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/garage-shop/shop-presses/20-ton-air-hydraulic-shop-press-with-oil-filter-crusher-65330.html

Quote :

"Description of Central Hydraulics 65330 This 20 ton shop press can be used manually, or connected to an air compressor and operated pneumatically for increased speed and efficiency, and decreased operator fatigue. * Quickly and easily remove bearings, gears, U-joints, bushings, ball joints, pulleys, and more * Working dimensions: 0" - 12-3/4" * Ram travel is 6-1/2" with heavy duty return springs for fast ram return * Height range of the bottle jack is 10-1/4" to 20" * The air inlet fitting is 1/4" NPT with a working PSI of 110-120 * Includes (2) press plates and an oil filter crusher accessory * The oil filter crusher accessory is an economical alternative to a dedicated oil filter crushing machine * The crusher compresses most automotive and light truck filters (6" L x 4" diameter) to just 1/4 of their original size and removes 90% of the oil from pre-drained filters * The crusher has a 39" L x 11/16" diameter oil drain hose and an adjustable press plate and shield "

The question is, would the pneumatic part actually work well with a smaller air compressor (comparable to your old one Dan)? Or is that just a useless gimmick. Harbor Freight is listing $250 for the regular 20 ton and $300 for this one with the pneumatic capability.

One difference is that the pneumatic one is a lot shorter. It's like 35 inches as opposed to 60 inches tall for the regular 20 ton model.

[Edited on February 16, 2011 at 10:56 AM. Reason : .]

2/16/2011 10:53:33 AM

Go find you a 20% off coupon and get the standard 20 ton one. It's not just the capacity, it's the frame design. That shit right there is limited to being used on a bench, or at the very least, you'll need to build something to set it on. And you still won't have the depth capacity of the standard 20 ton floor model. Take a look at the frame; the table height is fully adjustable in something like 6" increments from damn near the floor on up. And that, sir, is PRICELESS.

Remember, with the pneumatic/hydraulic one, it's a question of a gimmick/luxury over necessary functionality. You don't get both here.

Harbor Freight has 20% off coupons in a lot of magazines like car mags or Popular Mechanics and shit. MAKE USE OF IT!

2/16/2011 11:18:45 AM

yeah we were thinking about taking advantage of a 20% coupon for this

2/16/2011 11:31:09 AM

I have an email with a 20% coupon if you need it. Its a 1-use only and expires on the 19th.

2/16/2011 11:33:06 AM

I think I'm good on the 20% coupon already. looks like the 20 ton press it is

2/16/2011 2:24:42 PM

hey there is an A-frame and an H-frame 20 ton press. The H-frame is on sale for $225 http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html , and the A-frame is at the regular price of $250. http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-a-frame-industrial-heavy-duty-floor-shop-press-37999.html which one is better? does it matter? The H frame looks like it is a lot heavier, but I would be picking it up at the store anyway.

2/16/2011 5:27:02 PM

H frame. Better in every way. Looks more stout, wider in between channels, and has a taller working distance.

[Edited on February 16, 2011 at 5:47 PM. Reason : weqew]

2/16/2011 5:46:08 PM

What Adam said to a T. I mean an H.

2/16/2011 6:19:04 PM

k thanks

2/16/2011 6:25:14 PM

Question: are there any other things I need to get to help press out bushings? like another set of press plates or whatever

2/16/2011 6:50:34 PM

I keep a box of lathe drops near mine. Sockets work just as well though.

2/16/2011 7:04:22 PM

having a few old bearing races around can be helpful as well.

2/16/2011 11:42:19 PM