Abstract: An internally lubricated, longitudinally split sleeve is positioned on a small diameter portion a mandrel having a rear end connected to a piston with a puller tool. The rear end of the split sleeve is flared and is against the front end of a tubular sleeve stop which immediately surrounds the mandrel. The puller tool includes a tubular sleeve holder which surrounds the sleeve stop. A forward main portion of the sleeve holder is separated by a pair of longitudinal slots into a pair of elongated fingers. The forward ends of the fingers define a sleeve and mandrel receiving end opening and jaws radially outwardly bounding the opening. The mandrel and sleeve holder are both extended and then the puller tool is moved into alignment with a sleeve and is moved endwise to push the mandrel through the sleeve until the flared end of the sleeve is against the sleeve stop. Then the sleeve holder is retracted.