The invention relates to the field of the automobile industry, in particular to an engine oil pump shell steel ball and plug pressing method and a controller. The method includes the steps of equipment preparation, element loading, feeding, ball pressing, plug beating, resetting and the like. The controller comprises a programmable controller which controls a clamping cylinder, a drive oil cylinder, an air suction type ejector rod and a translation oil cylinder through electromagnetic valves, the programmable controller is electrically connected with a main motor used for beating a plug through a frequency converter, the limiting position of the drive oil cylinder and the translation oil cylinder is provided with a proximity switch, and the proximity switch is electrically connected with an input port of the programmable controller. By means of the method and the controller, a steel ball and the plug can be pressed into an oil cylinder shell in a one-shot mode, and accordingly work efficiency is improved. High pressure keeps for three seconds after the steel ball is pressed into the oil pump shell, and installation is more reliable. Motions of the assemblies are controlled through the programmable controller with preset programs, positions of execution mechanisms are fed back through the proximity switch, and a whole device is automatically and safely obtained.