LiquidBlue

Price seems really good, could pay for itself in just a few uses, not to mention hassle of traveling to shop. Anyone using something similar?





http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ress-1667.html

Twin_Turbo

iTrader: (25)

Junk. Thats just a bottle jack with a frame. Get a real one consisting if a hydraulic cylinder with arbor. Then get the highest rating one you can find.

Twin_Turbo

iTrader: (25)

96188 is what you want.

LiquidBlue

Oh sure, pick the one I can't afford !!

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

I have the square version of that one that I've used/abused for many many projects. There are lots of threads out there (google search) on improving the performance/accuracy of that press. I'd say go with the A-frame over the square one for sure.

nhgator

I have an old harbour freight one I've had for years,yeah it's a cheapy but it's done countless snowmobile bearings and such and I've never broke it.

LiquidBlue

Are these cheapo's good enough for doing front end suspension bushings and differential pinion bearings?

MoJoe

iTrader: (5)

Yup. I used a neighbor's non-A-frame version of that press to do Del-A-Lum bushings and ball joints. You will need at least one fixture... The lower bar is wider than the A-arms are deep for the A-arm to straddle the lower bar. I welded some scrap steel tube (1/8" 2x4" rectangle) and a 1/4" plate to build a riser... So one bushing was pressed in against the riser sitting on the lower bar, while the other end of the A-arm hung below the riser, and above the lower bar.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

I've had the 20 ton for 10 years.

I wouldn't get the 12 ton A-frame. The one time you need the 20 ton instead, you will kick yourself in the *** for saving all of what, $ 50 and saving near zero floor space? I know I would have, several times.

The newer 20 ton has a little more height, in case you ever do something that is borderline in need of a lot of depth like an axle bearing. I believe they make a bolt-together, and a welded version too.

The 50 ton from HF would be really handy if you could move the jack laterally across the top. That would make a-arm bushings a breeze, as well as other jobs.

If you're not in a hurry, see if you can find a bigger, better used one. Something heftier than 20ton, that's taller / wider / deeper. Something with a moveable jack as mentioned. And with a cable setup to lift & lower the table.

LiquidBlue

Thanks for the advice guys. Does Harbor Freight have these sales all the time? Or is a rare event? They've got the 20 Ton H press down to $169 right now. Some guys over at Garage Journal are reporting being able to combine a coupon with the sale price to get it even lower.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

If it's a sale price and not a coupon you can combine the standard 20% off coupon with it.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

I have one of the 20 ton harbor freight square ones as well and its work well for everything I've ever needed it for. Got it used for 125 and cant beat it.