rmaynard 17,131 #1 Posted 15 hours ago I was given a 12 ton HFT press back in 2019. The first thing that I thought was I can't wait until I have the next stuck steering wheel. So, seven years later here we are. Grandson Mason picked up a 69 Raider 12 at the show last year. Two weeks ago he brought me his steering wheel with the dash still attached. First thing we did was get the roll pin out, then cut the locking collar off from under the dash. Next I discovered that you can't get the whole assembly into the press because the gap in the apron (as they call it) is fixed and too narrow. So I removed it and replaced it with a 4x4 on either side. See picture.. Okay. One would think that this would be easy-peasy. Nope. I have been soaking this with PB Blaster now for a week. The shaft has not budged at all. The other problem is that as I add pressure, the 4x4's are compressing (denting) where they sit on the pins that are supposed to hold the steel apron. This problem is probably turning 12 tons of pressure into about 4 tons. Because I can't use heat due to the plastic steering wheel, my next step will be to cut the support that hold the two sides of the apron together, spread it apart to get the steering shaft in, then clamp it back together, to get a non-moving apron. More to follow... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 17,131 #2 Posted 15 hours ago Well, that answers that. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 11,989 #3 Posted 15 hours ago 23 minutes ago, rmaynard said: my next step will be to cut the support that hold the two sides of the apron together, spread it apart to get the steering shaft in, then clamp it back together, to get a non-moving apron. This has been done before... I recall the angle being completely removed at one end and a stout piece of rod tapped on both ends substituted. One hole in each chanel, two bolts, good to go... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 11,989 #4 Posted 15 hours ago The welded-on lower gear does make it more interresting.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,745 #5 Posted 15 hours ago @rmaynard I cant tell by the pics, what did you end up doing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 46,279 #6 Posted 15 hours ago (edited) 14 minutes ago, ri702bill said: This has been done before... I recall the angle being completely removed at one end and a stout piece of rod tapped on both ends substituted. One hole in each chanel, two bolts, good to go... @WHX?? modified his press. And so did @gt14rider Edited 14 hours ago by squonk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 17,131 #7 Posted 14 hours ago 8 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said: @rmaynard I cant tell by the pics, what did you end up doing? I cut the angle holding the two pieces. Spread it open far enough to get the 3/4" shaft in. 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 46,279 #8 Posted 14 hours ago As the tool thread shows most of the force is still on the beams. The bolts will keep the beams from spreading apart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 9,825 #9 Posted 14 hours ago The 20 ton press must be a touch wider. I was able to get the dash piece through and below. That last one was tight. IMG_7448.mov 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 78,509 #10 Posted 14 hours ago 7 minutes ago, JoeM said: The 20 ton press must be a touch wider. I was able to get the dash piece through and below. That last one was tight. IMG_7448.mov 2.96 MB · 0 downloads My press is a 20 ton HF and it does NOT have enough space to allow that. Perhaps different models... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 78,509 #11 Posted 14 hours ago 1 hour ago, rmaynard said: Well, that answers that. Niiiiice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 11,989 #12 Posted 13 hours ago And you have to love that "Kabang!!" when it finally yields! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ineedanother 2,189 #13 Posted 12 hours ago Hmmmm. I hope the guys in the shop at work won't mind me modifying their press 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 17,131 #14 Posted 12 hours ago 52 minutes ago, ri702bill said: And you have to love that "Kabang!!" when it finally yields! I had an initial kabang, followed by at least 4 more. Weird. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 11,989 #15 Posted 2 hours ago Indeed... Years of "familiarity" between the hub & shaft, both dry assembled most likely, make them difficult to remove. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 9,825 #16 Posted 1 hour ago 12 hours ago, ebinmaine said: 20 ton HF and it does NOT have enough space to allow that. Got me thinking now......that's dangerous! Might have extended the wheel and shaft and the wheel came up through???? I know I did not have to modify the press. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 78,509 #17 Posted 1 hour ago 3 minutes ago, JoeM said: Got me thinking now......that's dangerous! I can relate 3 minutes ago, JoeM said: Might have extended the wheel and shaft and the wheel came up through???? I know I did not have to modify the press. Like anything made in the lands of cheapness, there are many manufacturers and different versions. That's one of the reasons why HF changes their little five or six digit part number so often. When you read the reviews or watch some of the videos about purchasing their tools, you'll see the same general model of something but it'll say to "avoid these numbers,...." Those are the different series places of manufacture. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
