Picked between a HF press and a used OTC at the pawn shop in Mesa, and the cheaper one actually won

Holly Burns · 2026-09-24T13:35:03.518924+00:00

My 20 ton shop press bit the dust three weeks ago, so I had two options: a new $180 one from Harbor Freight or a used OTC off a guy at a pawn shop in Mesa for $320. I went with the HF because I could return it, and honestly it pressed out 6 ball joints and a u joint on a 2004 F150 without flexing. I did swap the jack fluid and shim the plates, which took maybe 40 minutes. Anyone else running a cheap press and getting real mileage out of it, or did yours bend on the first hard job?

Guest Forum

Loading…

Picked between a HF press and a used OTC at the pawn shop in Mesa, and the cheaper one actually won | Auto Mechanics - Guest Forum