deziped Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I knew better, but, being nearby, inexpensive, and need it now, I went to Harbor and picked up their better ball joint press. Looked pretty and sturdy, however, on the upper ball joint it began to flex out o shape a lil. But I got that one out. On the lower ball with not a whole lot of pressure (using 1/2 drive & both hands to reef on it) it bowed totally out o shape without budging the ball a smidge. So having saved my receipt I took it back. 2nd mistake, I decided to take a fine looking air operated grease gun in exchange. I get home load in a grease cartrige and try to shove the rod into the tube. It don't fit. Come to find out the rubber plunger is larger dia. than the cartridge. I trimmed it down assembled gun & put air to it. It don't work. Noticed air escaping around trigger, tighten it all up, same thing happens. Disassemble trigger & find that the tapped hole is seriously misaligned & threads don't match threads on trigger retaining nut. Really crude manufacturing. Metal threads were still present indside gun. Put it together again pull trigger and ka-pow the trigger & misc. parts eject. Didn't find em all. Lesson learned: Don't buy stuff (made in China especially) just cause its cheap, looks good & is expedient. :oops: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I've heard a lot of bad stuff about harbor freight tools, especially their ball joint presses. But I've also talked to people who buy all their tools there and claim they're better quality than Craftsman, Mac, etc. I've only used the cheaper ball joint press, but I never bent it out of shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Some of their tools are always bad. Some of their tools are usually good. Others are purely hit or miss (like the ball joint presses). Cheap is cheap for a reason unfortunately. :headpop: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLHTAZ Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 There has been several people on here post about the HF ball joint tool...and no one (that I recall) has had anything good to say about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjbliley Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I have the tool. Also got the additional fitting kit. What I found, especially after reading all the bad info, is that you have to work smarter not harder. you can use the press, but you have to also add a little heat, some penetrating lube(PB or Knocker Loose), and also just apply the presure and leave it. you can then come back and use some impact blows on the 'C' and watch it move. It will not come out like taking off a wheel lug nut, but it will work and come off if you just go slow and let the tool do the work. But given that our vehicles are 20+ years old, you have to use multiple techniques at the same time to get the job done. Like Pete said they can be 'hit or miss', because they are not the best iron or steel. This just means you got what you paid for when you paid such a small amount of money for the tool, relative to the better made ones. I just wanted there to be a voice about this who has had good results from the tool, but I need to qualify it with the fact that I knew what I was using and did not try to make it act like the $500 tool when I was using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I snapped a BJ press in half, trying to press in an axle UCA bushing :roll: Took it back and got a new one, borrowed Jerry's fitting kit and finished the job without incident. It works very well on u-joints, though.... Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNL1MTD Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 It works very well on u-joints, though.... Jeff x2 I've used it on 6 ujoints so far without issue. I've bought a lot from harbor freight recently and haven't been that disspointed overall. I had a spring loaded center punch fail, after some semi-heavy use. My main gripe is that when ordering online if they are out of stock you don't know it, just doesnt appear on the receit, which is annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I snapped a BJ press in half, trying to press in an axle UCA bushing :roll: Took it back and got a new one, borrowed Jerry's fitting kit and finished the job without incident. It works very well on u-joints, though.... Jeff I haven't actually tried this yet, but for the axle UCA bushings, Jeepco suggested throwing the bushing in the freezer, heat up the housing just a tad, and the bushing will basicaly pop right in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 yeah, it works......that's what I did for the second bushing :D The problem with the bushings, other than the fact that I should have replaced them BEFORE I put the axle in ;) , is that the mount surfaces aren't exactly parallel. You need one or two offset spacers that come in the accessory kit to make sure you are pressing the new busings in straight. First time I didn't have them, and the bushing didn't go in straight and bound up.....I kept cranking on the press until there was a loud bang, when the press frame snapped in half :oops: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reson46 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 But I've also talked to people who buy all their tools there and claim they're better quality than Craftsman, Mac, etc. :huh???: That's some funny stuff there! I realize Craftsman may not be the highest quality tools, but to even attempt to compare them or Mac with HF is completely laughable. I think they really need to consider cutting back on the funny smelling cigarettes. :dunce: Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryans87MJ Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I have had good luck with some of their stuff -4" grinders -band saw -chop saw -transmission jack -combo wrench set -upper end air tools Bad things -ball joint press -electric impact wrench Why not start a thread for the good and bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I've got a corded sawzall and 4" angle grinder (Chicago Electric) that have seen ALOT of abuse, and they're still going strong. Bought a C/E right angle drill that worked pretty well, now it throws sparks and is a bit "challenging" to use. For the price I paid, I'm satisfied..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deziped Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 Well as I said it was just a lousy piece of equipment made by a guy who may have been having a bad bout of soy sauce diarrhea that day & was more concerned with his A-hole than the hole in the air gun. The ball joint press was just a weak alloy. No cheater bar was used on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ'87 Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 i'll let you guys know how "el cheap-o" sand blaster is when my dad gets back from town with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 I guess I got lucky with my HF balljoint press. I've abused the heck out of it and it's still going strong. :dunno: Of course, I bought it several years ago. Maybe it's the newer shipments that suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 air 90* die grinder works good air 3'' cut off tool works great air body saw is great for trimming fenders - and a tip is to use regualr hacksaw blades just cut down to fit into the saw, cheaper and thicker blades. thats basically all the stuff i use regularly that works great every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 And their air hammer works darn good too. I think I paid $4 for it on sale. :D In fact, I'm about to go use it now to help get those stinkin' perches off that 9". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNT Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 I have the tool. Also got the additional fitting kit. What I found, especially after reading all the bad info, is that you have to work smarter not harder. you can use the press, but you have to also add a little heat, some penetrating lube(PB or Knocker Loose), and also just apply the presure and leave it. you can then come back and use some impact blows on the 'C' and watch it move. It will not come out like taking off a wheel lug nut, but it will work and come off if you just go slow and let the tool do the work. But given that our vehicles are 20+ years old, you have to use multiple techniques at the same time to get the job done. Like Pete said they can be 'hit or miss', because they are not the best iron or steel. This just means you got what you paid for when you paid such a small amount of money for the tool, relative to the better made ones. I just wanted there to be a voice about this who has had good results from the tool, but I need to qualify it with the fact that I knew what I was using and did not try to make it act like the $500 tool when I was using it. The only problem with this is you are never supposed to heat front end parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertwinkiehobo Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 Holy Thread Resurrection, Batman! Joe and I will be addressing his rig's recent bouts of death wobble after replacing the Pitman tie rod and the track bar. It looks like the alignment guy saw a worn balljoint, but said the alignment was still in spec. We'll see. Anyway, I have only found a couple threads that mention an adapter specific to the Jeep front axle for pressing the balljoint, but no info on what this adapter is for or what kit it would be in, since it's supposedly not in the basic press kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO413 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 OTC (7894) Jeep/Dodge Ball Joint Service Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SRGW0/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_PJPRAAK2V4ME4E66F2ZS Most of the large sets have them in the kit. Astro Pneumatic Tool 7868 Master Ball Joint Adapter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061SGPO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_MJWKR07B6KK68RQ7JJSW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 This is the add on kit I have that also had them in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertwinkiehobo Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Okay, cool. I've screenshot your post so I don't have to tear my hair out looking for it on here. Appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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