Harbor Freight 20-Ton hydraulic press mods

[tjkubota93]

Where is the best place or what is the best way to get some good press blocks cheap? Figured people looking at this thread might know.

 

[BukitCase]

SWAG offroad has 4 different sizes, not cheap though

Arbor Press Plates

The price shown is replacement for the 20 ton HF, click the "options" arrow for other sizes. Keep in mind these are not basic mild steel and they're thick...

If "cheap" is more important than "good", minimum 1" thick scrap steel is probably your best bet. As I mentioned earlier, I had a semi-circular "half donut" piece of 1" I cut in half to make two "thick crescent" shaped plates, worked fine with the jig I was using.

If you have any scrap steel yards locally, I'd ask for 1-1/2" thick scrap if you have a 20 tonner... Steve

 

[tjkubota93]

I have a lincoln. Don't remember what ton.

 

[CalG]

I've got a similar press. Not an import though, still just a bottle jack in a frame.

It has no cable hoist for the bed rails. When a change is needed, I just reach over and grab the hi-lift tractor jack and use that to reposition the bed.

I used to do it by hand, but that meant taking all the press plates off the bed. The hi-lift jack makes the task easy. Plus, the jacks are stored by the press anyway. Maybe that's where the idea came from , association ;-)

 

[KubotainNH]

I have the smaller A-frame version that's supposed to have the plates that don't explode. I'd like to put an air jack on it but not high on the to-do list. I ziptied a short pipe onto the frame that the jack handle fits in so it doesn't get lost. The unit was way to short so I used a homemade stool I build from 2"x12" scrap pieces I had left over when my house was built. I flipped the stool over, screwed it to a moving dolly and bolted the press to the box. This gave me a movable unit with storage at the bottom. I use this press more often then I thought I would. Straighten bent metal, pushing out bearings etc. Good stuff.

 

[vidio1]

Cheapest steel plates I've found:

Arbor Press Plate 12" Dia x 1 1 4" Thick w Four Slots 1" 1 1 2" 2" 2 1 2" | eBay

 

[Big Barn]

Cheapest steel plates I've found: Arbor Press Plate 12" Dia x 1 1 4" Thick w Four Slots 1" 1 1 2" 2" 2 1 2" | eBay

That one MAY work okay for a small HF press. It's a "daisy wheel" designed for a large ARBOR press.

Might be difficult to take full advantage of the slots.





Terry

 

[vidio1]

I bought 2 of them and rotate them to suit my needs. Most of the time I just need something solid to press against though.

 

[Big Barn]

I bought 2 of them and rotate them to suit my needs. Most of the time I just need something solid to press against though.

That's a good price!

Terry

 

[gwstang]

Oh man, I love the wheels. Never thought about doing that to mine. I have used it so many times over the years to change out U-Joints/bearings/wheel studs etc. I have gotten a little nervous when really applying some serious pressing force on something tough to break loose. I've had stuff fly out and go into the unknown area of the shop, where all things/tools that seem to get lost/missing/dropped are never to be seen again...still haven't found that place yet. :confused2: