A pull gun (10) is used for pulling a mandrel (12) through an expandable
sleeve (124) positioned in a fastener hole (130, 132) having a countersink
(140). The mandrel expands the sleeve (124) as it moves therethrough,
causing the sleeve to put the metal which surrounds the hole (132, 130)
and the countersink in a state of compression. The pull gun has an axially
split, expandable countersink prestressing device (16) having a generally
central passageway (38) through which the mandrel (12) travels axially as
it is being retracted into the pull gun. The prestressing device (16) has
conical end surfaces (46) to prestress the countersink as the mandrel is
pulled through the hole. The device (16) has an axially split sleeve
retainer (76) extending therein so as to retain the sleeve within the
fastener hole when the mandrel is being retracted. The sleeve retainer
(76) is in contact with the sleeve externally of the gun and has its inner
end secured in the gun. The prestressing device (16 ), outwardly of the
gun, has a relatively small outer diameter compared with its inner end and
with that of the gun, so that the outer ends (46) can be inserted into
hole countersinks having limited access. The prestressing device (16), as
well as the sleeve retainer (76), is made of a heat-treated ultra high
strength alloy steel. Axially directed splits (48A) formed as slots in the
device (16) prior to the heat-treating are narrowed so that they form
narrow slits (58) at the outer end during the heat treatment. Spring
fingers (42) are formed between adjacent slits (58).