Frequently Asked Questions

Ultimately the FT-200 is built for applications were higher pull forces are required for installation and the FT-20 is suited for applications where mobility is a key consideration. Both power units specifications are outlined below. Additional details are available in the FTI Tooling Catalog.

30 feet. The pressure drops too much to sustain a longer length hole.

It is always recommended to purchase hydraulic oil from FTI (Part #1045-154). However, if time is factor, the oils listed below can be used.

• Enerpac Hydraulic Oil HF-100
• PowerTeam Hydraulic Oil 9637
• Oil Must Meet MIL-H-5606 Specification

Loosen the knob locknut until it tops out on thumb screw. Tighten thumb screw until it stops, and then retighten knob locknut. Please reference the FT-200 Operation Manual for additional information regarding the FT-200 pump.

FTI redesigned the puller unit trigger assembly to reduce the occurence of trigger air leaks, perform more reliably (better pump actuation), and be easier to maintain. To find out if you need to replace your trigger - please reference your puller unit's operation/repair manual (section 6.0).

FT-20/FT-200 PowerPaks

• Should be stored in low-humidity and a temperature controlled environment.
• Ensure dust cap is re-installed on the hydraulic coupler and all hose connections are free of metal chips, dirt, and grime.

Puller Units

• Should be stored in low-humidity and a temperature controlled environment.
• Coating the entire unit with anti-corrosion light oil will reduce the risk of rust.
• After extended storage time, seal replacement may be necessary. Seal repair kits are available.

Tooling

• Should be stored in low-humidity and a temperature controlled environment.
• Coating items with an anti-corrosion light oil will reduce the risk of rust.
• Additional desiccant packs can be used to absorb moisture.

Many of our products are custom designed and built to order ? therefore requiring a standard lead time to manufacture. Exact lead time can be acquired from a customer service representative.

Expedites are available (depending on the product) and next day orders are available on some of our standard products and tooling. Please contact a customer service representative to obtain a quote for an expedited order.

We have a dedicated on-call staff during weekends and holidays to help with your emergency. Please call (206) 701-7272. This number is only for emergency AOGs on weekends and holidays. Order subject to availability and will incur a custom expedite charge.

Order status can be provided by calling or emailing your customer service representative.

Our tooling catalog is available online as a PDF

We need the aircraft and end user to comply with export compliance controls.

Standard Parts: We charge a 20% restocking fee for cancelled orders, however if the parts are already in production and are being produced specifically for your order you may not be able to cancel.

Custom Parts: Per your agreement, custom parts cannot be cancelled past the agreed upon deadline (specific to your agreement).

We accept returns on parts still under warranty or parts that are defective. An RMA number must be issued prior to returning any items or the return will not be accepted and will be returned to the shipper. To initiate an RMA, please contact your customer service representative.

Standard Purchase Order Terms & Conditions are available here.

If the capital tooling is no longer under warranty, there is an initial inspection and evaluation cost of $250 USD for all capital tooling. A purchase order for this amount must be received prior to our evaluation. After the cause of the problem has been determined, any cost associated with the repair will need to be added to the purchase order prior to completion of the repair. Inspection and repair typically take up to two weeks; however, this time can vary depending on the complexity of the repair.

Our Puller Unit Manuals are available as PDFs in the Service & Support section of our website. If your particular manual is not listed, please contact your customer service representative.

Yes. Extensive test and investigations reveal that additional, or re-split sleeve cold expansion of holes, can further enhance the damage tolerance and fatigue life. Particularly after a period of cyclic strain again from in-service structural loads.

Yes. Cold expansion can be applied through a stack-up of either the same type of material or different strength materials such as aluminum and titanium.

The residual compressive stress zone around a cold expanded hole typically extends up to one diameter around the hole with a balancing tension field extending beyond that. The tension field is equal to about 10-15% of the tensile yield stress of the material at the compressive stress boundary which rapidly diminishes further from the hole. Holes of 4D spacing typically will not leave residual tensile stresses at the edge of the adjacent hole, however as holes gets closer together the residual tensile stresses will most likely come in contact with the nearby hole. For more information, please contact us.

For Split Sleeve CB and CA tooling refer to tables 4.0-1 and 5.0-1 in the Cold Expansion Specification FTI-8101. This document can be downloaded from our Technical Library.

If the tooling is anything other than Split Sleeve CB or CA, please contact us for assistance.

FTI has performed fatigue testing to understand which sequence is better when a countersunk hole is called out. There are three options available:

1. Cold expand a straight hole then cut the countersink. Tests have shown that this is the best option for new production.
2. Use FTI's Countersink Tooling. The specially designed nosecap cold expands the countersink and straight portion of the hole simultaneously.
3. Ream out the countersink and then cold expand the straight hole. This method is not recommended and is predominantly used in AOG situations. It has lower fatigue life and removes material from the structure.

For more information, please contact us to discuss the specifics of your application.