Central Hydraulics - Item#1666 (link may eventually expire)
Price paid: $69.99, less 20% (coupon)
- Image from Harbor Freight website
I bought this press for a very specific purpose: To separate slip yokes from driveshafts. I chose this specific one because I could take it to the salvage yard and remove the yokes on site, rather than bringing them home. My salvage yards get a lot less for the yoke alone. One yard charges for driveshafts by the number of sections!
Assembly:
- As it came out of the box...
There was not any part of this already assembled. All parts were there, but instructions were so poor, there was no way to tell. In fact, the parts list did not itemize the "hardware". There was no legend with pictures of each size bolt, nut, etc. and the quantity of each. Consequently, I used some wrong bolts, and later had to UNDO what I'd already assembled, and use the correct ones.
Assembly time was over an hour, mainly because of poor instructions. I could probably do it again in under 30 minutes, now that I know how.
I was not impressed by the fit (although my expectations were low). In one place, if you tighten the bolts tight enough, frame members will overlap--which is obviously not intended.
The arbor plates were not quite as pictured on the website. They are simply two flat steel plates. Some holes in them would have helped me, but that's for another discussion.
The pump lever for the jack was about as flimsy as could be--but adequate. It is in two pieces that do not stay together. Again, expectations were low anyway.
Use: Since I did not have a jig to hold my workpiece (a 2wd driveshaft), it was difficult to keep it in the right position. I should have brought a couple of sockets to the salvage yard, to use under the universal joint. Without a hole in the arbor pThelate, I could not drive the joint completely out. I tried to do it by placing the two arbor plates far enough apart to allow the joint to go through. I succeeded in destroying the press on its first use. The push rod bent badly, and the frame warped. I was unable to remove the joint on the field, so I threw it all into the truck and went home.
Once home, I was able to straighten the frame enough, and maneuver the jack into a position that would work, although the push rod was still badly bent. Using a large socket under the universal joint, I was able to drive the joint completely through the yoke, remove the cap, flip it, and then I used a smaller socket to push it back in, and then out the other side.
In fairness, If I had used the sockets the first time, I may not have bent the push rod. Since it successfully removed the universal joint (even after being damaged), I'd say it well suited for this particular job. I plan to return it later this week, and see if Harbor Freight will refund my money or at least exchange it (l'll post the outcome here).
Jack
Sometimes it works, but sometimes I spend an hour trying to remove them on the yard, or even in the shop--and sometimes 10 minutes. I wanted a sure-fire way that would work out on the salvage yard. A vice and torch are out of the question.