The 12 ton press from Amazon arrived and after bolting it together I could see that it would take some improvisation to make things work. Not enough height. After a lot of creative thinking ended up with the bearingholder bolted to the bottom of the crossbeam with the axle sticking up through it.
Still left with too little height I removed the press beam altogether, set one of the plates that come with the press on top of the axle and the jack on top of that.
Carefully tightened and aligned things. Surprisingly stable too.
Pumped untill I dared pump no more (I am not easily scared).
And...... a whole load of nothing whatsoever several times over.
Well I should probably be happy I didn't break anything but such obliterating defeat by carpart............. Sigh.
The time had come to swallow my considerable pride in selfsufficient-ness (gag) and seek professional help.
Took the bleeping thing to Motor Service Incorporated here in B'town 9not the shop quoted above).
Got a call within hours to come and get my parts.
This is what they told me:
Looked at it, none of us has ever seen a construction like it before.
Thought about it over lunch.
Got a section of pipe big enough for the hub to fit through, put two 1.5" steel plates on top to support the bearingholder, aplied close to 20 Tons of pressure and things popped loose.
Cost: $15.00
Can't help feeling a bit ........... you understand.
I used my new press to re-assemble which was nice.
I guess.
Oh well a lesson learned and new tools earned.
Just don't know how I will ever be able to make the case for a nice lift after this.