pressing bearings

[gduke2010]

Is a 10 ton press enough? Seen a used bench top press online.

[wswartzwel]

Depends on what bearings you are pressing. I always put them in the freezer first, and heat the housing... then they go in quite easily. I have a 20 ton press I use for pressing them apart.

[sc_rufctr]

20 ton should be more than enough for anything you're doing in the back yard.
(It's real easy to wreck anything if you're not careful and freezing parts overnight helps a lot.)

I bought a cheap arse 10 ton press and replaced the Chineseum jack with a Ford bottle jack.
I've had no issues doing a number of jobs over the years.
I also use a 1 ton arbour press that's very versatile for smaller jobs.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I bought a cheap arse 10 ton press and replaced the Chineseum jack with a Ford bottle jack.

10 ton Harbor Freight for me. Jack is fine but I have made mistakes and put pressure on the frame, and it bends.

Ten ton is plenty for regular auto needs but I wish I had sprung for the 20 ton HF as there is a larger platform to work with. I am always trying to get this shim or that to have a hub/knuckle sit perpendicular to the ram. The wimpy frame makes it that much harder.

That said if OP's used 10 ton has a beefy frame, go for it.

[asphaltgambler]

20 ton minimum for shop, even at home. The problem is when that sounds like a lot but it's all about the control pressure / leverage when using it. More tonnage (to a short extent) means less effort for the user and that translates into more control and 'feel' when in use.

If you're assembling something you want to press smoothly so you can feel / hear anything that is not clearanced right. Also, going up in tonnage the frame is more stout, which means less flex.

[fastfredracing]

Agreed with the above . I have an el cheapo 20 ton that I've had for 25 years. Its never failed me, but I have bent, and had to reinforce the pushing pin .
Get yourself, a nice heavy duty bearing splitter also . Makes removal of races really easy, and super helpful to chock up steering knuckles to press out the spindle ( usually the hardest part of the job and first step )

[sammyg2]

If a 10 ton press is not big enough to install bearings, you are not doing it right.
Temperature is your friend, most of the time that will make it a slip fit when done right.

Now, taking apart could be a whole different story. Depending on the amount of damage it could take a lot of tonnage.

[fastfredracing]

The install is the easy part. Getting them out is where you need some oomph !

[gduke2010]

Thanks for the advice

[gduke2010]

Would like to get a compact bench vice