Raise lower hydraulic press bed?

**katy** · Oct 11, 2019, 12:31 PM

Looking for ideas for a simple mechanism to raise lower the bed on my hydraulic press(s).
Any suggestions?
TIA, Ken

**Sleykin** · Oct 11, 2019, 07:52 PM

I took a small hand winch and mounted it to the top of the press. Single cable run through the drum until it is equal length at both ends. Pulleys from an old boat steering system mounted on the corners of the press. Easy to lift and lower the bed now.

**billd** · Oct 11, 2019, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Sleykin

I took a small hand winch and mounted it to the top of the press. Single cable run through the drum until it is equal length at both ends. Pulleys from an old boat steering system mounted on the corners of the press. Easy to lift and lower the bed now.

What slykin said is best solution.

**rebouchage** · Oct 12, 2019, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by katy

Looking for ideas for a simple mechanism to raise lower the bed on my hydraulic press(s).
Any suggestions?
TIA, Ken

Please would be nice.

**katy** · Oct 12, 2019, 09:43 AM

Good idea, thanks.

**Sleykin** · Oct 13, 2019, 03:04 PM

Raise lower hydraulic press bed?-20191012_172546.jpg

Raise lower hydraulic press bed?-20191012_172600.jpg

Finally figured out how to get files from phone to computer since google drive screwed up their photo backup system.

**WyoGreen** · Oct 13, 2019, 07:25 PM

I did as the others have said, using a hand cranked boat winch, except I mounted my winch on the side of the press attached to the table, with one cable going up to a pulley and back down to the table, and the other cable going up, across, and down to the table on the other side. that keeps the winch down at the table level. Of course, now that I am thinking about it, an electric winch would be a neat way to go...........

**Toolmaker51** · Oct 13, 2019, 09:27 PM

To me, the reduction in a boat winch exceeds practicality. A large press bed is couple hundred pounds, somewhat less than a small boat.
The useful features are the anti-reverse ratchet, and drum diameter. I'd incorporate useful parts into a single purpose winch, minus so much handle action for small range of movement needed.

**CanBeDone** · Oct 14, 2019, 04:43 AM

Why raising the bed? Why not lower the hydraulic cylinder? I got tired of not only raising the bed, but also finding packing to handle long items. So I installed a piece of threaded rod to provide height adjustment, and never looked back.