Author Topic: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?  (Read 2523 times)

Offline misanthrope

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I find myself in need of a hydraulic bench press. Something like this one, from Machine Mart, would do
 


However, it's £250 and I don't want to spend anything like that much. Plus, I don't have a lot of space, so I'd prefer something a bit more compact.

I already have one of their 10 tonne body repair kits:
 



As far as I can see, the press uses the same ram and pump as the body repair kit, so I have the main bits already, I would just need to fabricate a stand and a means of retaining the ram.

Looking in the Clarke manual for the press, it just has a collar, labelled part 11.
 



The ram in my body kit has a thread on the cylinder, which I've measured at  2 1/4" diameter with a pitch of 14 TPI

I'm wondering is there's anyone out there who has a Clarke press could measure the thread on the end and let me know it it is indeed the same ram as the one in my kit.

If so, I will just buy part 11 from Clarke's spares department & make the rest myself.
(I would turn the threaded collar myself, but my lathe will only cut a limited number of metric threads).

Thanks a lot


« Last Edit: October 26, 2020, 04:25:29 PM by misanthrope »

Offline AdeV

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Re: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2020, 01:39:30 PM »
I can't help with the question - but if you're anywhere near the Wirral you'd be welcome to come and turn the 14TPI (metric?!) thread on my lathe...
Cheers!
Ade.
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Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
Occasionally: Zhengzhou, China. An even longer way from anywhere...

Offline misanthrope

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Re: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2020, 02:57:57 PM »
Hi Ade, that's very kind. Alas, I'm Leicestershire-based, but a great offer nonetheless.
Cheers

Offline kayzed1

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Re: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2020, 03:05:55 PM »
  Sorry only just noticed this, i have a 10 ton pusher that looks the same as that. From Chester Machine tools. i will look in the morning.

Offline misanthrope

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Re: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2020, 03:42:56 PM »
Sorry guys, I think I've answered my own question.
I found a reference to the ram diameter on the Machine Mart press - 42mm
The ram in the body kit is 57mm, so completely different.
I looked at the pictures and jumped to an incorrect conclusion.

Still going to "press" ahead though  (groan)

Offline misanthrope

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Re: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2020, 04:46:07 AM »
So just to draw this to a conclusion...

Question, can you make a 10 tonne hydraulic press from a cheap porto-power clone ?
Answer,    Yes !

A local engineering firm cut the 2 1/4" x 14TPI thread in the ram mounting plate for me for just £25.
I had to buy the 1" thick blocks of steel, the rest I had lying around.
Total cost £65   

(Please overlook the paint, it's still work in progress...)

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Anyone have a Clarke (Machine Mart) hydraulic bench press, please ?
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2020, 07:19:52 PM »
Nice work!  :clap:  :beer:
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg