shop press

[jimy22]

I am rebuilding some mower deck spindles for an old JD112 mower deck. As expected, it is quite a pain getting the spindles apart and the bearings out. With my biggest hammer, some drifts, and a couple of hours I expect it can be done. The shafts are probably a bit less than an inch in diameter.

What size of a hydraulic shop press would do the same job? They seem to start at around 10 tons and go much higher. If it isn't stronger than my hammer - I don't want to buy one.

thanks

Jim

 

[texbaylea]

I recently bought a 12 ton press from Harbor Freight on sale. I have not set it up yet but I expect it to be able to do jobs like you are talking about. It may mean building up the pressure then spraying penetrant and tapping on the outside piece. You might even have to add heat but the peices should come apart. No ding and upset from hammering.

Vernon

 

[Bird]

I think Vernon is right; a 10-12 ton press will do most jobs. When I was repairing air tools, I used a 3 ton arbor press just about every day. I was also in another air tool repair shop once and noticed their 3 ton arbor press had the top of the arbor mushroomed from hitting it with big hammers. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I also had a 6 ton hydraulic press that was rarely used. I only encountered one single air tool; a Snap-on air chisel that had a broken piece in the barrel that I simply could not budge at all; finally called my primary parts supplier to ask if there was something unusual that I didn't know and the guy told me, "Nope, it's just pressed in, but send it to me and I'll change it for you with our 100 ton hydraulic press." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Farwell]

A press will give straight even pressure that most hammer blows can't duplicate. 10 ton should be plenty for most general press work. I do most of my work with an arbor press. Haven't got a clue on how much pressure it puts out.

 

[jimy22]

Thanks for the advice. I see one I like at Northern Tool, but the price for shipping a heavy item is always a surprise. I will look around locally and see if anyone carries them. Luckily I am in no hurry on this job so I can wait around for the right tool rather than do my usual slam and bang with the hammers.

UPDATE - I had looked on www.grizzly.com with no luck. After searching for "hydraulic" I found several presses - with much more reasonable shipping prices than Northern. For what appears to be the same 12 ton press, price with shipping is $148 at Grizzly and $180 at Northern. Clearly, this is not an industrial quality tool - but I expect it to work for occasional use.

Jim

 

[em14]

Some time back I was looking for a 20 ton press and checked with Northern. Their freight at that time was about 1/3 the cost of the item. I went to HF and got one which looked the same to me and the freight was much less. Freight cost seem to be very high from Northern.
Leo

 

[Farwell]

Jim,
There is not much to building a press if you are a little handy, have a few tools, a metal scrap yard that is not too far away and a 20 ton hydraulic jack. Take a good look at the tool catalogs and copy their designs, use the better grade bolts for pins.
David

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

I would go 20 Ton. Might not use it every day but, you might find you will use it more when you have it.

Ronald

 

[boustany]

Not that I'd ever try to disuade somebody from buying a tool, but, have you tried a 'puller'?

You know those gizmos with a fine thread bolts and some legs or claws? They develop tremendous force, and often I find that if you tighten them up real good a slight tap with a hammer is all that's needed to get things apart.

 

[JimR]

You shouldn't need a press to rebuild those spindles. I just did my 3 spindles with a large punch and hammer with very little effort.

 

[jimy22]

Yup - a press should be quite a help for these. Depends on how many times they have been apart. This set hasn't been apart more than once if at all and is at least 20 years old. I've been riding a couple of these old 112's around for almost 30 years. Watched my dad pound on some of these spindles and have done so myself. Some go easier than others. This particular set is stubborn. It may be worse when they have been used in wet conditions.

Jim

 

[Jagmandave]

Some penetrating oil may help then, if you're not in a hurry, just soak em down with WD 40 (or your choice) and leave em for a week, if there's rust in there, it'll come loose.
I have a 20 ton press and have had to use it all on occasion to pop something loose. If you have a Cummins Tool or Harbor Freight in the area, drive over and buy one for less than $200.

 

[jimy22]

Just an update. The 12 ton press from Grizzly arrived the other day. It went together easily - although one hole was misaligned and needed some file work. It is pretty low to the ground, but is comfortable to use with my little wheeled stool.

It worked well for my job with the mower spindles. It was nice to be quietly pressing them and not deforming them with a hammer and drift. The press doesn't have a huge amount of throw and the table height holes are fairly far apart so it took a bit of fiddling with spacers and blocking to work the shaft thru - but I expect a nice collection of steel cutoffs is the name of the game with a press.

I am happy with my purchase - although perhaps a slightly better one would have made me even happier....

thanks for the help...my spindles are turning smoothly now...

Jim

 

[JimR]

Before I bought my press I really needed it. I always had something to bend, press or straighten out. Now that I have a nice one, it rarely gets used. But at least I know it's there if I need it. Glad to see you got what you wanted.

 

[Junkman]

Jim........ I sold my press 35 years ago, and am now looking for another. If you find one at a bargain price like the other items you purchased, please let me know. I would like a larger one since everything that I own is stubborn like a wife. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif