Hydraulic Floor Press: 12 or 20 Tonnes, Hand Pump or Air?

Will a 12-tonne floor press do, or will you wish you had bought 20? Tonnage is only part of the answer: bed width, the gap under the ram and the type of pump matter as much. Here is how to choose, and how to press bearings out safely.

PartsForMachines lists 70 hydraulic presses from Sealey, MO-TEC, Chicago Pneumatic, Sykes Pickavant, SIP and Draper in its floor press range. They run from 6 to 150 tonnes, with hand-pump, air/hydraulic and electric models.

Is a 12-Tonne Floor Press Enough, or Should I Buy 20?

Twelve tonnes can be enough, but size the press by your biggest part as well as the force. Two presses from one maker show why: the 70539 12-tonne floor press has a 455mm working table and 77–917mm between ram and table. The 70540 20-tonne floor press gives 550mm and 28–998mm, and weighs 113.5kg against 78.5kg.

If you work on wide hubs, long shafts or plant parts, that extra room matters as much as the tonnage. Fifteen-tonne models sit between the two.

Hand Pump or Air-Hydraulic: Is an Air Press Worth Paying For?

For occasional jobs a hand pump does the work; air-hydraulic earns its keep when you press all day. Many hand presses have a two-speed pump: a quick stroke brings the ram to the work, then a slow, high-pressure stroke does the pressing. On the YK20FAH air/hydraulic 20-tonne press, a side-mounted air motor drives the pump instead.

Foot-pedal models such as the YK759FAH leave both hands free to steady the work. Check the air pressure and flow the press needs against your compressor: the 03686, for example, takes a maximum air pressure of 7.5 to 8.5 bar.

Will My Part Fit Between the Uprights and Under the Ram?

Measure the part first: its widest point must fit the working table between the uprights, and its height the gap between ram and table. A shaft or hub that passes through the bed also needs a big enough table aperture: 100mm on the YK20FAH, for example.

Then check how the table moves. Some presses set it at fixed heights (eight on the 70539); many heavier ones raise it by winch. The CP86200 20-tonne press (8941086200) has a winch so one person can reset the bed, and holes in each foot for bolting it down. Mount any floor press securely: an unstable press can tip.

How Do I Press a Bearing Out Safely Without Wrecking It?

Push only on the ring with the tight fit, never through the balls or rollers: the inner ring when a bearing comes off a shaft, the outer ring when it leaves a housing. Sit the part square on plates or V-blocks, centre it under the ram, and use a stopper or cage to catch parts as they come free.

Under load, a part can break or be thrown out suddenly. Fit a guard if your press takes one and wear eye or face protection. Read the warnings in its manual, and never go past its rated capacity.

What Should I Check Before I Buy a Floor Press?

• your biggest part: its width against the working table and its height against the ram-to-table range
• the table aperture, if a shaft or hub must pass through the bed
• the pump: two-speed hand pump or air/hydraulic, and whether your compressor can keep up
• a pressure gauge and overload valve: economy presses such as the YK10ECF have no gauge
• space and floor: overall height (1,655mm on the 70539), fixing holes in the feet, and help to unload

Not sure which size suits your work? Browse the floor press range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the size of your part.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

What comes with a floor press, and what might I need to add?

It varies, so check the contents on the product page. Many include V-blocks or flat plates; the 70561 30-tonne floor press also has eight press pins rated 2 to 15 tonnes and a removable parts tray. Pin sets are optional extras for some presses.

Why does the gauge drop while the press is holding a load?

Check the release valve first: it must be fully closed, or the pressure will bleed away. If the reading still falls, suspect a loose hose connection or worn seals. Stop using the press and have it repaired before you load it again.

Can I straighten a bent shaft in a floor press?

Yes. Many floor presses are sold for straightening bent shafts and axles as well as pressing bearings. Cradle round work on V-blocks, centre the bend under the ram and stay within the press’s rated capacity.

What is a sliding ram, and do I need one?

A sliding ram moves sideways along the head, so you can bring it over work that is not in the middle of the table: on the YK20FAH it travels 403mm. It helps with awkward assemblies, but keep the load centred under the ram.

Do I need a pressure gauge on a floor press?

It is worth having. A gauge shows how much force you are applying, so you can stay within the press’s rating. The 70539’s gauge, for example, reads 0 to 16 tonnes.

When is an electric press worth it, and what supply does it need?

An electric pump does the pumping for you, which helps on heavy, repeated work. Check your power first: the MO-TEC electric presses, from 10 to 150 tonnes, are three-phase, so contact our team if your workshop only has a single-phase supply.

Can I use the pump and ram away from the press?

On some presses, yes. The YK10F and YK12F have a detachable pump and ram, so the hydraulics can be used for other jobs while the press is idle. Check the product page for other models.

How heavy is a floor press, and will I need help to unload it?

It depends on size: the 10-tonne YK10F weighs 66.5kg, while the 150-tonne MPE-1500 weighs 1,700kg. Plan extra help at the delivery point; the 75-tonne YK759FAH needs a forklift to unload.

What if the bearing won’t move at a sensible pressure?

Stop pumping and look again. Check that every circlip, pin and retaining ring is out and that the support sits under the tight ring. Never push past the press’s rating: overloading can cause equipment failure and send parts flying.