How to Use a 12-Ton Shop Press

Pressing Two Items Together

• 1

  Position one arbor plate, provided with the 12-ton press, over the center of the hydraulic press table so the center of the arbor plate lines up with the ram arm that extends from the bottom of the hydraulic jack plate.

• 2

  Place the “receiving” item onto the arbor plate. The receiving item is the object into which you plan to press a second object. For example, the object could be a bearing cup.

• 3

  Place the “inserting” item over the receiving item. Inspect the items to make sure that the item you are inserting rests over the hole in the receiving item squarely.

• 4

  Place a sacrificial wooden block over the inserting item. Use a block that measures larger than the inserting item. The block prevents the ram from damaging the receiving item.

• 5

  Tighten the wheel on the side of the hydraulic jack by turning it clockwise so the jack will push down the ram when you pump.

• 6

  Place the jack handle into the handle pump on the side of the hydraulic jack and then pump the handle until the ram presses against the wooden block. Inspect the receiving and inserting items to make sure the inserting item did not shift out of alignment.

• 7

  Pump the handle slowly as you press the inserting item into the receiving item.

• 8

  Loosen the wheel on the side of the hydraulic jack by turning it counterclockwise to release pressure on the ram. The ram will automatically lift when you loosen the wheel.

Separating Two Items

• 9

  Butt two arbor plates side-by-side on the press table. Each arbor plate has a half-circle cut into each of its four sides. Each half-circle is a different size. When you butt the two plates together, the half-circles in the ends of the arbor plates will create a circular hole. Match up the half-circles so the arbor plate supports the item you are pressing the object from and allows room for the object you are pressing to fall through the table. Center the hole in the arbor plates over the ram.

• 10

  Place a piece of sacrificial wood over the object you are pressing. The wood must cover the object you are pressing but not cover the surrounding object that the arbor plates support.

• 11

  Tighten the wheel on the side of the hydraulic jack by turning it clockwise so the jack will push down the ram when you pump.

• 12

  Place the jack handle into the handle pump on the side of the hydraulic jack and then pump the handle until the ram presses against the wooden block.

• 13

  Pump the handle slowly as you press the object out with the ram. The object could fall through the slot in the press table if small enough. Keep this in mind as you press the objects apart.

• 14

  Loosen the wheel on the side of the hydraulic jack by turning it counterclockwise to release pressure on the ram. The ram will automatically lift when you loosen the wheel.