Transfer case build

[davidsuzuki]

Hi,
I'm preparing to rebuild the transfer case in my '95 Sierra with 4.9 gears from LROR. I kind of want to do it with a press but my friend's workshop (where I work on the car as I live in an apartment) doesn't have one. I'm now considering buying one and keeping it there until I have somewhere to put it. To those that have have worked on Sierra transfer cases and gearboxes with a press, what size press should I be looking at? This one here caught my eye, just 168+25 freight. Not bad if I'm saving 400-500 by not paying a mechanic to do the build, and surely there's less risk of damaging the shafts and gears.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Maximum Capacity: 12Ton
Working Range: 0-710mm
Table Width: 420mm

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hydraulic-Wo ... 291&_uhb=1

Cheers
David

[jono165]

I've got a 20T Total Tools brand press at home, its one of those things that doesn't get used heaps but very handy when you need it. Mines never had a problem getting bearings/gears off a transfer case or diff. I've never used a 12T but it would probably ok, zook stuff is fairly small.

It's worth also factoring in the cost of bearing removal tools as well as bits of flat plate etc to pull stuff stuff apart, if your planning on reusing bearings then its work having the proper tools so they aren't damaged removing them.

You typically get all new bearings with a set of gears so an appropriately sized 3 jaw puller and a piece of pipe/sockets to tap the beairngs/gears back on with a hammer would be sufficient. You'd just need to be careful removing the large low range gear so as not to damage the teeth if you are replacing the main needle roller as this gear is reused in a 4.9 gear set.

[gwagensteve]

This:

You typically get all new bearings with a set of gears so an appropriately sized 3 jaw puller and a piece of pipe/sockets to tap the beairngs/gears back on with a hammer would be sufficient. You'd just need to be careful removing the large low range gear so as not to damage the teeth if you are replacing the main needle roller as this gear is reused in a 4.9 gear set.

I have done a heap of transfers without a press. I have a three jaw puller, a two jaw bearing puller, and pipe.

[davidsuzuki]

Yeah I get that its possible with pullers, hammer and tube as a bare minimum, but is there any advantage to using a press? I'm surprised there are no disaster stories from anyone hammering gears and bearings on. I'm just looking at the cost of the gear kit which was 525 plus 115 for the bearings supplement kit and then 160 in shipping. So it's alot of money wasted if I end up scoring the shafts and damaging gears and bearings. How do you hold the shafts stable without a press to sit it in when your hammering the gears on?

[gwagensteve]

They're really not that tight IMHO. Using the right diameter pipe as a drift prevents damage. It's quite possible to break stuff with a press too.

Steve.

[davidsuzuki]

Yeah, I see not so tight, so they go on pretty easy with the hammer. I would have thought if the gear tilts slightly as its being hammered on there would be a high potential for damage. How did you manage to keep the shaft stable?? I just thought I would probably be less likely to break stuff with a press as everything is held in position and you can apply the pressure more slowly, but then again I read before about someone being killed by a bearing exploding using a home press.

[gwagensteve]

It's really not that much of an issue. The whole shebang sits square- it can't tilt- the tolerances are too tight for that.
I just stood it on the floor on a sheet of plywood and tapped it down with a deadblow mallet and pipe as a drift.
I can appreciate a press might make it more convenient but it's 100% achievable without one.

Steve.

[luigi]

Hi Fellas.
Hi David. I have a 12 ton Kingchrome press. Looks the same as the one you are looking at. It works fine. I have used it for transfer box, gearbox, diff and wheel bearings.
But these are cheap Chinese made and tend to not give a direct push under pressure.
I often start a bearing with a mallet and tube and when I think it is on straight I finish with the press.
Regards. Wayne.

[steve125]

Supercheap do a press for a similar price but it's much smaller than the one you are looking at. The one I have is very solidly built and has done a few transfer rebuilds without any trouble. One issue is that it's quite small and you may not be able to do bigger jobs (wheel bearings maybe) but it also can be stored easily in the shed. A press is very handy to have when needed but 99% of the time it's just taking up space. If you have BIG plans, like all of us, for well equipped workshop in the future maybe get something bigger.

Two other options. Buy some bearing pullers with enough reach to do the job, might be cheaper/more useful/easy to store than a press. Or pull the box apart and just take the one shaft to a shop with a press, it would take 10 minutes total to pop the gear/bearing off.

[davidsuzuki]

Thanks, it's good to hear about some different approaches to doing a transfer case.
I think any plans to equip a future workshop with a press went out the window as I just got a phone call from UPS telling that my low range order is $11AUS over the $1000 limit for importing goods tax free. So now I have to pay $192 in GST and customs fees or they won't release the goods. First and last time I'll make that mistake!!