shop press

transman731

transman731

get your shift together
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Location
Raleigh, NC
what kind of presses does everyone have/use ?
i have been in business for 9 years and my harbor freight 20 ton has served me well. granted the table is narrow and has presented problems but i usually fin a way around it.
many of the newer straight drive transmissions demand more than the 20 ton can handle. some transmissions are recommending a 100 ton press. i really don't want to have to spend 10-15 grand, but it seems that's about where i'm at. if anyone has any suggestions i'm open for them.
 
Why the Hell is that much pressure necessary in a trans?
 
I've got a Ramco 55ton with a 2 stage hand pump and a gauge. I'd guess its 30" between the rails, and has about 5 feet of vertical adjustability. I can't imagine what 100 tons is like because the noises it makes when you start approaching 30-35 tons is a bit intimidating sometimes. Makes you wear safety glasses and turn sideways, hahaha! I LOVE have a pressure gauge on it, and having the fast pump. It pretty comfortably pushes 15-20 tons with the fast handle, and moves 1/8-1/4" per pump depending on load.

At one point I had a 20ton as well as the 55 ton, and I would often go to the 20ton first, mainly because everything was easier to move around and position. Since I sold it, I added a cable system to the table on the 55ton to make it easier to move the table, and its a ton easier to use now.
 
GotWood said:
Why the Hell is that much pressure necessary in a trans?
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No shite 100 tons? Wow.
The weight of a whole freakin Army tank focused on one little point.
 
I have an older 30 ton press and it's worked well for me. Well.... until I got lazy dimpling holes in sheet metal and decided to waste 100 bucks on a 20 ton air/hydro HF bottle jack to use in it. That thing won't push crap. I think the biggest deciding factors for me were having enough height to press a bearing off of a long rear 1 piece axle shaft or 2 piece driveshaft and having enough space between the beams for the flange of that shaft to fit through. I can't even fathom needing 100 tons in a press used for a transmission. Thats enough force to shatter a race between two plates. You're gonna need a big polycarbonate box to put it and the R2D2 that operates it in LOL!
 
the nv5600 is one of the trannies that require a 100 ton press to remove 6th gear and that is still a pick up truck trans, it's not the biggest thing i work on.
the zf 6speed i am working on right now has obliterated 3 pullers and a bearing separator on 1 bearing alone before i got pissed and cut it off (which translates to another 2 days wait for the customer because i have to special order a $20 race).

i'm not saying i couldn't get away with a 50 ton press, but if i'm going to have to bite the bullet for 10 grand i might as well spend 12 and get a 100 ton.
 
I picked up a two stage 40 ton Arcan from Northern when they were on closeout and it was still $400 . I feel for you having to buy the 100 ton , thats a lot of wrenching to recover that investment .
 
rockmafia said:
Why $12k?
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well i don't have that kind of cash, so that means it will be financed through someone.(i accounted for finance charges and interest)
i will only buy from a company that will still be around in 10years(no guarantees on that anymore) so that led towards otc or hien warner or going through one of the tool companies. i don't really want to go through any of the tool companies (i already owe them enough). that means i will most likely be going through the carquest equipment program for the purchase because the process is simple for me and all i have to do is call them and it will be here in a few days, no questions asked.(i've bought 4 lifts, brake lathe,ac machine,waste oil heater,porta-cool and various other pieces of shop equipment from them)
 
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