Abstract: A fly press has a frame and a press screw rotatably mounted in said frame, and a flywheel attached for rotation with the press screw at one end, and a hydraulically driven ram rotatably attached to the other end of the press screw. An upper thrust bearing appears at one side of the frame for engagement by the flywheel, and a lower thrust bearing appears at the other side of the frame for engagement by a collar carried by the press screw. The upper and lower thrust bearings are spring biased in opposite directions. The abutment for the upper press bearing is engaged without impact when the collar disengages from the lower thrust bearing after the press blow to reduce the destructive effects on the bearing by press blows and return of the ram.