My press is too small

[derekf]

I'm trying to press in a set of UCA bushings, and it looks like the press is just too small for the job.

It's one of the 100 dollar Harbor Freight presses. I was able to install the first bushing for each UCA without any problems, but as soon as I put the shaft in and got ready to do the second bushing the problem became apparent:


Now, it seems to me that I could rotate the whole UCA so that the ball joint was towards me while I was pressing, but to do that I'd need to be able to get the UCA out of the press when I was done.





The thought that I had was to cut the (whatever the name of the part the arbors ride on) so I could take part of it off: (I'd cut at the blue line on both sides)



and of course I'd need to replace the pins with 1/2" bolts:



The alternatives are to go ahead and press the second bushings in and just make the cuts after I'm done (destroying the press) to get the shaft out; or to go ahead and pay someone else to press the bushings.

If I go ahead and cut the shelf-thing ahead of time and replace the pins with bolts, am I ruining the press - will it be doomed to never press straight?

[Matt@RFR]

Can you drop the bed down far enough to get the entire A-arm in the press vertically? If so, do that, and put some heavy steel as a kind of spreader bar to keep the A-arm from collapsing.

[astroracer]

Get a piece of round stock that will set inside the current angle iron brace. Drill two holes --O>-- through both pieces (one on either side of your "cut") so you can bolt the round stock in to hold the lower platen together after you cut the current brace. A couple of 3/8" bolts should do the trick.
Mark