Press suggestions??

[JTW]

Need to press some ball joints and tired of the hassle. Any suggestions on a press? Good, bad... looking at the HF because I can get it quick.

12 ton H-Frame Industrial Heavy Duty Floor Shop Press

20 Ton H-Frame Floor Shop Press

Amazing deals on this 20Ton H-Frame Shop Press at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[RB3offroad]

Need to press some ball joints and tired of the hassle. Any suggestions on a press? Good, bad... looking at the HF because I can get it quick.

12 ton H-Frame Industrial Heavy Duty Floor Shop Press

20 Ton H-Frame Floor Shop Press

Amazing deals on this 20Ton H-Frame Shop Press at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

For a Manual, We have that one and it works well

 

[BWAF]

Need to press some ball joints and tired of the hassle. Any suggestions on a press? Good, bad... looking at the HF because I can get it quick.

12 ton H-Frame Industrial Heavy Duty Floor Shop Press

20 Ton H-Frame Floor Shop Press

Amazing deals on this 20Ton H-Frame Shop Press at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

The one you are looking would be great for disassembly but I always preferred one like this for putting stuff together you can feel more

 

[BWAF]

Just get both

 

[Vikes79]

Just get both

this ^^^^^

 

[BWAF]

??

 

[JenElio]

??

🤔 And just like that........you've made him spend $500. I love this site!😆

 

[ToddACimer]

I have the Harbor Freight 20 ton. I never used it with the stock jack. I bought a HF 20 ton air over hydraulic jack. I have it set up for both hand and foot operation. I added 80k press plates to replace the cast plates that come with it. I also added a Swag off-road finger brake kit. I added a Swag release knob as well

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

SWAG 3-D Printed Thumb Knob For (Flared) or (Cast Cross Pin) Bottle Ja

3-D Printed Thumb Knob For Bottle Jacks With A "Flared" or "Cast Cross Pin" Open/Close Valve We save you the hassle of using the 18" long handle to open and close the pressure release valve on many of your bottle jacks or long rams. This 3-D printed knob is designed for the flared or "smashed"...

www.swagoffroad.com

SWAG 20 TON Finger Brake Heavy Duty DIY Builder Kit

Heavy Duty 20 TON Finger Brake Press DIY Builder Kit Press Brake kit comes un-assembled, you do the final assembly and welding. Designed to fit the Harbor Freight 20 ton hydraulic press Item # 32879 & 60603. Press brake kit includes an adjustable back stop for accurate and repeatable bends. The...

www.swagoffroad.com

20 Ton STEEL Shop PRESS BED ARBOR PLATES H-Frame Press 7x7 4 notch | eBay

You will appreciate the lightweight maneuverability and versatility of this well thought out press tool. May be used as aVersatile "Topper" (over your existing bars) on any press up to 150 Ton. Cheap Steel CHEAP PLATES.

www.ebay.com

XMHF Pneumatic Foot Pedal Valve 2 Way 2 Position Air Pedal Valve Foot Control Switch 1Pcs Amazon.com: XMHF Pneumatic Foot Pedal Valve 2 Way 2 Position Air Pedal Valve Foot Control Switch 1Pcs: Home Improvement

Overall I'm happy with the set up. It's easy to use, easy to control both up and down and it'd a lot more robust than the 12 ton press that it replaced. I added washers to all the hardware and lock tire to all the nuts. I've had it since November but used it quite a bit since I like to use it. This photo is before the foot pedal which really is nice to use. If you need to slow down the pace you can manually jack the HF air Jack just like the original 20 ton jack.

 

[ehart814]

My cousin has the harbor freight one. I go to his place to use it often. Works great. Recently pressed out/in a wheel bearing for my beater car. I've used it for ball joints on quads/sideby sides too. I can't think of any reason to buy anything fancier.

 

[Gator]

My cousin has the harbor freight one. I go to his place to use it often. Works great. Recently pressed out/in a wheel bearing for my beater car. I've used it for ball joints on quads/sideby sides too. I can't think of any reason to buy anything fancier.

This is the best answer.
If you share a case of beer with a buddy you become cousins. Then, you can use his press and not have one taking up space in your shop.

 

[Bastardchild]

Need to press some ball joints and tired of the hassle. Any suggestions on a press? Good, bad... looking at the HF because I can get it quick.

12 ton H-Frame Industrial Heavy Duty Floor Shop Press

20 Ton H-Frame Floor Shop Press

Amazing deals on this 20Ton H-Frame Shop Press at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I ended up with a Harbour Freight press like the one in the pic. Got it from an estate auction. It does balljoints in a-arms just fine if you get inventive using little pieces of pipe or deep well sockets to press them in or out. Ive cut pieces of angle iron I keep with it for spanning the gap of the beams down below to set stuff on. Its not something that gets used very often but Im glad I got it. I think it will do you just fine.

 

[Remington]

I have always used one of these. Of corse mine is Mac Tools and have had it over 20 yrs but this one is basically the same. Reason being some trucks we had, were easier to do it on the truck but off the truck and in a vise it works as well also. I use a impact air gun with it. The one your looking at are real nice if you have the space to store it. I used the one at the shop when I had issues and needed some more guts but that wasn’t very often

Ball Joint Service Kit for 2WD and 4WD Vehicles

Amazing deals on this Balljoint Srvc Kit 2Wd And 4Wd Vehicles at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[906UP]

Another HF one here, for as much as I use it it work fine

 

[DG Rider]

I have always used one of these. Of corse mine is Mac Tools and have had it over 20 yrs but this one is basically the same. Reason being some trucks we had, were easier to do it on the truck but off the truck and in a vise it works as well also. I use a impact air gun with it. The one your looking at are real nice if you have the space to store it. I used the one at the shop when I had issues and needed some more guts but that wasn’t very often

Ball Joint Service Kit for 2WD and 4WD Vehicles

Amazing deals on this Balljoint Srvc Kit 2Wd And 4Wd Vehicles at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

If all you need is balljoints, these work well without removing a arms.

 

[ohanacreek]

What @ToddACimer posted is what I am going to do next time they run some coupons, I missed my chance during the holidays because I didn't make it before the coupons expired.

 

[JimmyA]

Get a loaner at O'riellys!

 

[Cuoutdoors]

I have the Harbor Freight 20 ton. I never used it with the stock jack. I bought a HF 20 ton air over hydraulic jack. I have it set up for both hand and foot operation. I added 80k press plates to replace the cast plates that come with it. I also added a Swag off-road finger brake kit. I added a Swag release knob as well

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

SWAG 3-D Printed Thumb Knob For (Flared) or (Cast Cross Pin) Bottle Ja

3-D Printed Thumb Knob For Bottle Jacks With A "Flared" or "Cast Cross Pin" Open/Close Valve We save you the hassle of using the 18" long handle to open and close the pressure release valve on many of your bottle jacks or long rams. This 3-D printed knob is designed for the flared or "smashed"...

www.swagoffroad.com

SWAG 20 TON Finger Brake Heavy Duty DIY Builder Kit

Heavy Duty 20 TON Finger Brake Press DIY Builder Kit Press Brake kit comes un-assembled, you do the final assembly and welding. Designed to fit the Harbor Freight 20 ton hydraulic press Item # 32879 & 60603. Press brake kit includes an adjustable back stop for accurate and repeatable bends. The...

www.swagoffroad.com

20 Ton STEEL Shop PRESS BED ARBOR PLATES H-Frame Press 7x7 4 notch | eBay

You will appreciate the lightweight maneuverability and versatility of this well thought out press tool. May be used as aVersatile "Topper" (over your existing bars) on any press up to 150 Ton. Cheap Steel CHEAP PLATES.

www.ebay.com

XMHF Pneumatic Foot Pedal Valve 2 Way 2 Position Air Pedal Valve Foot Control Switch 1Pcs Amazon.com: XMHF Pneumatic Foot Pedal Valve 2 Way 2 Position Air Pedal Valve Foot Control Switch 1Pcs: Home Improvement

Overall I'm happy with the set up. It's easy to use, easy to control both up and down and it'd a lot more robust than the 12 ton press that it replaced. I added washers to all the hardware and lock tire to all the nuts. I've had it since November but used it quite a bit since I like to use it. This photo is before the foot pedal which really is nice to use. If you need to slow down the pace you can manually jack the HF air Jack just like the original 20 ton jack.

View attachment 199743

I'd go this ^^^^^ route @JTW I think the most important factor though is having good plates to be able to adapt to your needs. That is what really makes using a press easy or difficult.

 

[lee]

In my defense, it's a tread about 'press' started by @JTW

 

[Mopower58]

I have had the HF press for 20 years and never a problem other than I dropped one of those plates and it broke in half. After the Covid outbreak no more China stuff for me even if it is cheaper.

 

[JTW]

So is the 20 ton that much sturdier than the 12 ton? I just figured they’re the same frame with different bottle jacks. I’ve looked at arbor presses too, but I’m not sure how much pressure I need. And yes, @ToddACimer I’ve already been looking at the pneumatic bottle jacks.