Hydraulic Press with bottle jack upside down - easy conversion

[garage nut]

Have been using the bottle jack in the conventional orientation for "Pressing" matters. (No pun intended), but always wanted to have it like a commercial press.

Been reading a lot about converting a bottle jack to work upside down, but just all seemed like too much work and messy..

So took from every post what made sense and combines it.

Best option too create a reservoir tank filling point was to use the original jack filling hole. First problem my Chinese jack had no tread, just a rubber grommet.






So i found a M8 fine thread nut and welded it over the existing hole to allow a 8mm pipe connector to be screwed in. Took my time welding as all the oil was still inside the jack. I extended the jack fully to ensure as little as possible oil in the outer reservoir of the jack.

Then machined an 14mm bolt to become the connector in my jam jar oil reservoir.



Keeping the Jack on its side I primed it untill there was no more air in its system.

the jack could then bu turned upside down and it works. No stripping, no mess and the jack can be converted back to normal easily.

Now finally added the springs to pull back the ram. Job done, now for a coat of paint and some M12 Hi Tensile bolts as adjuster pins.

[Tuomas]

Have been using the bottle jack in the conventional orientation for "Pressing" matters. (No pun intended), but always wanted to have it like a commercial press.

Been reading a lot about converting a bottle jack to work upside down, but just all seemed like too much work and messy..

So took from every post what made sense and combines it.

Best option too create a reservoir tank filling point was to use the original jack filling hole. First problem my Chinese jack had no tread, just a rubber grommet.






So i found a M8 fine thread nut and welded it over the existing hole to allow a 8mm pipe connector to be screwed in. Took my time welding as all the oil was still inside the jack. I extended the jack fully to ensure as little as possible oil in the outer reservoir of the jack.

Then machined an 14mm bolt to become the connector in my jam jar oil reservoir.



Keeping the Jack on its side I primed it untill there was no more air in its system.

the jack could then bu turned upside down and it works. No stripping, no mess and the jack can be converted back to normal easily.

Now finally added the springs to pull back the ram. Job done, now for a coat of paint and some M12 Hi Tensile bolts as adjuster pins.

So. You did exactly the same like i did:

[garage nut]

Great video and great press. Wish I had seen it earlier. Some very interesting ideas. My post is more focused on the easy convertion. I did not even bleed it like you did. I merly turned it on its side when pushing rhe ram back. This made it suck the oul from my reservoir. Amd what to do if you do nor have a treaded filler but in essence you right

[DIYer]

Thanks garage nut! We've added your Upside Down Bottle Jack Modification to our Brakes and Presses category,
as well as to your builder page: garage nut's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Upside Down Bottle Jack Modification by garage nut

tags: press, bottle jack, modification

[Rorschach]

Is there a benefit to using the jack this way?

[garage nut]

A question my "technical" WhatApp group also asked me when I posted my progress.

I had the frame made and the jack the convectional way like you would use it every day, but found it almost impossible to single handed balance a socket, a bearing and the steering knuckle all on the ram of a bottle jack and then align this all while operating the jack.

With the first threads I found where the guys stripped the jack and add longer pick up pipes and drill through the base and fit nipples I was going to rather keep on battling, but then I found this idea on YouTube and had nothing to loose as the jack can easily be converted to normal if it was not working.

[Rorschach]

That makes sense. I guess I just imagined you would have attached the jack by the ram and used the base of the jack for applying pressure, perhaps with an add on to make centering easier.

[garage nut]

I tried to get a base moving up inside my press’s frame. You will see my uprights are angle iron welded to the base in such a way it forms a box for a base to go up, but it did not work. The conversion was so easy i just gave up on that idea

[Rorschach]

Fair enough, I guess you either have the trouble of converting the jack or the trouble of making some kid of base. Swings and roundabouts lol.

Good looking setup anyway

[garage nut]

Manufactured a nice SS reservoir tank using 50mm SS pipe with 2 drop outs (from the rod holders for my boat) welded in top and bottom. My jam jar leaked on the jam jar lid treads. Also modified the pressure release screw to be hand operated and not needing the jack handle to release pressure. Will post pics tomorrow