[Candyman]

While taking a welding class I saw a homemade rig similar to this sitting in a corner of the shop. It seems to me like it would work well for simple pressing jobs, like pressing a steering stem into a triple, or bearings into a swingarm ect. If I'm wrong on it, if anyone can add any suggestions on improving design, or other possible uses, please post up.

One trick obviosly is that the jack would have to be centered, which could be done, possibly by welding, or bolting the jack to the lower plate. Since the top of those bottle jacks usually screw in, it might be better to weld that to the floater plate, that would allow the point of contact to be centered at all times.

Disclaimer: I havn't made one myself, but I have full intention of doing so. This is just a sketch based on something I observed.

 

[ab420]

DAMN dude! That is one hell of a DIY project! Rep points for that one!

:cfcartman:

 

[Candyman]

Its not that tough I don't think. Just track down some scrap metal, or buy a few pieces from the metal shop. All that you really need is a welder and cutting touch to do the assembly. Maybe a drillpress if you want to make the lower plate adjustable. The more I think about it though, I think with the way the top of those jacks screw out, I think that would give you enough ajustment to do most pressing things. Then if you really need to adjust it far you could put a piece of 4x4" under the jack or something.

I'll have to talk to the teacher of this welding course, he might let me try a hand at building one if there is enough scrap around.

 

[jesseunvoas]

hey i made the same thing but reverse so the jack was on the bottom and pushed downwards

 

[ab420]

By "hell of a diy project" I didn't mean that it's too tough or anything, I just mean that's an awesome thing to be able to build yourself (thanks to you) rather than shelling out a bunch of dough for it!

Thank you very much for this awesome DIY!

 

[Candyman]

Well I can't take credit for thinking of it first, honestly before I saw that homemade one yesterday I'da probly had to shelled out the money to have someone do the work for me:jpshakehead.sml:

 

[ab420]

Well I can't take credit for thinking of it first, honestly before I saw that homemade one yesterday I'da probly had to shelled out the money to have someone do the work for me:jpshakehead.sml:

While that may be true... if it weren't for you posting how to do it on this forum we probably would've shelled out the money too... SO... regardless of who designed it... thank YOU for posting it! arty-smiley:

:cfcartman:

 

[Candyman]

One correction I would add to the above plan drawings. I took a closer look last night, and it looks like the 3 plates, top, bottom, and floater, would be best made out of 1" steel plates rather than 1/2-3/4" After thinking about it, you get a good hydrolic jack in there and it would probly bend 1/2-3/4" plate. 1", it aint gunna bend.

and FYI the plates on this particular press were ~1'x1' though you could probably go bigger.

 

[fslflint]

very good project. I have the jack for mine sitting in the basement. but I got lazy and just made an adapter plate for the 26 ton hydraulic log splitter (laugh if you want but its one badass press).

and besides, I have access to the 20 ton one at work now.

 

[Candyman]

Log splitter as a shop press, thats even better! Awesome idea man:LolLolLolLol:

 

[Nev]

guy I knew that owned a bike shop had a press i used to insert my swingarm bearings. It was basically a big metal frame with a hydrolic jack mounted upside down. I think the steel frame was hollow, square tubing.

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[Hung like a martyr]

Thanks for posting the plans. If someone builds this thing and it's not exact or even close it's still good to get folks thinking on ways to do it. The thing that I don't like about big presses is that they take up so much space and just sit around waiting for the 1% of the time I would use it. :yoda: WWYD?

 

[chandler]

i use mine all the time. i press alot of rear end bearings and wheel bearings on cars. and thier only like a hundred at harbor freight why waste your time building one.

 

[Nev]

Hmpf, he speaks truth

$75


$150



$10