reb78 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Just a quick one. When fitting new Metalastik bushes, do you grease them up first to aid fitting or is this not advised? I was thinking of using a good smear of copper grease - any reason why not or comments on what I should use if anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncmc Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yep, I put a good smear of cooper grease to help them press in. They are normally a very tight fit anyway so there's no problem. It can also help to put the bushes in the freezer for a couple of hours first. Again it just makes it a bit easier to press them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes why not to make life easier.....A nice big press as well helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes why not to make life easier.....A nice big press as well helps. I bought this little chap to help with the job: Not as easy as a hydraulic press perhaps, but a lot cheaper to buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncmc Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I just used my vice. Certainly easier with one of those fly presses. Wish I had one, but nowhere to put it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I just used my vice. Certainly easier with one of those fly presses. Wish I had one, but nowhere to put it! Yes the vice. When I worked at Sunblest the foreman went out and bought a huge "cheap" vice. We used that vice for presing in the spring bushes on the BMC 550FG trucks.. All went well until one day fitting the spring bushes the cheap cast vice shattered into pieces.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 I just used my vice. I have done in the past, but it struggled and it is a large vice too. I thought i was going to knacker the screw on it at one point, hence the purchase of the press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncmc Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes the vice.When I worked at Sunblest the foreman went out and bought a huge "cheap" vice. We used that vice for presing in the spring bushes on the BMC 550FG trucks.. All went well until one day fitting the spring bushes the cheap cast vice shattered into pieces.... I have done in the past, but it struggled and it is a large vice too. I thought i was going to knacker the screw on it at one point, hence the purchase of the press. Both good points, and I think if I was doing it on a regular basis I wouldn't risk wrecking my good Record vice. They, and the fly presses are only made from cast iron after all. It certainly does help having the bushes in the freezer for a few hours. If the bush can be lined up quick they do slide in quite nicely. I eventually will probably buy either a 20T floor press or a nice big fly press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 Well, the fly press drove the bush in half way by just screwing it down. Once we knocked a couple of suitable spacers up, it had it in the rest of the way no problem. Biggest issue is that the press was just being used on the floor so I had to drag it out of the garage and hold it still whilst we were pressing the bush in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I bought this little chap to help with the job:IMAG0672.jpg Not as easy as a hydraulic press perhaps, but a lot cheaper to buy! Do I see a folding axle stand there ? I understand everything in the garage but the wellie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Do I see a folding axle stand there ?I understand everything in the garage but the wellie Yep, it is a folding one, but in my defence, it ony gets used as an extra when there are several tractor ones under the chassis already. It never really has any weight on it (certainly not alone). The wellie was there to provide perspective for the size of the press (its a size 10 wellie). plus, I'm a farm vet, so they are an everyday part of my life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Yep, it is a folding one, but in my defence, it ony gets used as an extra when there are several tractor ones under the chassis already. It never really has any weight on it (certainly not alone).The wellie was there to provide perspective for the size of the press (its a size 10 wellie). plus, I'm a farm vet, so they are an everyday part of my life! Folding axle stand. Aldi I presume ? Do you know where I can get two pairs ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Folding axle stand. Aldi I presume ? Do you know where I can get two pairs ? Almost right. Its from Lidl, but it was several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Idris Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 So nobody has a selection or threaded bar for pulling bushes into their habitat then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I have the same ones, they are actually very good and TUV approved, means loads over here but naff all in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 So nobody has a selection or threaded bar for pulling bushes into their habitat then? Yep but why work hard when our garage man has a 40T press I can use for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I also have two pair as spares, Convenient to carry on board. have used threaded bar in the past but a press is easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I sometimes use threaded bar. Has anybody snapped the bar when pulling the bushes in ? As for the axle stands. I'm after some. I already have one in my Defender but I'm after a set of four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I sometimes use threaded bar. Has anybody snapped the bar when pulling the bushes in ?As for the axle stands. I'm after some. I already have one in my Defender but I'm after a set of four. Lots on Ebay 2 x PAIRS HILKA RED FOLDING AXLE STANDS 2-TON lift range 270mm - 360mm two pair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Lots on Ebay 2 x PAIRS HILKA RED FOLDING AXLE STANDS 2-TON lift range 270mm - 360mm two pair Brilliant...Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I dislike folding ones, as I had two fail on me, not very safe imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 I dislike folding ones, as I had two fail on me, not very safe imho. These aren't for working under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 I dislike folding ones, as I had two fail on me, not very safe imho. As all the weight is carried on the centre leg the collapsible parts are only out riggers I see no reason why they are a risk on lighter duties. the problem with them as with most are the height restriction for land rovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdderlyOffroad Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 Just to add to the above: don't abuse a vice to press in bushes. That's why I had track down a decent Record vice on t'ebay, and they aint cheap. Also the bit of vice that fell to the ground was f-heavy, even with my steel toe-capped boot! As for fold-y axle stands, they might be TuV rated, but I prefer summat solid between me & a two-tonne invitation to meet my maker! That said, most axle-stand related accidents are caused by user-error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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