ABOUT THE LITTLE BRUTE PULLER UNIT
The Little Brute hydraulic puller unit is a powerful, compact, lightweight tool specifically designed for use
with Fatigue Technology Inc. (FTI) patented Split Sleeve Cold Expansion™ (SsCx™) process. The Little
Brute is designed to pull a mandrel through a hole with the pre-lubricated stainless steel split sleeves used in
this process. The puller is also compatible with other FTI processes including ForceMate®, ForceTec®,
GromEx®, etc.
Little Brute (LB) pullers have a maximum pull force of 8,000 pounds (35,585N) at 10,000 psi (689.5 bar)
pump pressure. The Little Brute is available in sizes (models) for cold expanding holes up to 1/2 inch (12.7
mm) in diameter and 3-1/2 inches (88.9 mm) deep in aluminum, and 3/8 inch (9.53 mm) in diameter and
3-1/2 inches (88.9 mm) deep in steel and titanium. Larger diameters may be evaluated on a case by case
basis, contact FTI Sales for application assistance.
The Little Brute is available in various models to accommodate multiple material stack-ups, hose options,
and mandrel adapters:
LB-xx where ‘-xx’ relates to material stack (see Table 1.3-1).
LB-xx-V where ‘-V’ represents high visibility hoses.
LB-xx-Hxx where ‘-Hxx’ represents a unique hose length other than the standard 10 feet.
LB-xxA comes with a LB-CA-4 mandrel adapter.
LB-xxB comes with a LB-CA-6 mandrel adapter.
LB-15-20D4 is a special LB-15 puller with an LB-20 front barrel.
LB-xx-4K is designed for the reduced pressure PowerPak (FT-20-4K) with 4,000 psi maximum.
The Little Brute has a fail-safe air control system that causes the puller retraction cycle to be interrupted and
return the puller unit to its original position whenever the operator releases finger pressure on the trigger or
in the event of an air hose failure. All puller units operate in conjunction with either of FTI’s PowerPak airhydraulic power units, the standard FT-200D, FT-200C, or portable FT-20 (and are compatible with older
units FT-200B, IW100MF, and IW10MF). The Little Brute has proven to be very reliable and requires
minimal maintenance.
Use the puller unit only with FTI tooling and accessories. Refer to the FTI Tooling Catalog for more
information or contact the FTI Sales department for assistance.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Hydraulic Fluid Requirements………………………………….. U.S. MIL-Spec #5606
Stackup Capacity (Grip) …………………………………………. Material up to 3.5 inches (88.9 mm)
Actuation / Operation………………………………………………. Pneumatic / Hydraulic
Compatible PowerPaks……………………………………………. FT-200D, FTI-200C or FT-20
Replacement Seal Kit………………………………………………. LB Seal Kit (LB-SK)
Emission sound pressure level at the work station
(according to EN ISO 11201:1995) on load …………….. 83.1 dB(A)
Weighted hand-arm vibration at the handle
(according to EN 28662-1:1993) on load ………………… <2.5 m.S2
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
- Air actuated, hydraulic puller capable of cold expanding up to 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in diameter in
aluminum and mild steel, and up to 3/8 inch (9.53 mm) diameter in titanium and high-strength steel. - Maximum pull force of 8,000 pounds (35,584 N) at 10,000 psi (689.5 bar) hydraulic pressure.
- Includes a hose assembly, spanner wrench, and nosecap pin wrench. Threaded adapter(s), or chuck(s) are
also included depending on model (see Table 1.3-1). All models come packaged in a tool case with foam,
except as noted. - Available in various lengths depending on the model, up to 3.5 inches (88.9 mm) material stackup
capacity. - Hydraulic pressure provided by the FT-200D, FTI-200C, or FT-20 PowerPak.
FTI Puller Comparison Guide
Choosing the correct FTI puller depends on hole size, material type, stack thickness and application requirements. Below is a general comparison of the most widely used FTI puller systems to help identify the right tooling for your cold expansion process.
| Model | Typical Applications | Maximum Pull Force | Hole Capacity | “Stack Capacity” | “Best For” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Brute (LB) | Light-duty cold expansion | 8,000 lbf | Up to 1/2″ aluminium / mild steel | Up to 3.5″ | Smaller diameter holes and portable applications |
| Medium Brute (MB) | General aerospace cold expansion | 24,000 lbf | Up to 15/16″ aluminium / mild steel | Up to 7″ | Medium-duty structural work |
| Big Brute (BB) | Light-duty cold expansion | 38,000 lbf | Up to 2-1/2″ aluminium / mild steel | Up to 10″ | Large diameter holes and thick stack-ups |
| Jumbo Brute (JB) | Ultra heavy-duty applications | 60,000 lbf | Large structural applications | Application dependent | High-force specialist expansion work |


