Hydraulic press

My diesel tractor needs to have freeze plugs pressed into the top of the head. Any ideas short of me buying a hydraulic press to install them?

The HF 20ton press is a good investment at $160. That's all I have.

Correctly sized socket and hammer works just fine on cup style plugs.

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

So they don't have to be pressed in? Is it a one blow or tap in like a seal?

Tap them in. Use some form a gasket on the hole. Use a drift that fits the outside of the plug so you don't deform it.

Loctite makes a sealer exactly for this application. We used it all the time when installing cup plugs in big diesel cylinder heads for Cummins

Do you know the name of the loctite product?

I've always used Permatex Aviation Form-a-gasket with 100% success.

I love the smell, too.

Be mindful of getting any on your hootus.

So I can't use my Hootus to apply form a gasket on the hole into which I am going to drive a plug. Seemed like a good way the kill two birds with one stone.

In reply to spitfirebill:

Form-a-gasket is a good way to get your Hootus permanently stuck in the hole. The good news is you will no longer need freeze plugs...or your Hootus.

I don't think I've actually heard of pressing in a core plug, maybe with an arbor press or something to that effect in a production envrioment. They're soft and fairly thin metal so they just hammer in without much trouble

In Addition to what others have said, chuck the plugs in the freezer for an hour or so before fitting them, it'll shrink them a tad and make them a touch easier to knock in.

Same goes for most press fit items really.