Seems suspiciously cheap compared to other inexpensive presses. I would like to be able to do axle hubs, but I doubt more than a couple times a year. Most other tasks would be fine with 10 ton.

Cost is a serious concern. I don't like buying junk tools, and dislike Harbor Fright in general, but I have a HF trailer and it's been fine. I am willing to work around limitations for infrequent-use tools.

Anyone use it? What are its limitations that make it so cheap? It's currently $189 vs $300+ for other cheap presses.

If you're looking at this one http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html I've had one for several years and it's been well worth it for a number of things including pressing bearings on and off. They use to have 2 versions of this with the other one being junk. It had a stamped frame instead of C channel but I don't see it listed anymore. I bought an OTC bearing splitter to use with it and it works great.

The one I need to get for mine is a better set of bed plates because the ones that come with it are cast and are known to explode. As you said, for something that's for occasional use it works well.

I bought one of their 4 X 6 band saws about 8 years ago for a railing project and I've used it way more than I thought I would but it's held up really well. I use good blades in it and it cuts nice and square. (after I took the time to set it up properly)

I've had one for nearly 15 years.  I've used it a lot.   I recently converted it to an air over hydraulic ram (about $100) and it works even better.

Bob

tufcj

My advice to you would be to go to Harbor Freight and look at it in person.  Look at the lateral support in both directions for the ram.  Grab the ram and think to yourself how stable it would be under load.  This is the only way in my opinion to see how it meets YOUR standards.

Mopar_guy yup that's the one. that you have one means something.

6pakbee, yeah, eyeballs know :-) I will check it out. and tufcj and others, i'm fine with, and expect to, have to cleanup and tune the setup. I have a lot of improvised metal blocks and bars, I'll probably buy one of those bearing splitters but I'm OK with having to "finish" the tool.

I'm lucky to have my own building. Nasty illegal thing came with the property, not on any plots, if the city ever looks... Its small, 2/3rds of it is clean office books electronics computer, about 150 sq ft inside shop, but I have a covered patio with a metal bench, floor jack, the world's noisiest cheapo compressor. The press would live out there.

I acquire tools slowly. No room and like most of us, money. Pick at it pick at it... thanks for the info I will ahve to drive out and look at it.

HF stuff is hit and miss, lots of misses, but some stuff seems decent like my now 10 yr old trailer (was "1200 lb" when I  got it, now it's called "1000 lb", lol, same trailer! 1200 seemed optimistic...). It's been to Burning Man twice or three times, hauled many 195.6's, has about 5000 miles on it. No complaints for $300!

Yes I have that exact press and bought it 3 years ago specifically for axle bearings which it did very well and use it for pretty much everything now. I also have a a 20 year old HF arbor style press that has been abused quite a bit over the years and still works perfect. No complaints here on HF presses

They are great to have and absolutely necessary at times. But in the past 15 years (after I had a primary need) I've used it three times. Once to slightly bend an exhaust for better fitment, once my neighbor pressed on a few bearings and more recently I pressed off a steel Corvair cylinder barrel that was for lack of a better description was "welded" with rat urine to the aluminum head.

 As someone else mentioned the spread is rather narrow. I had to clamp two metal plates under the press catching "nubs" on the cylinder barrel. To deal with the combustion chamber step I filled a baggy with dry Pourstone, trimmed the corners off a wooden 4x4 and with much trepidation (those nubs holding the cylinder are pretty small) liberated the cylinder and head.

So, there are "workarounds" but you need a lot of scrap "stuff" and a bit of ingenuity at times.

I've been very tempted to buy that same press several times now.  Finding a place to put it in my tiny garage it is my problem. 

Generally though, they're my go to place for tools that you might use only once a year, so you don't want to tie up a lot of money in them, but when you need 'em, you need 'em.  My HF transmission jack is a perfect example, though I've found it to be very handy for removing gas tanks, etc. too.

Buyer beware is still the best strategy though.

Then I get new things like dimpling holes, punching holes, etc. 

Jacin

I think I got it... You're absolutely right, "shear" means zero leverage, yeah, no (close) gap! Ill watch. Haven't bought the !@$#@#$ thing yet... but haven't forgotten either. The projects for it are still stacked up.